Addressing Immediate Food Insecurity in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala: Baseline Report

The project provides cash transfers for food, WASH, and small-scale economic resilience and food availability activities, including backyard crops or home gardens and poultry production. A household beneficiary selection methodology was developed to ensure that the most vulnerable individuals are engaged by the project. A survey of 3,294 households across 37 communities in the municipalities of Chisec, Raxruhá, Chamelco, and Tamahú was conducted from July 5 to 30, 2021. The study found that 65% of the households have severe to moderate INSA scores and are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The baseline report aims to identify and characterize food insecurity among the most vulnerable households engaged by the project. Specifically, the baseline study seeks to determine the level of household food insecurity in the priority communities within four municipalities of Alta Verapaz using the CARI method, carry out an assessment of the dietary diversity and the food consumption score using the World Food Programme methodology, and identify and define project indicator targets. The project utilized the CARI methodology to determine INSA, which measures the scale of food insecurity, evaluating the family food consumption, coping measures, and food expenditure. The survey was used to collect data on food variety, hunger scale, survival strategies, and other indicators that help inform a deeper understanding of the context. The project conducted 3,294 household surveys in four municipalities of Alta Verapaz, with 92% of respondents being women and 8.5% being men. The average number of household members surveyed is 4.36 members, with a distribution of 49.6% male and 50.4% female. The greatest area of the population pyramid is found in the stratum, which identifies a population under five years of age. On average, there is one child under the age of five per household. It is also noted that 21.4% of the heads of households surveyed are women. The project team utilized SPSS and Excel to analyze the collected data. The results of the survey indicate that 65% of the households have severe to moderate INSA scores and are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The characterization of the households surveyed is described in Chapter 4 of this report. The project aims to address the immediate impact of increased food insecurity among vulnerable families and provide them with the necessary support to improve their food security and overall well-being. The baseline report provides a comprehensive understanding of the food insecurity situation in the four municipalities of Alta Verapaz. The report highlights the need for urgent humanitarian assistance and the importance of addressing the root causes of food insecurity. The project's objectives and strategies are aligned with the needs and challenges identified in the baseline report, and the project aims to make a positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable households in the region. The project's methodology and data collection tools are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the food insecurity situation in the four municipalities. The project team utilized a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to gather information on household food security, dietary diversity, and coping strategies. The data was analyzed using SPSS and Excel, and the results are presented in this report. The baseline report provides a foundation for the project's implementation and monitoring and evaluation. The report highlights the need for continued support and assistance to address the food insecurity situation in the four municipalities. The project's objectives and strategies are aligned with the needs and challenges identified in the baseline report, and the project aims to make a positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable households in the region.