United Nations World Food Program

Objective
In 2011, the World Food Program (WFP) identified a need to evaluate the effectiveness of WFP efforts to meet hunger needs, with a focus on “how” WFP adapts whenever change is needed, particularly change at the country office level.

Solution
WFP’s Office of Evaluation asked KonTerra to conduct this key evaluation. Specifically, KonTerra created a team of evaluation specialists, provided technical input, and facilitated all administrative functions that accompanied the project.

The evaluation examined how country offices adapted to intentional organizational changes processes during the previous five years. Evaluators gathered information on the context, nature, and extent of change as well as the internal and external influencing factors. Their analysis framed change in relation to three core factors – acceptance, ability and authority.

The team undertook an extensive literature review of both internal and external documentation. In addition, they interviewed 157 persons in WFP Rome and two regional bureaux (Kampala and Bangkok), plus stakeholders in five countries – Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Indonesia, Cambodia and Kyrgyzstan. Interviewees included WFP staff, government partners, donor missions and agencies, other UN agencies, NGOs and other partners.

Result
Ultimately, this evaluation resulted in a detailed summary of findings, an analysis of those findings, conclusions, and actionable recommendations made for the WFP Executive Board. WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger; this evaluation assisted them in their ability to effectively adapt to today’s quickly changing environment and achieve their mission worldwide.