General information

About the Mission

Launch date: 1998
Local staff : 58
Expatriates : 5

Key figures

Population: 12 million inhabitants
Life expectancy : 70 years (2007)
Human Development Index : Ranking 121 out of 177

Humanitarian context

A high level of structural poverty is to blame for the country’s difficult circumstances over the past five years. It has also meant that, after hurricane Mitch, the situation in Guatemala is at its most critical for several years.

The drought suffered in recent years has meant a serious reduction in agricultural productivity. In 2002 there was a 60 per cent fall in the production of maize and garden vegetables. The reduction in family food supplies poses a serious threat to food security.

The progressive decrease in the international price of coffee has affected both jobs and wages in one of the most important productive sectors of the country.

The main causes of this structural poverty are: limited access to cultivatable land (unequal distribution), demographic pressure, the lack of revenue being generated by agriculture (a lack of knowledge about agricultural techniques, an agro-export model) and a lack of nutritional and health education in rural areas.

The weakened State has not succeeded in complying with the ambitious agreements made regarding peace and demographic consolidation. This poses a threat to both societal development and the country’s political stability.

Guatemala is constantly threatened by natural disasters, such as the recent tropical storm Stan, without local response and prevention strategies having been developed.

Action Against Hunger in Guatemala

Nutrition and Health

• Nutritional surveys
• Studies into the vulnerability of nutritional food security
• Supporting the Ministry of Health in developing information and early warning systems for nutritional food security
• Nutritional and health education in communities
• Revaluation and promotion of the consumption of local food plants

Food Security

• Distributing seeds, farm equipment and fertiliser
• Training in selection techniques for local seeds
• Training in agricultural techniques and management
• Building mini irrigation systems
• Advice on the transformation and marketing of farming products on a local scale
• Ground conservation

Water and Sanitation

• Repairing and/ or building safe water systems
• Repairing and/ or building ventilated latrines
• Training sanitation promoters
• Training and equipping plumbers
• Protecting natural resources at water supply points
• Promoting good hygiene practices
• Strengthening community organisation for the management of water resources

Preventing Natural Disasters

• Identifying vulnerabilities and producing maps of areas at risk
• Early warning and surveillance systems (using radio communication)
• Plans for micro basin management
• Strengthening the CONRED system (National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction).
• Training and preparing rescue units

Funding

ECHO, OFDA, DFID, Italian Cooperation