Guatemala in WFP
Guatemala took on the Presidency of the Executive Board of the World Food Program (WFP) for the period 2021-2022, representing the Latin American and the Caribbean countries, for a second consecutive time. This is an unprecedented occurrence that validates the country’s leadership to the United Nations agencies.
Guatemala faces serious challenges to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 regarding Zero Hunger, which includes the eradication of all forms of malnutrition for the year 2030. In this light, the government of Doctor Alejandro Giammattei Falla (2020-2024) promotes an agenda of working hand in hand with WFP as a strategic partner in order to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.
Undoubtedly, Guatemala’s leadership in the WFP will strengthen the Great National Crusade for Nutrition, a platform that strives to unite all the country’s sectors with the purpose of improving nutrition in Guatemalan families. Special emphasis is placed in the attention to the poor and most marginalized, applying a comprehensive approach to respond to the problem’s multiple causalities. Recently, the Guatemalan government approved a Strategic Plan that includes the investment of 157.6 million US dollars in programs involving social protection, emergency preparedness, and education directed to the resilience of communities in risk of food insecurity and malnutrition.
Priorities
The World Food Program (WFP) has been in Guatemala since 1974 and carries on with a long tradition of working closely with government authorities, other UN agencies, and other partners. Together they promote food security and good nutrition for the most vulnerable, including women and children from rural areas.
According to the goals provided by the SDG 2 and those set out by the Government, the WFP is supporting Guatemalan institutions in its efforts to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition, including the strengthening of national social programs. The WFP is also working with rural communities to improve its resilience regarding crises related to climate, and access to markets by small farmers.
Guatemala has been a member of the WFP Executive Board in five different periods: 2004-2006 (seat shared with El Salvador and Nicaragua); 2009-2011; 2012-2014; 2015 (shared seat – Guatemala serving in 2015 and Panama during 2016-2017); 2016 as president of the Executive Board (shared seat – Guatemala serving in the year 2016 and Brazil during 2015 and 2017); and 2018-2020.