Nutrition and food security prioritized by UK Aid in Guatemala and Latin America
The Department for International Development (DfID) sponsored a seminar in Guatemala aimed at improving nutrition and food security by responsibly managing vital natural resources such as land, forests and fisheries.
DfID Latin America Training
The course was attended by 40 representatives of seven Latin American countries who met in Antigua Guatemala, Central America from 18 – 20 July. The training was delivered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the support of the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID).
The training consists of five modules (four virtual and one with attendance) within FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Management of Land Ownership, Fisheries and Forests in the context of National Food and Nutrition Security (DVGT). The course aims to strengthening the institutional capacity of official bodies and civil society to improve the governance of natural resources and boost sustainable development.
Amongst the represented institutions of Guatemala: the Secretary of Agricultural Affairs (SAA) and the company Agro-America. The event also included presentations from representatives of the Government and civil society institutions from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.
According to the Guidelines, an improved management of natural resources will also avoid potential conflicts in communities struggling to survive. Guatemalan authorities reckon almost 1,300 conflicts annually that have its origins in land ownership. It is expected that by 2025 the land for crops would have increased by 24% (22.5 million hectares) in the Latin American region.
The Department for International Development (DfID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty, building a safer, healthier, more prosperous world which is firmly in the UK’s national interest. The training in Guatemala is part of a Latin American DfID aid programme of US$180,000.