UN World Food Programme: Toward Zero Hunger with Analytics

Koen Peters (), Sérgio Silva (), Tim Sergio Wolter (), Luis Anjos (), Nina van Ettekoven (), Éric Combette (), Anna Melchiori (), Hein Fleuren (), Dick den Hertog () and Özlem Ergun ()
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Koen Peters: Supply Chain Planning and Optimization Unit, World Food Programme, Rome 00148, Italy; Department of Econometrics and Operations Research, Tilburg University, Tilburg 5000 LE, Netherlands
Sérgio Silva: Supply Chain Planning and Optimization Unit, World Food Programme, Rome 00148, Italy
Tim Sergio Wolter: Supply Chain Planning and Optimization Unit, World Food Programme, Rome 00148, Italy
Luis Anjos: Supply Chain Planning and Optimization Unit, World Food Programme, Rome 00148, Italy
Nina van Ettekoven: Supply Chain Planning and Optimization Unit, World Food Programme, Rome 00148, Italy
Éric Combette: Supply Chain Planning and Optimization Unit, World Food Programme, Rome 00148, Italy
Anna Melchiori: Supply Chain Planning and Optimization Unit, World Food Programme, Rome 00148, Italy
Hein Fleuren: Department of Econometrics and Operations Research, Tilburg University, Tilburg 5000 LE, Netherlands
Dick den Hertog: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1001 NB, Netherlands
Özlem Ergun: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Interfaces, 2022, vol. 52, issue 1, 8-26

Abstract: Each year, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) provides food assistance to around 100 million people in more than 80 countries. Significant investments over the last decade have put planning and optimization at the forefront of tackling emergencies at WFP. A data-driven approach to managing operations has gradually become the norm and has culminated in the creation of a supply chain planning unit and savings of more than USD 150 million—enough to support two million food-insecure people for an entire year. In this paper, we describe three analytical solutions in detail: the Supply Chain Management Dashboard, which uses descriptive and predictive analytics to bring end-to-end visibility and anticipate operational issues; Optimus, which uses a mixed-integer programming model to simultaneously optimize food basket composition and supply chain planning; and DOTS, which is a data integration platform that helps WFP automate and synchronize complex data flows. Three impact studies for Iraq, South Sudan, and COVID-19 show how these tools have changed the way WFP manages its most complex operations. Through analytics, decision makers are now equipped with the insights they need to manage their operations in the best way, thereby saving and changing the lives of millions and bringing the world one step closer to zero hunger.

Keywords: WFP; zero hunger; humanitarian logistics; analytics; multicriteria optimization; Edelman Award (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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