Early Warning System for Food Security in Guatemala

Although seasonal hunger is a recurring and well-known problem that affects subsistence farm families in Guatemala, the response to these cyclical crises is often late, uncoordinated and reactive.

The situation is also exacerbated by climate variability, which is increasing the occurrence and duration of mid-summer droughts during the rainy season.

To act quickly and efficiently, decision-makers need timely and precise information on the communities at risk. OIKO worked with the Guatemala Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security (SESAN) to develop the nation-wide implementation of a food security monitoring and early warning system. Under the financial support of The European Union, OIKO supported SESAN, together with researchers from Biodiversity International and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security-CCAFS, and food security and climate risk management specialists from Action Against Hunger (ACH) under the Agro Climate project.