Turning Challenges into Purpose: A life devoted to Humanitarian Action with David Horrocks

‘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!

Meet David Horrocks , Project Coordinator for Restoring Livelihoods and Revitalising Rural Communities through Mine Action with WFP Ukraine. Over the past three decades, David has worked across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in international development, humanitarian response, and organisational leadership. His career began as a volunteer in Thailand, supporting rural farmers, and has since taken him through complex emergencies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and beyond.

Today, he is helping communities in Ukraine reclaim agricultural land contaminated by explosive ordnance, restoring not only fields but also livelihoods. His story is one of resilience, determination, and a lifelong commitment to turning challenges into opportunities to serve the most vulnerable.

Read on to discover how David’s personal journey, professional expertise, and humanitarian values continue to shape his work with WFP in Ukraine.

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

I’m David Horrocks, Project Coordinator for Restoring Livelihoods and Revitalising Rural Communities through Mine Action with the WFP Ukraine Country Office. I was born in Leigh, Lancashire, grew up in Atherton, Lancashire, and Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom.

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

My professional journey spans more than three decades in international development, humanitarian operations, and organisational leadership. I began as a VSO volunteer in Thailand, working with the Department of Agricultural Extension to support rural silkworm farmers. This hands-on experience sparked my passion for community development and sustainable livelihoods. 

I then managed development programmes in Cambodia, focusing on agriculture, natural resource management, education, and water access. From there, I transitioned into humanitarian response, leading food security, nutrition, and WASH projects in DPR Korea, Afghanistan, and the Balkans during times of crisis and recovery.

In the 2000s, I took on senior leadership roles in complex emergency settings, including Iraq and Lebanon, managing large-scale mine action operations with sizeable teams and multimillion-dollar budgets. I later joined UNDP in Cambodia, overseeing the national mine action programme, and subsequently moved into global health as a Senior Programme Manager at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, where I managed a US$27.5 million portfolio supporting health systems in Africa.

More recently, I served as CEO of a UK-based charity supporting people with sensory disabilities, followed by a role as Interim Operations Manager for an ICT consultancy.

Throughout my career, I’ve combined field operations management with strategic leadership, capacity building, and partnership development with governments, donors, and NGOs. Academically, I hold degrees in development-related disciplines, complemented by extensive professional training in humanitarian operations, programme management, and leadership.

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

The release of safe agricultural land is vital for the survival and well-being of countless farmers and their families in Ukraine. Restoring land to productivity is the first step in rebuilding resilient and prosperous rural communities.

I joined WFP specifically for this project, developed in partnership with FAO , which supports communities affected by explosive ordnance—especially those reliant on farming for survival.

Throughout my career in mine action, I have sought to connect its outputs with human security and human development. This project aligns with that vision by supporting Ukraine’s national mine action strategy to release agricultural land from explosive contamination. Once land is declared safe, farmers can cultivate it with confidence. WFP’s partnership with FAO ensures households receive further support, whether through FAO’s livelihood programmes or WFP’s Quick Impact Self-Reliance Projects.

As a qualified agronomist with extensive mine action experience, this project allows me to bring both skillsets together.

What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities at work?

My role involves working with the WFP project team to ensure that resources are planned and delivered in collaboration with partners. A key part of my work is helping to strengthen the project’s relationship with authorities, donors, and partner organisations, by tailoring information packages for Kyiv-based authorities, highlighting project impact, alignment with national priorities, and scale-up potential. This includes success stories and case studies that showcase achievements from current project phases to build buy-in for further funding support and expansion. In addition, I coordinate the procurement of essential mine action assets and equipment, including Mine Detection Dogs, detectors, vehicles, and mechanical tools, that are donated to WFP’s mine action partners.

What is the most rewarding part of working at WFP? 

Without a doubt, going to the field and seeing the impact of our work. 

One of the greatest rewards throughout my career has been reporting to donors on the handover of completed land release tasks to farmers—and being there to witness the joy on farmers’ faces as they plough and plant their fields once again.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your career and how did you overcome them? 

I was born with both vision and hearing impairments and underwent eye surgery at a very young age. These disabilities continue to present challenges, but I work hard every day to overcome them. I have been fortunate to receive strong support from my family, friends, colleagues, and, crucially, my teachers—support that enabled me to succeed in mainstream education and attend university.

Despite these barriers, I have been given opportunities that allowed me to build a fulfilling career, working with diverse communities, organisations, and governments to deliver vital assistance to the poorest of the poor.

My humanitarian journey began as a volunteer in Thailand, where I saw first-hand the realities of life without opportunity. Since then, humanitarian work has not only been a career, but a calling I fully embrace—driven by purpose and a determination to make a difference for the most vulnerable.

Can you tell us about WFP’s operations in Ukraine?

WFP works in Ukraine to support people whose lives have been upended by the war, with a focus on the most vulnerable – displaced families, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Our priority is frontline communities, where needs are greatest: every month, we reach about 1.1 million people with food and cash assistance, 90% of whom live near the frontline.

Beyond emergency support, we are working alongside the Government of Ukraine to strengthen social assistance systems and help pave the way for recovery. This includes local procurement from Ukrainian farmers, supporting food exports, and advancing mine action programmes so that land can be safely used again for agriculture and livelihoods. We also help schools across the country provide daily hot meals for children, in line with the School Nutrition Reform led by the First Lady of Ukraine.

What keeps you going? 

My commitment to humanitarian principles continues to drive me to work with people and organisations that prioritise compassion, empathy, and justice. My career has centred on building partnerships and developing national capacity to support the most vulnerable and marginalised—helping them gain the means to lift themselves out of poverty and build resilience.

My personal experiences have shaped my values and strengthened my motivation. I believe in striving for a world where people can fulfil their potential and live sustainably.

Whether leading DSN, a charity supporting people with severe disabilities, responding to the tragic deaths of children in minefields in Afghanistan, or helping rural farmers facing extreme poverty and malnutrition, my goal has always been to serve those in need. I believe that, ultimately, we work for our beneficiaries. 

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

As someone with disabilities, my first piece of advice is never to believe that challenges will prevent you from building a career you love. With determination, you can overcome barriers and create opportunities. Secondly, surround yourself with good people—those colleagues who become mentors and true friends. They will inspire you, guide you, and push you to grow. Finally, value and nurture these relationships, even when your paths take you to different countries. The bonds you build will sustain you during difficult moments in both your career and your personal life.

Thank you David!

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