Guatemala

Country Context

Guatemala’s mountainous landscape is one of the most biodiverse rainforest systems in Central America, and the country owes its name to a native Nahuatl word, cuauhtēmallān, which means “place of many trees.” Despite its rich biodiversity, many Guatemalans are food insecure. Although nearly one-third of Guatemalans are employed in agriculture, the country does not yet produce enough food to meet demand. More than half of the population lives in poverty and has limited access to food, health care, education and economic opportunities, with rural and Indigenous people particularly vulnerable.

Guatemala is regularly affected by climate shocks and extreme weather events, and its vulnerable population groups are most at risk of losing their livelihoods during such events. Smallholder agricultural producers are also impacted by droughts and changing weather patterns. In recent years, land pressure linked to agricultural expansion has contributed to logging and slash-and-burn practices that have had a devastating effect on forest ecosystems.

Our Response

Heifer’s programs in Guatemala work with Indigenous communities and stakeholders — including local governments, community organizations and private companies — to support producers and producer organizations to increase their productivity and incomes and become more resilient to climate and economic shocks. 

 This work prioritizes technical assistance and practical agroecological farming practices that promote natural resource management, adding value to locally produced crops or products and adapting to a changing climate. Heifer supports farmers in Guatemala to process their spices, coffee, cacao and honey so they retain more of the value of their labor and earn a better income.

Our primary objective is helping families achieve a sustainable living income, our measure for the amount of money required for a decent life — including safe shelter, nutritious food, clothing, education and health care — while also reaching additional benchmarks for economic and climate resilience.

The Guatemala Signature Programs

Heifer International’s work is organized at the country level into signature programs focused on large-scale, measurable and sustainable impact achieved by building partnerships at all levels. Each program supports farmers through time-bound projects designed to increase their household income.

Green Business Belt

The Green Business Belt signature program works to increase the incomes of spice-producing families through green businesses and agroforestry systems in Alta Verapaz and Petén. The program partners with rural producers and entrepreneurs to provide technical assistance and strengthen business capacities in collaboration with cooperatives, local governments, universities and other local and national actors. It promotes environmental stewardship alongside economic opportunity, with a focus on climate-smart agriculture, organizational and business strengthening, financial inclusion, access to markets and improved access to essential services such as power, water and internet.

Promesa Café y Cacao 

The Promesa Café y Cacao signature program supports smallholder coffee and cocoa producers by strengthening technical, business and organizational capacities across production systems. The program promotes agroforestry practices that improve soil health, protect water sources and strengthen climate resilience while improving crop quality and productivity. With a focus on family farming, the initiative aims to strengthen incomes, support inclusive participation — particularly among women and youth — and advance more sustainable and competitive value chains.