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Guatemala is facing serious challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) on Zero Hunger, which includes the elimination of all forms of malnutrition by 2030. 

Almost half the population cannot afford the cost of the basic food basket. As a result, the prevalence of stunting (impaired development due to malnutrition) in children under 5 is one of the highest in the world – and the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean.  

A multi-ethnic country with a rich cultural heritage, Guatemala is a country where poverty affects people disproportionately in terms of food insecurity, nutrition, health and education.

Guatemala is among the ten countries in the world most vulnerable to disasters and climate emergencies: over the past three years, extended dry seasons have had a severely damaging impact on the livelihoods of subsistence farmers, who rely on rain-fed agriculture – especially in the Dry Corridor.  

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been in the country since 1974 and has a long tradition of working with government authorities, UN agencies and partners to promote food security and nutrition for the most vulnerable people, including rural women and children. 

In line with SDG 2 targets, WFP is supporting Guatemalan institutions in their efforts to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition, through the strengthening of social programmes. WFP also works with rural communities to enhance their resilience to climate-related shocks and improve access to markets. 

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What the World Food Programme is doing in Guatemala

Emergency preparedness and response
WFP complements national efforts to meet the needs of affected communities. In case of sudden or slow-moving emergencies, WFP saves lives through cash-based transfers and emergency kits to prevent the deterioration of food security. For the prevention of the loss of livelihoods, WFP facilitates early recovery actions such as the implementation of grains reservoirs, water tanks and road recoupment. WFP helps to develop the capacities of government agencies responsible for the national response to disasters, through technical assistance focused on emergency response, anticipatory actions, logistics and humanitarian aid.
Integrated resilience
We work with communities to create or diversify agricultural and non-agricultural assets. Saving and credit groups for example teach women how to organize their budgets and create local businesses. Our integrated resilience programme combines interventions in nutrition and food security, as well as climate change adaptation. An example of this effort is microfinance, which includes climate insurance, savings and loans to communities, teaching communities how to manage their budgets in a more sustainable, resilient manner.
Nutrition and food security
WFP helped launch, and train the staff involved in, government health and nutrition “brigades” – which carry out assessments for children, adolescents and pregnant and breastfeeding women to detect malnutrition cases. Our work also includes workshops, technical assistance in designing nutrition-sensitive interventions, and support in monitoring and evaluating the impact of programmes.
School meals
WFP supports the National School Feeding Programme through guidance on programme design, monitoring and evaluation, as well as educating families in food safety practices. This helps to meet the basic nutritional needs of children, promote healthy and fresh diets in schools and households, encourage school attendance and retention, and increase community participation involving parent organizations.
Social protection
WFP’s support for social protection involves vulnerability analyses to identify, prioritize and advocate for food-insecure and vulnerable populations who need assistance to empower them to build more resilient and sustainable livelihoods.
Provision of services
WFP helps the Government buy food and non-food items in a fair, accountable and efficient way. This covers areas including integrity checks, procurement procedures, due diligence evaluations and ethical behaviour among staff and partners. Additionally, WFP helps local authorities by sharing expertise, including in information management and cash-based transfer platforms.

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In focus

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Guatemala is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
European Union German Cooperation BMZ German Cooperation GFFO Spain Canada

Operations in Guatemala

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Contacts

Office

13 Calle 8-44, Zona 10, Edificio Edyma Plaza, 4o. Nivel Oficina 400, Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala

Phone
+502 2300 6000
Fax
+502 2300 6003
Email
WFP.GuatemalaCity@wfp.org
For media inquiries
WFP.GuatemalaCity@wfp.org
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