The World Food Programme (WFP) has long enlisted the voluntary services and support of prominent figures as Goodwill Ambassadors, Advocates and High-Level Supporters to help bring attention to global hunger.

They are some of the world’s most recognised and distinguished individuals in the fields of film, television, music, arts, sports, and more—with talents and achievements that have made them household names.

One thing they have in common is they share commitment to improving the lives of hungry and vulnerable communities worldwide, and use their far-reaching platforms and influence to raise public awareness and mobilise support for zero hunger among audiences that transcend national borders.

Goodwill Ambassadors

Abel “The Weeknd” Makkonen Tesfaye, Goodwill Ambassador

Filtering R&B and pop through an ambitious widescreen lens, The Weeknd took over popular music and culture on his own terms. The multi-platinum and Diamond certified star is one of the most listened to artists in the world on Spotify (over 68 billion streams) and is a top 10 artist of all time for RIAA singles. Alongside his gilded musical career, he’s graced the covers of TIME, Forbes, Variety, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ along with late night TV stages with heralded performances on SNL, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and the VMA’s where he accepted the awards for Video of the Year and Best R&B and most impactfully as the solo headliner of the 2021 Super Bowl LV. He walked away from The Billboard Music Awards with 9 trophies including Top Artist along with notable wins and performances at the acclaimed Brit Awards and iHeart Music Awards. In recent times he has made acting appearances in TV and film with 2019’s film Uncut Gems as well as starring in and co-writing an episode of the hit show American Dad. He generously shares, with over $3M in donations in 2020 and 2021 so far to various charities with a recent $1 million dollar donation to help with the crisis in Ethiopia. The continuous record breaking of charts, sales and streams, headlining the biggest festivals and stadiums in the world including this year’s Super Bowl, and his ever mysterious public persona combined solidifies The Weeknd as one of the most compelling and significant artists of the 21st century.

Andrew Zimmern, Goodwill Ambassador

Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and social justice advocate. As the creator, executive producer and host of Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew Zimmern’s Driven by Food and Emmy-winning The Zimmern List, he has devoted his life to exploring and promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance and understanding through food. In 2020, Andrew returned to television with his MSNBC series What's Eating America, and in 2021, he premiered Family Dinner on Chip & Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network. In 2022, Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen will premiere on the Outdoor Channel. All three shows were created by Intuitive Content, the full-service television and digital production company that Andrew heads as both founder and CEO. In 2021, Intuitive Content was named one of the top 100 production companies in the world by Realscreen. Andrew is also the founder and CEO of Passport Hospitality, a restaurant and food service development company. He is passionate about his philanthropic endeavors and sits on the board of directors of Services for the UnderServed, Project Explorer/EXPLR, Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project and Soigne Hospitality. He serves on City Harvest’s Food Council, is the International Rescue Committee’s Voice for Nutrition and a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nation’s World Food Programme. Andrew is also a founding member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, fighting to save restaurants affected by Covid-19. He resides in Minneapolis.

Anne, Goodwill Ambassador

Anne is an award-winning Japanese actress, narrator, and popular TV personality, appearing in movies, TV drama, high-profile printing ads and TV commercials. Starting out her career as a model in 2001, she appeared in a number of fashion shows in New York and Paris. She was selected as one of “100 Japanese People the World Respects,” by the Japanese version of Newsweek in 2006. As her first initiative with WFP, Anne voiced TV and radio commercial broadcast nationwide in Japan as part of a public-welfare ad campaign, known as AC Japan. The commercial featuring WFP drew attention to the world’s hungry children who are affected by conflict, climate change and COVID-19.

Amal Dabbas, Goodwill Ambassador

Amal Dabbas is a Jordanian famous actress nominated as WFP’s Goodwill Ambassador in 2010, to assist WFP in public advocacy and raising support for the work of WFP and the people we serve. She has a great influence on people and an excellent reputation regionally through hundreds of plays and TV drama serials. Born on 29 April 1965 in Jordan, Ms. Dabbas is a winner of the Independence Medal (First Degree) presented by HM Late King Hussein ibn Talal and TV Award for Performance Excellency. In 1994, she received the Key to the State of California as an award for Performance Excellence in Theater. She was the first Jordanian actress to participate actively in radio, TV, and theatre locally. She has received large number of awards locally & regionally and currently representing Jordan at the International Free Theatre Nights Festival. She has helped in several charity events, such as King Hussein Foundation and WFP’s fundraising campaigns.

Daniel Brühl, Goodwill Ambassador

Award-winning actor Daniel Brühl has been involved in several critically acclaimed film and television projects and has garnered international recognition for his talent and versatility. He had his final breakthrough with the 2003 internationally acclaimed “Good Bye, Lenin!”for which he received several awards. Quentin Tarantino brought him to Hollywood for “Inglorious Basterds” and for Ron Howard's film “Rush” Brühl played the Austrian Formula 1 driver Niki Lauda, earning a nomination as Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globe Awards 2014. Films such as “The Fifth Estate” and “The First Avenger: Civil War” followed as well as the hit series “The Alienist” and “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier”.

Currently Daniel Brühl’s directorial debut “Next Door” is in theatres. The script was written by best-selling author Daniel Kehlmann based on the idea of Brühl. He also produced and stars in the movie. In addition, he runs the international film production company Amusement Park Film with his partner Malte Grunert, has published two books, and owns the Spanish tapas bar “Bar Raval” in the heart of Berlin.

He is a member of the Oscar Academy and received the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres) in France.

George Stroumboulopoulos, Goodwill Ambassador

George Stroumboulopoulos is a television and radio interviewer, actor, media producer, and humanitarian. His Apple Music radio show, STROMBO, is heard in over 160 countries worldwide. He is an award-winning broadcaster who hosted, and executive produced the talk shows, George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and The Hour on Canada's national broadcaster, the CBC. His past work includes the show, Stroumboulopoulos on CNN and was the anchor on Hockey Night in Canada. George was also the host of Canada's premier culture show, The New Music. In addition to being Canada's first WFP Goodwill Ambassador, he also started the George Stroumboulopoulos Music Therapy Scholarship helping fund education for therapists; and works with Artists for Peace and Justice, the Prince’s Trust Canada, Innocence Canada, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. George has an Honorary Doctorate of Laws at the University of Calgary and was recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader.

Hend Sabry, Goodwill Ambassador

Hend Sabry started her acting career in the age of fourteen starring in The Silences of the Palaces. Little did she know that the beginning of her lifelong journey started there and then in 1994 on the red carpet of Cannes film festival. The film got listed among the top 100 most important films of the 20th century by TIME Magazine. She chose to study law hoping to be diplomat but cinema came again knocking on her door. Her filmography today includes more than 30 awarded films across the Arab world. Hend Sabry's continuous care about the human experience led her to become a Goodwill Ambassador for WFP. She continues to influence, inspire and bridge the gap in the Arab world.

Kate Hudson, Goodwill Ambassador

Kate Hudson is a Golden Globe Award winner and Academy Award-nominated actress, producer, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. She is best known for her roles in “Almost Famous,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” and “Bride Wars,” which she also produced, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in “Music.” In 2013, ‎Kate co-founded Fabletics, a global active-lifestyle brand with a mission to offer premium activewear at an accessible price. She is an ambassador for WW and recently introduced her own gluten-free, non-GMO vodka, King St. Kate’s wellness empire also includes her line of all-natural holistic nutritional supplements, INBLOOM. She and her brother, Oliver Hudson, host the podcast, “Sibling Revelry.” Aside from WFP, Kate’s many charitable and humanitarian affiliations include The Hawn Foundation’s MindUP program, Baby2Baby, Operation Smile, and numerous other organizations dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of women and children and education around the world.

Manal Al Alem, Goodwill Ambassador

Chef Manal Alalem is a Dubai-based professional chef and TV host. Throughout her career, Manal has encouraged women’s involvement in the culinary industry by leading specialized culinary courses for women as well as setting up the Manal Club - a network of 6,000 women from across the Arab world who take part in culinary festivals, shows and competitions. In 2017, Manal Alalem was selected as one of the ten most influential Arab women in social media, by the "Forbes" magazine, and in 2016, she was chosen as the most Influential woman on social media platforms by "BPG Cohn & Wolfe". Chef Manal Alalem has been appointed a title of honor as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Jordan, one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations fighting hunger worldwide.

Michael Kors, Goodwill Ambassador

Michael Kors is a world-renowned, award-winning designer of luxury accessories and ready-to-wear. His namesake company, established in 1981, currently produces a range of products under his signature Michael Kors Collection, MICHAEL Michael Kors and Michael Kors Mens labels. These products include accessories, footwear, watches, jewelry, women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, wearable technology, eyewear and a full line of fragrance products. Michael is a dedicated supporter of charities both near and far. He has been a passionate advocate for God’s Love We Deliver, a New York City-based non-profit that provides meals to people living with critical illnesses in the Tri-state area. In 2013, Michael launched WATCH HUNGER STOP, his philanthropic campaign supporting the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and currently serves as a WFP Goodwill Ambassador. Additionally, Michael supports many other organizations locally, nationally and globally, including the New York Restoration Project, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Roundabout Theatre Company, F.I.T., amfAR, NewYork-Presbyterian Fund, LGBT Community Center and the NAACP, amongst others.

Son Heung-Min, Goodwill Ambassador

Son Heung-min is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and captains the South Korea national team. Considered one of the best players in the world and one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time, he is known for his explosive speed, finishing, two-footedness and ability to link play. In the 2021–22 season, he won the Premier League Golden Boot award with 23 goals, becoming the first Asian player to do so. Outside of football, Son is viewed as a symbol of national pride in South Korea for his achievements.

Advocates

Arthur Potts Dawson, WFP Advocate

Arthur Potts Dawson is a chef and World Food Programme Advocate. Described by Jamie Oliver as 'the original green chef', much of his work centres around sustainability in the food system, the future of food and how we achieve Zero Hunger by 2030. Arthur is the executive chef and sustainability expert at OmVed Gardens, an event space and food hub in North London. He is a founding member of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub’s Chefs’ Manifesto, a network bringing together chefs to act for a sustainable food system.

Asma Khan, WFP Advocate

Asma Khan is one of the UK's most prominent female chefs and an unstoppable force for social change in the food industry.

Owner of Darjeeling Express and star of Netflix’s Chef’s Table, Asma is passionate about using her platform to give women from diverse backgrounds more opportunities to succeed.

Although Asma loved food, she left India without ever learning to cook. Separated from home, she felt a longing for the warmth and comfort of the dishes she felt a deep connection to.

Asma was the first woman in her family to attend college, she qualified as a lawyer and completed a doctorate in British Constitutional Law, but she always knew her future was in food.

The journey started in her own home, hosting supper clubs, before opening her London restaurant - which is run by an all-women team, many of whom are second daughters or immigrants.

Asma was the first British chef to feature on Netflix's Chef's Table, and she used her appearance as an opportunity to talk about race and about the absolute imbalance of female representation in kitchens.
Asma works with WFP to draw attention to the global hunger crisis and the central role women’s empowerment plays in ending hunger and transforming communities.

Tony Yoo, WFP Advocate

Mr. Tony Yoo is a celebrity and leading chef specializing in modern Korean dining and Republic of Korea's first ever Michelin star chef. Mr. Yoo has helped bring attention to hunger and food waste through WFP’s Zero Waste Zero Hunger campaign by introducing special menus at his restaurant to encourage visitors to reduce food waste by reducing their portions, and thus decreasing significant amounts of food waste. This was later reported as an example case at press interviews and policy discussion hosted by MPs and government officials in Korea. Mr. Yoo has also supported WFP’s global initiatives including the #FightFamine campaign and helped raise awareness of the importance of school meals in international media. In his role as a WFP Advocate, the Korean chef is ready to expand his advocacy around other areas of WFP’s work such as food systems, nutrition, school meals and in-kind Korean rice contribution to WFP operations.

Zeina Barhoum, WFP Advocate

Zeina Barhoum is an award-winning Opera singer and WFP Advocate. In 2017, she founded Amman Opera Festival, the first Opera focused festival in the Arab World under the Patronage of HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein. She performed on some of the world's most prestigious stages and venues including the Kensington Palace, The Hofburg Palace, Cadogan Hall, The UNESCO Paris, The Rimini Opera and Campidoglio in Italy, Austria, the UK, France, Ukraine, China, Jordan, UAE and Lebanon with renowned artists, including Italian Baritone and tutor Walter Alberti Roberto Alagna who is the acclaimed successor of Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli. She launched the Alcantara album series with the message of Bridging Cultures through music in a number of languages. Zeina was appointed as WFP Advocate in March 2020, and since then she’s been lending her voice and supporting WFP to raise awareness on hunger issues around the world.

High-Level Supporters and Champions

Eitan Bernath, High-Level Supporter

Eitan Bernath is an award-winning chef, author, TV personality, entertainer, and social justice activist. The multihyphenate began his gilded entertainment career early, appearing as one of the youngest ever contestants on the Food Network’s “Chopped” at just 11 years old. Since then, Bernath’s social media presence has amassed over 8 million followers and 3 billion annual video views that reach more than 350 million consumers in 150 countries. He is the chief executive officer of Eitan Productions, the Principal Culinary Contributor for the Daytime Emmy® award-winning Drew Barrymore Show on CBS, and is a contributor to The Washington Post, Food & Wine, Saveur, Delish, and The Kitchn. Bernath’s debut cookbook, Eitan Eats The World, a national bestseller, hit bookstands in May 2022 from Penguin Random House with critical acclaim from outlets including The Washington Post, USA Today, and the Good Morning America. Heralded as a leader in social media for mastering the art of quick-cut content, Bernath’s story and success has graced the pages of publications including The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and Forbes. In September 2021, Bernath was the youngest ever individual to receive Forbes coveted 30 Under 30 award in Food & Drink. In his home of New York City, he serves as the youngest ever member of the Food Council at City Harvest, and as an ambassador for Animal Haven, an animal shelter in downtown Manhattan.

Distel Zola, High-Level Supporter

Distel Zola is a Congolese professional football player currently playing for Les Barbagiuans Monaco. He is one of four siblings and is among the best Congolese football talents, particularly known for his leadership and strength as a midfielder. He started his career at the age of 13, playing with AS Monaco, one of the most successful clubs in France and has since then played for Stade Lavallois, AS Nancy Lorraine, Le Havre AC, Samsunspor in Turkey and Charlotte Independence in the USA. . As a seasoned player, he represented the Democratic Republic of Congo at the international level in the 2015 African Nations Cup where the DRC finished third.

In 2021, he and his wife, Lorraine Lemaire, launched the Banazola Foundation to give Congolese children from deprived backgrounds a better future. He joins WFP as High-level Supporter for nutrition and school meals and will be supporting WFP’s work in Democratic Republic of Congo engaging with youth and advocating about the importance of healthy food for better living.

Cholitas Escaladoras Maya, High-Level Supporters

Ana Lia Gonzales Magueño and Teodora Magueño de Gonzales

Ana Lia Gonzales Magueño and Dora Magueño are two famous mountain guides from the Bolivian Aymara nation also known as the “Cholitas Escaladoras Maya.” They have recently been nominated as WFP high-level supporters. Both will carry out activities to deliver WFP’s vision by improving better nutrition amongst Indigenous women and empowering them to connect their ancestral products to better markets, while improving their food security and securing job opportunities.

Ana Lia Gonzales Magueño (Lita), the leader of the “Cholitas Escaladoras Maya”, and her mother, Teodora Magueño de Gonzales (Dora) have climbed the highest mountains in the Americas dressed in their traditional Indigenous attire known as Pollera (Skirt). The combination of conventional appearance, and energetic activities, drew the attention of national and international media such as CNN and The Guardian, as well as that of a whole generation of young Bolivian women trying to break barriers against women’s empowerment.

The “Cholitas Escaladoras Maya” have a close relationship with traditional counterparts as representatives of Indigenous women in Bolivia. With the help of the “Cholitas Escaladoras Maya” WFP aims to keep inspiring generations to improve their nutrition and to make Zero Hunger a reality by 2030. The Cholitas will work with youth influencers to increase the visibility of Bolivia’s ancestral products, and recommend a healthy gastronomy, involving WFP counterparts, donors and government officials.

Ana Lia Gonzales Magueño (Lita), is a teacher and began her professional climbing career when she was 15 years old. The highest mountain she climbed was Aconcagua in Argentina, which stands at 6,962 meters. Dora Magueño, the mother of Ana Lia Gonzalez, started her career as a mountain cook.

Feike Sijbesma, WFP Champion

Feike Sijbesma was CEO of global nutrition company Royal DSM from 2007-2020 and now serves as its Honorary Chairman. True to his vision that purpose-driven business can address issues like climate change and nutrition for all, he championed the company’s pioneering partnership with WFP and led the evolution of DSM into a “purpose-led, performance-driven” business. Feike ;continues to encourage companies to embrace the SDGs, promoting the idea that a fairer future for people and the planet is essential for businesses everywhere to thrive. Feike serves as chair of Royal Philips, co-chair of the Global Center on (Climate) Adaptation and as board member in leading companies and organisations, including the World Economic Forum, Unilever, the Dutch Central Bank, and the UN Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network. In 2018 he was ranked as one of Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders. In 2021, Feike joined us as the first WFP Champion.