ABSTRACT
This chapter sets the context of high food prices and then discusses the characteristics of the diplomacy of functional agencies of the United Nations (UN), including their limitations and differences from traditional bilateral diplomacy. The functional agencies of the UN system are often thought of as nonpolitical and are primarily concerned with humanitarian and developmental work. The chapter focuses on the World Food Program's (WFP) diplomacy and concludes with an exploration of the WFP's role in specific issues related to the food-price crisis. The diplomacy of international organizations takes place at different levels: multilaterally, bilaterally, and among international organizations themselves. The WFP's diplomacy is founded on its operational excellence and its actual achievements. Its reputation is the foundation of its diplomacy. Its diplomatic objectives in the food crisis have been pragmatic and limited. The WFP's diplomatic functions must be distinguished and derived from its operational activities, which constitute its chief concern.
