Science
Jun 18, 20261
59%
FAO and WFP Seek $202 Million to Shield Vulnerable Nations from El Niño Impacts
The FAO and WFP have appealed for $202 million to protect nearly nine million people across 22 countries from the anticipated impacts of a strong El Niño event, which could cause droughts, floods, and storms. The agencies warn that the phenomenon threatens food security and agricultural production in vulnerable regions already facing multiple crises. They stress that proactive funding is cost-effective, with every dollar invested potentially saving up to seven dollars in future losses.
Quick Facts
Who
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
What
Launched a joint appeal for $202 million
When
Thursday, November 18, 2026
Where
Africa
- Launched a joint appeal for $202 million
- Requesting urgent and flexible funding
- Protect nearly nine million people in 22 high-risk countries
- Early preventive actions already underway for 1.2 million people
- Seeking additional $167 million to cover 7.6 million more people
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have launched a joint appeal for $202 million to protect nearly nine million people in 22 high-risk countries from the anticipated effects of a strong El Niño weather pattern. The call was issued on Thursday, November 18, 2026, from Rome, with the agencies warning that the phenomenon could exacerbate food insecurity and threaten livelihoods across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The projected El Niño, expected to intensify during the second half of 2026, is likely to bring drier-than-normal conditions in some areas and increased rainfall with flood risks in others. These changes could disrupt planting seasons, crop growth, harvests, pasturelands, and water availability, according to FAO and WFP analyses. In Latin America, countries potentially affected include Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Venezuela.
The appeal emphasizes that the forecast arrives as millions of people are already grappling with severe food insecurity due to conflicts, economic instability, displacements, recurring natural disasters, and economic shocks linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The agencies stress that timely, flexible funding is critical to enable proactive interventions before the crisis deepens.
FAO and WFP have already prepared measures to assist 1.2 million people predicted to be directly affected by El Niño. With the additional $167 million sought, they aim to rapidly expand support to another 7.6 million people across the 22 priority countries, bringing total coverage to 8.8 million. The joint appeal is grounded in evidence that every dollar invested in preventive action can save up to seven dollars in avoided losses and response costs.
“Experience consistently shows that early action is more effective and less costly than responding after a crisis has escalated,” said Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of FAO. Carl Skau, Interim Executive Director of WFP, added, “We cannot afford the consequences of another food crisis.”
Why This Matters
This appeal matters to readers because it highlights the urgent need for proactive funding to prevent a hunger crisis from escalating in already vulnerable regions. The evidence that every dollar invested in early action saves up to seven dollars in future response costs underscores the economic and humanitarian imperative to act now. For global audiences, it signals that coordinated preventive measures can mitigate the worst impacts of climate-related disasters, reducing the burden on international aid systems.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireFAO and WFP issue joint appeal for $202 million to protect 22 countries from El Niño impacts.
Nov 18, 2026
WireAppeal announced from Rome on Thursday.