Humanitarian Communications: Connecting the dots through storytelling with Andrea Tornese

‘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!

At any given time, WFP has thousands of people on the move; trucks, planes and ships moving tons of food and other essential items and providing high quality services – all in a bid to provide the best form of assistance to the right people at the right time.

At the core of WFP's operations lies its supply chain, which leads the humanitarian community in responding to emergencies and protracted crises, strengthening resilience and local capacity to support sustainable food systems. On any given day, WFP coordinates an average of 6,500 trucks, 140 aircraft, 20 ships and a network of 850 warehouses to deliver assistance to people living in the most food insecure and inaccessible corners of the world.

In this edition, we dive into the world of humanitarian communications with Andrea Tornese, a Communications Officer at WFP’s Supply Chain and Delivery division. Andrea shares insights into how storytelling connects the dots across WFP’s global operations, showcasing the vital role of communication in driving awareness, mobilizing resources, and amplifying the impact of WFP’s supply chain efforts. From managing crises to highlighting the resilience of affected communities, Andrea’s work demonstrates how effective communication helps bring WFP’s mission to life.

Please introduce yourself - What is your role at WFP? Where do you work and where are you from? 

My name is Andrea Tornese, and I’m from Italy. I work as a Communications Officer for the Supply Chain and Delivery division at WFP Headquarters in Rome. I’ve been engaged in WFP since 2017, starting with the UNHRD in Brindisi, Italy. UNHRD, or the United Nations’s Humanitarian Response Depot, is a unique supply chain microcosm, and during my time there—and while visiting its other four hubs—I gained hands-on experience in various aspects of logistics, from warehouse operations and cargo configuration to procurement, training, and even research and development.

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

Early on in my professional journey, I had several internships, including stints at Italy's leading news agency, ANSA, where I worked with the Foreign and Mediterranean newsrooms and spent time in their New York office. These experiences were part of my post-graduate studies at the School of Journalism, which I pursued after earning a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Between these roles, I worked as a writer and special assistant to the President of a foundation for socio-political studies.

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

My journey at WFP began in July 2012, almost by chance. I’ve always had a deep interest in global issues, which initially led me to study journalism as a way to raise awareness about them. After moving to the private sector as a sales representative, I realized I wanted my career to align more closely with my values. In 2011, I returned to university to study International Development Cooperation, which opened the door to an internship at the then WFP’s Government Partnership division.

I never imagined working for a humanitarian organization, let alone a UN agency. But there I was, suddenly part of a multi-agency team, including FAO and IFAD, helping to design the UN’s participation at Expo Milano 2015. From the moment I started at WFP, I knew this was my dream job.

So far, my experience has been both challenging and rewarding. It’s tough to be constantly exposed to crises and distressing situations, but it's incredibly fulfilling to be part of an organization that can reach millions of people in need, no matter how remote. I vividly remember realizing this during a visit to a tiny, earthquake-stricken mountain village in Papua New Guinea. It was my first deployment to an emergency response and where I saw firsthand the effectiveness of WFP's rapid response, including through UNHRD, to serve people coping with crisis.

Tell us more about WFP’s Supply Chain & Delivery and UNHRD (its role/function within WFP and the humanitarian space)

For over six decades, WFP has been navigating crises worldwide, building unparalleled expertise in supply chain management to deliver food and essential assistance to some of the most remote and insecure regions on the planet. This success is driven by a robust and efficient supply chain that handles everything from planning, buying, and pre-positioning, to transporting, storing, and delivering assistance right to the last mile. Our work encompasses traditional food aid, cash-based assistance for affected populations, and support for smallholder farmers and local markets—often by sourcing food, goods, and services locally and regionally.

Supply Chain & Delivery isn’t just the backbone of WFP’s operations; it’s also a resource for other UN agencies, governments, and NGOs, enabling their emergency preparedness and response efforts. We offer what we call "common services," including the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), which provides critical access for humanitarian workers and light cargo to remote, challenging locations where safe surface transport or commercial aviation options are unavailable. Additionally, as the lead agency of the Logistics Cluster, we coordinate responses to large-scale emergencies on behalf of the broader humanitarian community, facilitating access to information and shared logistics services.

One service particularly close to my heart is UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), a humanitarian platform and network of hubs strategically located in Ghana, Italy, Malaysia, Panama, and the United Arab Emirates. These hubs support WFP’s operations by stocking and dispatching vital equipment for emergency responses and medium to long-term programs. UNHRD also supports humanitarian partners by offering a full range of supply chain solutions, including free storage of emergency supplies, such as medical kits and shelter items, along with procurement, transport, and technical field services.

Over the past two decades, UNHRD has evolved from a network of prepositioning hubs into a platform that fosters partnerships and drives innovation. I feel privileged to have been part of this evolution, contributing to building a communications strategy that strengthens UNHRD’s position as a space for the humanitarian community to come together, share knowledge, enhance capacities, and develop solutions to improve effectiveness and efficiency in reaching those in need.

What is the role of a Communications Officer in the humanitarian space? What is a typical day like for you?

A day in the life of a Communications Officer is diverse and often fun!

Over the years, my typical day has varied greatly depending on the situation: I might be taking photos and videos of cargo being dispatched from a warehouse and loaded onto planes, producing content for social media, traveling to gather field operations stories, writing stories, annual reports, and communication strategies, liaising with the media, drafting speeches and news releases, creating campaigns and their copy, or organizing high-level visits and advocacy activities.

In the humanitarian sector, communications play a crucial role in explaining the needs of affected populations and showcasing the impact of relief efforts and long-term programmes. For organizations like WFP, which rely entirely on voluntary donations, Communications Officers highlight the importance of our work and the impact of funding. This not only demonstrates the results of donor support but also helps mobilize further resources that support lifesaving and life-changing programmes to save and change more lives.

Within WFP’s Supply Chain and Delivery communications team, our work spans the full range of our activities—from the highly visible operations like convoys, planes, and ships, to the less obvious but equally important efforts to strengthen supply chains and resilience in the countries where we operate. We emphasize our long-term impact, including initiatives to improve livelihoods for smallholder farmers, reduce post-harvest loss and food waste, and enhance food safety and quality standards in collaboration with other agencies and host governments.

Additionally, we highlight the services we provide to the broader humanitarian community, showcasing our capacity as a service provider for other UN agencies, governments, and NGOs.

The work we do is only possible thanks to the thousands of Supply Chain and Delivery colleagues around the world. Often working behind the scenes, their stories are incredibly meaningful, and it’s a privilege to be able to share their achievements.

Showing the world the work they do inspires not only our colleagues but also humanitarian workers and those aspiring to join this field.

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

Like many communications officers in this sector, balancing the need for real-time updates from crisis zones and the responsibility to respect the dignity and rights of affected individuals is always top-of-mind.

Crafting a compelling story to garner support and attention can sometimes risk exploiting the very people and communities it aims to help. Thankfully, over the years, there have been significant efforts within the sector to move away from this form of exploitation. At WFP, Communications Officers ensure our products follow ethical storytelling guidelines and principles.  

I believe it’s crucial to ensure that people understand how their stories and images will be used. Obtaining their explicit consent is fundamental, allowing them to have a say in how they are represented. Additionally, providing a broader context is important to avoid simplistic and one-dimensional narratives, and to highlight the strengths and resilience of the affected populations.

What's a project you’ve worked on that made you particularly proud?

In 2021, high-level representatives from G20 member states, along with officials from UN agencies, international organizations, and inter-governmental entities, gathered at UNHRD Brindisi for an event titled “The Role of Logistics in Preparedness and Response for COVID-19 and Future Humanitarian and Health Crises.” I had the honor—and responsibility—of playing a key role in organizing the event, co-hosted by the Government of Italy and WFP. From contributing to the concept note and negotiations to executing the event itself, I’m particularly proud of how this meeting showcased WFP’s supply chain expertise. At that time, WFP had stepped up to support the global COVID-19 response, providing transport services at no cost to move cargo and aid workers around the world through its infrastructure, including the UNHRD network.

Directly linked to this project, another initiative I’m proud of is INITIATE, a multi-agency effort launched by WFP and WHO as an outcome of that event. Bringing together over 20 humanitarian partners as well as universities and local health authorities, INITIATE aims to design and develop innovative products to enhance emergency preparedness and response efforts. On WFP’s side, this is implemented through the Supply Chain and Delivery division, leveraging our logistics and procurement expertise, UNHRD’s capacities, and strengths in fostering partnerships, knowledge sharing, capacity building and innovation. In June 2023, the first solution prototype developed within INITIATE was installed and tested at UNHRD Brindisi. Attending these exercises was incredibly exciting, as I had the chance to interview a diverse range of participants—logisticians, health emergency responders, medical doctors, healthcare assistants, and health officials from low-resource countries. Their enthusiasm for creating something that could be a game-changer in epidemic response was truly inspiring.

What advice would you give to young professionals? Give us 3 main tips.

• Be curious: Curiosity is key, especially in a complex and diverse organization like WFP. Take the time to explore its intricacies, ask questions, and engage with colleagues and experts across different functions. This will not only help you understand the organization better but also improve the authenticity and impact of your communications, aiming at a balance where compelling and accessible content don’t oversimplify the beauties of complexity and diversity. Stay curious about new technologies, platforms, and strategies to keep your skills relevant.
• Break down silos: Create channels for regular dialogue and information sharing between teams. By connecting with different parts of the organization, you’ll ensure your messaging is accurate, aligned, and cohesive. Encourage collaboration and transparency to break down silos, as it fosters a more integrated and effective communication approach.
• Learn and share: The humanitarian sector is constantly evolving, and it’s important to keep learning about new trends, best practices, and lessons from past experiences. However, learning is only half the equation—share what you’ve learned with colleagues and peers. This exchange of knowledge strengthens teams, fosters collaboration, and helps build collective capacity.

Thank you Andrea!

Let us know your thoughts and questions and share these career tips with the future humanitarians in your LinkedIn connections. Subscribe to our ‘Pathway to WFP’ newsletter to receive the next episode in your inbox!