Herbalife Nutrition's Partners With World Food Program USA to Help Build Food Security for Guatemalan Communities

Guatemala is one of the countries in Latin America whose people are most affected by inequality. While two-thirds of the overall population live on less than $2 per day, poverty affects indigenous people disproportionately, with 80 percent experiencing deprivation in multiple aspects of their lives, including food security, nutrition, health and education. The country faces severe challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 - Zero Hunger, which includes eliminating all forms of malnutrition by 2030.

Almost half the population of Guatemala cannot afford the equivalent cost of what’s provided in the basic U.N. World Food Programme food basket, including the vegetables, products and produce necessary to meet the nutritional requirements of communities. This has resulted in the prevalence of stunting in children under five – the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean. A recent study indicated that “incomes fell, food insecurity doubled and dietary diversity declined” due to the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on food security and nutrition among rural households.

Natural disasters exacerbate these problems. Guatemala is among the 10 most vulnerable and exposed countries to natural hazards in the Latin America and Caribbean region. A study we released in October 2020, reported that, in 2018, 64 percent of households in Guatemala lost income due to climate events. In 2020, Hurricane Eta, one of the worst storms to hit Guatemala in decades, destroyed local infrastructure and rural livelihoods. That storm made life harder for millions of people already suffering from years of erratic weather as well as the socioeconomic crisis of COVID-19.

In the country’s time of need, Herbalife Nutrition made a donation that contributed to the Eta emergency response efforts in Guatemala and enabled the U.N. World Food Programme to assist over 8,600 people for 60 days.

This article was originally published on IAmHerbalifeNutrition.com. Read more about Herbalife Nutrition’s support and their partnership with World Food Program USA here.