REACT becomes a Standby Partner to the UN World Food Programme
Posted by Olivia Everett 16th October 2025 News
Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins
REACT has signed a Standby Partnership Agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), enabling rapid, by-request deployments of our specialist teams into WFP-led humanitarian operations worldwide.
Why this matters now
Humanitarian needs are surging while resources are tightening. The UN’s 2025 mid-year snapshot estimates at least 300 million people urgently need assistance, with funding shortfalls forcing severe prioritisation across responses. Becoming a WFP Standby Partner means REACT can add proven capacity, quickly, where it’s needed most.
Our mission remains the same: rapid humanitarian action for the hardest to reach and most vulnerable communities, delivered by small, self-sufficient teams who integrate and collaborate at pace.
What the partnership enables
Through the partnership, WFP can call on REACT’s pre-screened specialists to quickly reinforce operations; from running logistics hubs and warehouses to setting up emergency distribution points and supporting incident management.
Deployments typically last two to four weeks, with some roles staying longer. REACT teams will operate under official UN “Experts on Mission” status, covered by UN security arrangements, and every deployment is logged by WFP as in-kind support, giving our donors a clear, auditable way to back proven surge capacity that strengthens frontline response.
WFP’s new partnership with REACT Disaster Response brings speed, expertise, and agility in the first phase of crisis response. REACT’s proven capacity to deploy logistics support rapidly will strengthen our ability to reach those in urgent need, even in the most challenging environments. We welcome REACT into the standby partnership network and look forward to working together to make a lasting impact on the lives of those who need our support most.”
— Corinne Fleischer, Director, Supply Chain and Delivery Division, WFP
Responders working with local partners in the Southern Grenadines after Hurricane Beryl.
Initial focus: the Caribbean
The agreement prioritises preparedness for the Caribbean, where WFP’s multi-country office, working with CDEMA, supports 22 countries and territories exposed to hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes, droughts and wildfires, one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions. In 2024 alone there were 18 named storms, and 11 hurricanes (five major).
This builds on REACT’s recent mobilisation after Hurricane Beryl in the Southern Grenadines, where our liaison and reconnaissance teams worked alongside the UK High Commission and NEMO.
How requests will work
The new framework is now in place, allowing REACT to provide specialist personnel and services in support of WFP operations worldwide. When a request comes through WFP’s , REACT will confirm within . Depending on the mission, REACT teams will integrate into WFP’s coordination structures - including the , and - to deliver targeted support where it’s needed most.
“This agreement means REACT can move faster, reaching people where and when they need us most… It also offers our funders a clear way to back surge capacity that respects local people and represents excellent value for every penny spent.”
— Toby Wicks, Chief Executive, REACT Disaster Response
About REACT
REACT is a humanitarian rapid response charity. Our trained Responders operate in small, agile, self-sufficient teams to plug gaps in high-tempo, complex crises collaborating with local responders to provide effective, principled assistance at pace.
Work with us
To discuss operational surge support under this new framework, contact [email protected]. To help strengthen rapid, principled humanitarian action when it matters most, support our work.