Ending Malnutrition for Every Last Child in Guatemala

Chronic malnutrition affects 46.5% of children under five in Guatemala. This has a wide-spread effect on the socio-economic development of the nation; it affects children’s physical and mental development and their susceptibility to sickness, creating huge costs for families and communities.

Guatemalan societal structures favor a small elite while discriminating against the majority of the population, resulting in great inequalities and disparity. Indigenous populations and women are the most vulnerable under the current system. While programs have been implemented under the Millennium Development Goals and the Zero Hunger Pact, the programs have been underfunded, effectively hindering any progress from being made in ending malnutrition.

Save the Children is working to strengthen civil society and inspire change to implement action during the “thousand-day” window between a mother’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday, amongst other measures. Read more about Save the Children’s work in Guatemala within the brief.