FOCUS COUNTRY: GUATEMALA
Guatemala has a diverse food system with many households relying on small-scale farming for their livelihoods. The country faces significant challenges including high levels of poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. Climate change poses another threat, causing erratic weather patterns that can reduce crop yields and disrupt value chains. At the same time, the country also has incredible potential to increase sustainable food production. IFPRI’s work in Guatemala builds resilient, equitable, and sustainable food systems, with a focus on improving local food production, nutrition, and economic opportunities for vulnerable populations. This includes monitoring the impacts of global shocks on nutrition and food security, designing and implementing tools to measure the propensity to migrate, evaluating value chain programs to improve household income and nutrition in rural areas, and designing tools to aid the prioritization of investments in development projects among most needed areas.
Our Recent Publications
Our Ongoing Work in Guatemala
Characterizing and Monitoring External Migration Patterns
IFPRI is collaborating with the USAID Mission in Guatemala to monitor and better understand migration patterns among beneficiaries of USAID Projects. Over the last several years the program has surveyed thousands of participants across different USAID programs. Using an innovative Migration Propensity Index (MPI) tool, we can gain insights about migration behavior without directly asking sensitive questions to respondents. This data is used to understand drivers and trends in migration, improving the targeting and efficacy of aid programs that address the needs of these families. (Program Page)
Evaluating Nutrition Interventions
IFPRI researchers conduct extensive analysis of interventions to improve food and nutrition security for vulnerable populations in Guatemala. This includes technical assistance to the Secretariat of Food Security and Nutrition (SESAN) of Guatemala, supporting the monitoring and evaluation of programs aimed at reducing chronic malnutrition, which has continued since 2012 with support from USAID. (Recent Analysis)
In a country where numerous organizations are implementing nutrition work, IFPRI not only ensures these initiatives are effective on their own, but also facilitates coordination across implementers. Working with the G13 Group of Donors, LAC program researchers are mapping over 50 food security and nutrition interventions in Guatemala, which will help users to identify gaps in existing efforts and allocate resources more efficiently.
Examining shocks and building resilience
Guatemala’s food systems have faced significant challenges in recent years due to shocks like extreme weather, market volatility, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have jeopardized livelihoods and food security for many households. Researchers at IFPRI are actively monitoring these impacts, identifying the most vulnerable families, and providing critical data to help our partners direct aid to those who need it most. In addition to this responsive work, our team offers forward-looking analyses and strategies to mitigate the effects of future food system disruptions. (Recent Analysis)