United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
Winner Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics 2026
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) developed Scout, an artificial intelligence-based solution that has been revolutionizing upstream supply chain planning since 2022, Scout optimizes decisions about which food to procure, where to source it, and where to position it strategically. In doing so, the tool enables humanitarian organizations to move from reactive, manual planning to proactive, data-driven and anticipatory decision-making.
| Sector | Humanitarian Logistics |
| Country | Italy |
-
Merits
- With "Scout," an artificial intelligence-based solution that has been revolutionizing upstream supply chain planning since 2022, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) sets a milestone in humanitarian logistics. By optimizing decisions about which food to procure, where to source it, and where to position it strategically, Scout enables the shift from reactive, manual planning to proactive, data-driven and anticipatory decision-making.
- Originally developed as an internal WFP initiative to improve needs assessment, procurement and logistics planning, Scout quickly moved from concept to a tool applied in practice. The jury highlighted Scout as a pioneering example of the practical use of AI in humanitarian logistics: while AI is often discussed only in theory, Scout demonstrates how it can already deliver measurable operational improvements in humanitarian operations.
- The tool applies advanced analytics to one of the most demanding – and most impactful – areas of humanitarian logistics: planning supply chains before bottlenecks and disruptions occur. By improving preparedness and enabling smarter procurement and pre-positioning decisions, Scout helps humanitarian organizations respond more effectively and amplify the impact of their operations.
- The impact is measurable: by improving forecasting, planning and efficiency at the front end of the supply chain, Scout has already generated cumulative savings of more than 6.5 million US dollars within just 24 months of its introduction. The tool continues to be scaled up, allowing WFP to make the best possible use of its limited resources and reach more people with assistance.
-
Profile
- The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
- WFP operates the world’s largest humanitarian supply chain, planning, procuring, transporting, storing and delivering safe, nutritious food to millions of people around the world. Where markets are functioning, WFP also provides cash transfers and vouchers, giving people the flexibility to buy the supplies they need while boosting local economies. It also makes its services and expertise available to UN agencies, NGOs and governments: the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) provides safe and reliable transport for aid workers; the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) buys, stores and dispatches relief supplies for partners from five global hubs; the WFP-led Logistics Cluster provides coordination and information management during emergency responses and enables access to logistics services.
- In recognition of its efforts to combat hunger and prevent the use of food as a weapon of conflict, WFP was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.
Photos: World Food Programme, Gustavo Vera
