GUATEMALA: FOOD ANDNUTRITION SECURITY OFTHE DEPARTMENT OF SANMARCOS

Case Study

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CHAPTERS

This case study is based on lessons from the joint programme, “Alliances to improve the situation of children, food security and nutrition in Guatemala” Read more

SDGs addressed

GUATEMALA CITY

The joint programme aimed to reduce chronicmalnutrition in children under two years in thefour municipalities of Tacaná, Esquipulas PaloGordo, Tajumulco and San Lorenzo in theDepartment of San Marcos. By engaging the localgovernment and other stakeholders in community-based approaches and learning from and buildingon the results of the work of the MDG Fund-supported interventions in Guatemala, theprogramme promoted integrated solutions forfood security, nutrition, local governance andgender mainstreaming.

1. SUMMARY

Programme to reduce chronic malnutrition in childrenunder two years of age.

2. SITUATION

3. STRATEGY

The joint programme focused on strengtheninggovernment institutions responsible for foodsecurity and nutrition: the Ministry of Agriculture,Livestock and Food, the Ministry of Public Healthand Assistance Social, the Secretariat of Food andNutritional Security, and the Secretary of Planningand Programming of the Presidency of theRepublic. It also focused on building capacities atthe local level in order to improve the food securityand nutrition of households engaged in family-based agriculture.

Beneficiaries of the programme.

Community promoters and mother counsellors were key to ensuring the adoption of techniques learnt at the household level

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Guatemala has one of the highest rates of chronicchildhood malnutrition in the world and thehighest in Latin America and the Caribbean. Anestimated 49.8% of Guatemalan children between3-59 months suffer from chronic malnutrition. Therate is even higher among children of indigenousdescent, particularly in highland areas, includingSan Marcos. These high rates of malnutrition at themunicipality level are linked with poverty andgender equality, particularly as women have fewopportunities for productive activities outside thehome.

In addition to working with agricultural extensionworkers, health professionals and midwives, some50 voluntary community promoters (promotorescomunitarios) and 300 “mother counsellors”(madres consejeras) from grassroots organizationswere trained and provided support in the areas ofhealth, nutrition and infant care, including exclusivebreastfeeding and preparation of complementaryfoods.

At the beginning of the programme, the vastmajority of households practiced subsistence

agriculture, with only 19 families generating anaverage income of 106.23 Guatemalan Quetzales(GTQ) per month. With the training and supportprovided by the programme, 869 families 200 GTQper month by programme closure. Beneficiarieswere supported to develop small businesses,including freshly cut roses, coffee, candles, fish,processed vegetables and honey. In total, 767families benefited from these livelihoodsdiversification activities, with the remaining wereable to increase their incomes through sale of theiragricultural produce.

The programme supported municipal planning-including four multi-year plans on food security,nutrition, water and sanitation- and the first 1,000days principles for Esquipulas Palo Gordo, SanLorenzo, Tacaná and Tajumulco, in addition to 32plans at the community level. On the ground, theproductive capacities, food security and nutrition ofmore than 1,500 families, (82% of beneficiarieswere women) were improved. Beneficiaries learnthow to incorporate organic agricultural inputs,diversify production and improve soil conservation.Through the techniques they learnt, 92% of familiesadded five types of home-grown greens andvegetables to their diets and an overall 25%increase in food consumption was achieved due toincreased agricultural productivity and yields. Morethan 55% percent of the families reduced thepresence of aflatoxins and fumonisins (carcinogensalso linked to childhood malnutrition, stunting, etc.)in the corn that they grew, through improved post-harvest handling.

4. RESULTS AND IMPACT

Strengthening governmentinstitutions

Improving the food security and nutrition of households

Techniques learnt at the household level.

Community promoters and mother counsellorswere key to ensuring the adoption of techniqueslearnt at the household level. Challenges includedgaps in infrastructure, including health serviceprovision and access to improved drinking watersources, lack of agricultural inputs, poverty, andilliteracy. Many mothers struggled to understandthe importance of the first 1,000 days to a child’sphysical growth, health and neurodevelopment.Thirty percent still gave their infants under sixmonths herbal infusions, diluted gruel andsweetened water, known locally as “agüitas,” apractice associated with malnutrition and stunting.

5. CHALLENGES 6. LESSONS LEARNT

7. SUSTAINABILITY AND POTENTIAL FOR REPLICATION

The endline study conducted of heads ofhouseholds showed a good knowledge of themajority of the themes, including the 1,000 daysprinciples and that 91% of families had managed todiversify their diets through their own productionof fruits and vegetables. Local capacities for foodsecurity and nutrition were improved, including thesupport provided by mother counsellors,community facilitators and agricultural extensionworkers. However, the high level of poverty,families’ limited means and resources - includinglimited access to productive assets and water,along with other local structural rigidities meanthat more support is needed to help ensuresustainability.

By Catherine Wong, Programme Specialist, SDG Fund, with input from Sergio Penagos MD, Joint Programme Coordinator,Flor de María Hernández, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, PAHO, (final evaluation team:) Luis David Grajeda, ColumbaSagastume Lily Caravantes and Sylvia M. Campos Verdesia from Agenda 21 S.A., Kimberly Panian, Intern, SDG Fund,communications, production work by Raúl de Mora Jiménez, Communications Specialist, SDG Fund, editing by Vesna JaksicLowe, Communications Consultant and Writer, and translation by Victor Garrido Delgado, Communications Consultant andWriter, SDG Fund.

Participant of the programme.

The Diploma on Communication for Developmentwas highlighted as one of the most successfulelements of the joint programme. It providedtraining on health, food security and nutrition inhomes and schools, and highlighted the importanceof the first 1,000 days. Journalists and othersworking in local media and cable TV channels whowere trained voluntarily supported thecommunications campaign, resulting in theinclusion of food security, nutrition and health-related content and key messages in 71 televisionprogrammes and 61 radio broadcasts.