Running Towards Purpose: A 17 Year Journey with WFP

‘Pathway to WFP’ is the LinkedIn career series by the World Food Programme investigating the professional backgrounds and life choices that led our staff to the world’s largest humanitarian agency. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive new episodes directly in your inbox!

From his early days as an intern at WFP Headquarters in Rome to managing logistics operations that support some of the world’s most complex emergencies, Valerio Franchi has spent nearly 17 years growing within the organisation. Now based in Cairo, he oversees the financial and accountability aspects of the Gaza and Sudan corridor operations — ensuring that every delivery, every transaction, and every report contributes to WFP’s mission of getting food to those who need it most.

His journey is one of quiet dedication, perseverance, and purpose. Whether navigating field deployments in Afghanistan or coordinating from behind the scenes, Valerio has always found meaning in the balance between numbers and humanity. In this interview, he reflects on his path, the challenges that shaped him, and the lessons that keep him — quite literally — running forward.  

Read more to discover Valerio’s story and how a lifelong passion for running continues to inspire his work and outlook on life. 

Introduce yourself - what is your role at WFP? Where do you work and where are you from? 

My name is Valerio Franchi, and I am a Logistics Officer with WFP, currently based in Cairo. I coordinate the Funds Management and Commodity Accounting Unit for the Gaza and Sudan corridor operations. My role focuses on the financial and accountability core of the supply chain — managing and monitoring budgets, tracking commodities, and ensuring timely payments to vendors and transporters. While I may not always be on the front line, I play a key role in ensuring operational compliance and efficiency behind the scenes. 

I am originally from Rome, Italy, where I began my journey with WFP at Headquarters as an intern back in November 2008. It’s hard to believe it has been nearly 17 years! 

Tell us about your professional journey: how did you start your career? What is your academic and previous professional background. 

I began my journey with WFP in 2008 while still a student at the University of Rome, where I graduated in Statistics. I remember my father driving me to my first interview for a six-month internship with the Freight Accounting Unit, part of the Shipping Division. At the time, I was also working part-time for the Rome Cinema Festival, so receiving that call from WFP was both unexpected and exciting. 

They were looking for someone with a statistics background to support with data entry and I have always had a passion for numbers, maybe even too much!

That internship turned out to be the start of a long and meaningful career. I never imagined that a short-term contract would lead to becoming part of the WFP family for so many years. In fact, WFP has become a second life for me not only professionally but also personally, as my wife works with the organisation too. We are both deeply grateful for what WFP has given us. 

From day one, I have done my best to contribute and grow within the organisation. I have always appreciated the mission, the people, and the dynamic environment. Despite the many short-term contracts along the way, I stayed committed. Especially now, with the funding challenges we are facing, I believe it’s more important than ever to stay alert and give our best every single day to support the mission.

What brought you to WFP? Feel free to expand on how you joined the organization, and how your experience has been so far.

I joined WFP after seeing an internship announcement posted on my university’s website. They were looking for two interns to support the Supply Chain Unit for six months, and I applied without hesitation. 

Unlike many who dream of working for the United Nations and study specifically for that, my academic interests were always rooted in Statistics, Economics, and Mathematics. Honestly, I could easily have ended up working in a bank or at ISTAT, Italy’s National Institute of Statistics.

But during my time with WFP, I gradually shaped my specialisation around numbers while also developing a broader set of skills. I have had the opportunity to travel extensively and gain valuable logistics experience.

I have always loved discovering new cultures and exploring the world, and WFP has given me the chance to do all of that while contributing to a meaningful mission. 

What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities at work in your current role? What is a typical day like for you?

My day typically starts around 6–6:30 a.m. Unless my kids decide to wake up even earlier, which tends to happen, especially at weekends 😄. After getting them ready for nursery, I go for a 45-minute run, covering about 8–9 km. It’s my way of charging up for the working day, which usually begins around 8:30 or 9:00 a.m.

Professionally, I manage an annual budget, providing financial analysis and oversight for the logistics corridors supporting Gaza and Sudan. My role covers a wide range of responsibilities: quarterly budget exercises, monthly physical inventory tasks, daily commodity tracking and reporting, coordination with Palestine and Sudan country offices on cargo movement, and liaison with Head Quarters on LESS system [an internal WFP platform] support.

What is the most rewarding part of working at WFP?

There are many things I love about working at WFP. One of the most rewarding parts is seeing the real impact of our work, especially during field missions. I will never forget my visit to Karamoja in Uganda being surrounded by children, their smiles, their curiosity, their joy. Even now, I get goosebumps remembering how they looked at me with gratitude and excitement. It was a moment that reminded me why we do what we do.

In Bambari, Central African Republic, I enjoyed the simplicity of life in the compound. One afternoon, a local colleague took me for a walk in the forest — safe, quiet, peaceful, colourful. I felt a strong urge to tell everyone around me: “I am here with you, I want to support you, I am your friend.” These moments stay with me.

Even in places like Afghanistan, I remember the maintenance staff — humble, kind people who always had a smile and were ready to help. These faces, these interactions, are the true reward of this job. 

I have always had a passion for music — I studied clarinet at the Conservatory of Rome. Sometimes I turn my field experiences into music, sampling voices and sounds such as aeroplanes, and creating tracks. I also keep a diary, hoping one day to share these stories with my children. I want them to understand what I have contributed to, and how important it is to respect others, be part of a community, and find meaning in life. 

WFP has given me so much, and I am truly grateful. The job asks a lot — you need to be ready to travel, to leave your comfort zone, sometimes even your family. I have always accepted that because it means I have the chance to do something meaningful. Now, with a family, I am more hesitant — I want to be close to my kids. But if WFP calls, I know it is my duty, and I will be ready. 

Can you tell us about WFP’s Emergency response (Tell us the operations you have been part of and how WFP is supporting communities)?

During my career, I have been part of four major emergency responses.

During the Ebola crisis in early 2015, I was deployed to Sierra Leone to support the recovery of logistics operations, validating the backlog and ensuring ongoing activities could be supported through LESS offline processes. I trained local staff in port operations, landside transport, and warehouse management using LESS. I also conducted a mission to the Port Loko sub-office to support post–go-live activities. That sub-office experience was one of the most challenging and rewarding parts, sleeping in a tent, undergoing daily medical checks, constantly washing hands to avoid contagion, wearing masks. It reminded me how life can be fragile and unpredictable.

It felt almost like a sign of what was to come. In 2019, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I supported the common service as Cargo Tracking Manager in Johannesburg. My main task was to monitor, track, and report on cargo requests from partners and governments. I worked closely with HQ, aviation officers, and service providers at Johannesburg Airport to ensure the timely delivery of life-saving cargo and facilitated payments to vendors. 

In 2022, in Afghanistan and as part of a WFP scale-up, I supported the Supply Chain team with pipeline coordination, data management, and commodity accounting. I worked as a Planning Officer using PRISMA, a corporate analytics platform used to manage upstream and downstream dashboards in DOTS. I conducted user acceptance testing, developed training materials, and supported change management for the dashboard rollout. I spent a lot of time with colleagues, sharing both tough and funny moments. We built a real sense of team spirit, whether it was me making pizza for everyone or laughing when I spoke Italian too passionately. 

Beyond work, I genuinely fell in love with Afghanistan, the country, its people, its culture, and especially the deep respect shown towards foreigners. It’s a place that left a lasting impression on me, and I sincerely hope one day to return.

Now, I am based in Cairo, supporting operations in Gaza and Sudan since August 2024. It’s a great place to be, my kids can grow up in an international environment, learning new languages and cultures. 

What keeps you going?

My motivation comes from the people around me, the sense of purpose, and the hope of inspiring others and because I truly enjoy this job. 

I have always had a vision one that began in Afghanistan. While running inside the compound there, I often thought about the countless people around the world who need help. I wanted my daily runs to mean something beyond personal discipline. Every morning before work, I would run in a confined 1 km loop, 334 times; covering over 3,400 km in two years. I kept asking myself: What’s the point of doing this if it doesn’t help others? Could each kilometre be a small act of giving? 

That question stayed with me. And now, I would love for this idea to grow. If anyone is interested, I’d be happy to share more and if others want to join in, they are more than welcome. The project has not yet started, but I hope it will one day.

Can you share tips on how to pursue a similar career?  

• Learn from your mistakes: You will always make mistakes, and you will always face criticism. But if you want to grow, you need to believe in yourself and step out of your comfort zone, gradually, without affecting the team or the operation, and always with respect. 
• Be humble: Never think you are better than others. Even if today you feel ahead, you never know what others are going through. You only know your own story. Try to understand people, listen to them, and show respect especially in humanitarian work.  

Do you have anything to add? 

Running has taught me alot. People think running is always fun and rewarding but it’s not. There are days when it rains, when it snows, when it’s too hot, when you didn’t sleep well, or when things aren’t going right at work or at home. But you still go out and run. The first step is always the hardest. Then it gets better. During a long run, your body tells you to stop — ignore that message and keep going. You will be rewarded.

That’s how I see life and work too. I’ve already run four marathons, and I’m planning my fifth in March 2026. 

Thank you Valerio!

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