The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics, marking the first time the medal has been awarded to a UN organization.
Presented annually by the Logistics Hall of Fame and sponsored by the U.S.-based Fritz Institute, the award recognizes outstanding innovation and impact in humanitarian supply chain management. Previous recipients include International Medical Corps (USA), Strategies for Northern Development (Kenya), and Welthungerhilfe (Germany).
The WFP is being recognized for Scout, an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solution that has been transforming upstream supply chain planning since 2022. By optimizing decisions on what food commodities to procure, where to source them, and where to strategically position them, Scout enables humanitarian organizations to move 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 rapidly progressed from concept to operational reality. “When used responsibly, artificial intelligence has the potential to transform humanitarian action. Scout demonstrates how AI and data strengthen our ability to make faster, smarter decisions in some of the world’s most challenging environments. This award is a recognition of the innovation and dedication of WFP teams, who are constantly developing new ways to make our operations more efficient and reach more people facing acute hunger with lifesaving support,” said Carl Skau, Acting Executive Director of WFP.
By improving forecasting, planning and efficiency at the start of the supply chain, Scout has already generated more than $6.5 million in cumulative savings within just 24 months of deployment and will continue to scale, enabling WFP to maximize limited resources and reach more people with lifesaving assistance.
“Scout is a compelling example of how innovation can help humanitarian organizations further
strengthen their operations,” said Thilo Jörgl, Chair of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal Jury. “At a time
when humanitarian needs are increasing while financial resources are under unprecedentedpressure, the jury’s decision sends a clear message about the future of humanitarian supply chains. Smarter planning, data-driven decision-making, and the responsible application of AI will be essential to delivering more timely, targeted and effective humanitarian assistance.”
