Supplying seeds to support the people of Kordofan and Darfur in Sudan. FAO: $2.5 billion needed for food and agriculture assistance in 2026 Humanitarian aid
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today called on the global community to mobilize $2.5 billion to support more than 100 million people in 54 countries and territories in 2026. For the first time, a UN agency plan has integrated all needs into a single structure.
In particular, FAO requested $64.7 million to help 358,713 residents of Ukraine.
The agency expects not only to respond to acute crises, but also to reduce the likelihood of recurrence of emergencies that require significant investments from donors, in future.
New humanitarian model
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu noted that the previous model of work was no longer effective. Speaking on the sidelines of the 179th session of the FAO Council, he stressed the need to rethink approaches to responding to food crises.
Despite significant amounts of humanitarian funding in previous years, the number of people experiencing food insecurity has tripled since 2016, the agency’s head said.
Dongyu noted the signal, which came from youth in crisis areas at the recent World Food Forum: they want empowerment to be productive, not constant humanitarian aid.
Rural Hunger
But supporting farmers and their ability to continue producing food is a key element of stability.
About 80 percent of people facing acute food insecurity live in rural areas and depend on agriculture, livestock, fisheries or forestry. However, only 5 percent of humanitarian funding in the food aid sector goes to supporting agriculture.
Strengthening local production improves local people’s access to food, grows local economies, creates jobs and strengthens social stability – especially in countries experiencing protracted crises such as Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic Congo.
Effective programs
FAO emphasizes the importance of early action and rapid emergency support for agriculture.
Effective solutions include distributing seeds, vaccinating and treating livestock, rebuilding key infrastructure, providing farmers with necessary tools, providing cash assistance, and keeping markets running.
Research shows that every dollar invested in protecting agricultural production before a crisis strikes can yield up to a seven-dollar return in losses averted and reduced humanitarian assistance needs in future.
FAO Plan
FAO’s 2026 Global Appeal calls for $1.5 billion in emergency support for 60 million people worldwide, as well as $1 billion in resilience programs for 43 million people. Sustainable solutions include implementing technologies to adapt to climate change, building water infrastructure, improving access to markets and restoring agri-food systems.
In particular, it plans to support 358,713 people in Ukraine. This will require $64.7 million. $521.6 million will be allocated to Asia and the Pacific, with $519.1 million earmarked for the Middle East and North Africa, $471.6 million for East Africa, $593.4 million for West and Central Africa, $179.6 million for South Africa, and $111.9 million for Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition, $70 million will go towards FAO activities such as data collection and analysis, monitoring threats to food chains and coordination with other agencies.