Executive DIrector
Cindy McCain

Role: Executive Communications for the Executive Director, World Food Programme (2023-2025)

In this role, I served as a senior communications advisor supporting the Executive Director’s public voice and mission priorities. My work included shaping message frameworks, preparing high-level talking points, developing social media strategy, and coordinating with global teams to ensure alignment across platforms and stakeholders.

I contributed to:

  • Supporting the development of messaging for international media campaigns

  • Preparing background materials for the Executive Director for interviews with media

  • Helping build narrative cohesion across speeches, digital channels, and field mission communications

  • Strengthening WFP’s approach to executive storytelling, audience strategy, and crisis-sensitive communications

My work centered on translating complex humanitarian issues into clear, human-centered narratives that supported the Executive Director’s leadership and WFP’s institutional goals. This portfolio required confidentiality, diplomacy, and the ability to collaborate across global teams while upholding standards of neutrality and discretion expected of international civil servants.

Supporting 

leadership

During a period of significant financial pressure across the UN system, I supported messaging preparations that articulated the humanitarian implications of reduced funding.

Supported the development of messaging shared on the Executive Director’s social media channels which was later referenced in international news coverage. This demonstrated how strategic communications can elevate humanitarian issues on the global stage.

Supported preparations for the Executive Director’s interview with Politico EU on humanitarian access challenges in Gaza, contributing to background material and narrative alignment. The interview generated significant international media pickup and contributed to global visibility on the issue.

This is another example of a timely, high-impact video I supported the production of, which advocated for safe, large-scale humanitarian access for people in urgent need of food. It began with my scriptwriting and a rigorous review process involving up to 12 stakeholders. From there, we scouted locations and worked cross-functionally across teams—ensuring the final product delivered a vital message to the right audiences with the power to act. All video credit: World Food Programme

Contributed to background materials and message frameworks that informed the TIME Magazine op-ed, placed on World Humanitarian Day, 19 August 2025. I also assisted with coordination between WFP’s communications team and the TIME editors during the development process.

Photo credit: World Food Programme

Team & Editorial

Leadership

It has been a privilege to contribute to a high-performing team of social media content creators and strategic writers within the Executive Director’s office. My role included identifying opportunities, streamlining workflows, and helping foster an environment where creativity and collaboration could thrive.

At our peak, our team included three communications staff, or four of us total. As the UN system faced widespread funding shortfalls in 2025, our structure adjusted, and I continued contributing to content development, scripting, social listening, and navigating the internal review process alongside colleagues. Throughout these transitions, I remained focused on ensuring that communications aligned with WFP’s objectives and reached their intended audiences.

Behind-the-scenes: supporting field content preparations with the Executive Director and the WFP Communications team. Photo credit: World Food Programme

some of Our

Best Video WOrk

These are selected examples of video projects I supported as part of the Executive Director’s communications team. My contributions included scripting support, narrative development, and coordination across WFP teams to ensure alignment with institutional messaging.

All video credit: World Food Programme

Launching

Channels

Grew a high-impact Instagram presence from the ground up—no ad budget, just strategy.

In April 2024, I launched an Instagram account that now reaches 7.5K+ engaged followers. Every milestone has been driven by creativity, consistency, and a collaborative approach to content.

  • Grew from 0 to 7.5K+ followers in under a year

  • Achieved growth with $0 in paid ads

  • Used collaborative posts to drive discovery and engagement

  • Focused on organic strategy that converts followers into loyal community

Launched a LinkedIn presence rooted in thought leadership and connection. We built a consistent longform strategy for the Executive Director’s LinkedIn presence—publishing op-ed-style posts monthly to shape narrative, show leadership, and foster trust. With 24K+ staff worldwide, we saw the need for a platform where the ED could engage more directly. The result? Our fastest-growing, highest-engagement platform.

  • Anchored the channel in original, op-ed-style thought leadership—shared monthly, regardless of external publication

  • Prioritized direct, authentic communication with WFP’s global workforce (24K+ people strong)

  • Fastest-growing and most engaged platform across all channels