Taskforce

Guatemala

Member since

September 2021

Guatemala has strengthened its school meals programme through expanded coverage, reinforced institutional coordination and active participation in regional and global school meals initiatives. Key achievements include reaching more than 3 million learners nationwide, strengthening governance and nutrition mechanisms, and promoting knowledge exchange through international partnerships and peer learning.

2.65 Million

Total children receiving school meals

2.41 Million

Children enrolled in primary school

369.42 Million

Total investment in school meals (USD)

Figures reflect the latest available data from the State of School Feeding Worldwide report, national reporting and global sources. Governments may update data more frequently, so values may differ from most recent national statistics. Reference year, source and further details are available in the School Meals Coalition Global Database.

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National Commitments

Commitment submitted on
September 2021
Declaration signed by the Ministry of Education

• Continue implementing mechanisms that allow us to provide school meals based on the human right to food, which is adequate, nutritious, safe and with cultural, social and ethnic relevance, contributing to the nutrition and health of boys and girls.
• Share experiences, best practices and evidence on the implementation of the School Feeding Programme in Guatemala with the different countries adhering to the Coalition.
• Address bottlenecks and promote actions that lead to the improvement of the school feeding programme through research, inter-institutional and multi-sectoral coordination, including academia and the private sector.

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National Progress Reports

Reporting year

Programme Design and Coverage

Guatemala's School Feeding Programme has expanded coverage to all levels of public education, including early childhood, pre-primary, primary and secondary education.
In 2026, the programme reached more than 3 million children and adolescents nationwide.
The Ministry of Education has promoted a return to meals prepared and served directly in schools, while maintaining nutrition standards that ensure varied, nutritious and culturally appropriate diets.

Governance and Coordination

Guatemala has strengthened governance of the school meals programme through an Inter-Institutional School Feeding Commission, bringing together the education, health, agriculture and finance sectors, as well as food security and planning institutions, to oversee implementation and improve programme delivery.
An Inter-Institutional Nutritionists Commission continues to develop the nutritional criteria that guide the programme.

Data and Evidence

Guatemala has actively participated in School Meals Coalition consultations, regional school feeding forums and ministerial meetings, contributing to international knowledge exchange on school meals.
Through its membership in the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES), Guatemala continues to share experiences and good practices with other countries.
In 2025, Guatemala hosted a delegation from Belize to showcase the implementation of its School Feeding Programme and facilitate peer learning.

Next steps

Implement the School Infrastructure Maintenance Programme to improve school kitchen facilities and create better conditions for meal preparation.
Advance the development of a programme to provide schools with essential kitchen equipment and utensils, strengthening their capacity to prepare and serve meals onsite.

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Events

Resources

Report

Education & Learning Health & Nutrition

Our Meals, Our Voice: Children Speak on School Meals

Coalition partner World Vision undertook a School Meals Child-led Research project ahead of the School Meals Coalition Summit in Brazil, 18-19 September 2025, where over 1,000 children in 13 countries shared their school meals experience. These findings are available in this Global Report, and 13 Country-Level Reports: Brazil, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Guatemala, Lebanon, Indonesia, Malawi, Peru, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Report

Agriculture & Food Systems Economic Growth Education & Learning

More than a meal: Findings from Fill the Nutrient Gap analysis in Guatemala and Peru

A new joint report by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) examines school meal programmes in Guatemala and Peru, showing how they lower the cost of nutritious diets, improve nutritional quality, strengthen local food systems against extreme weather shocks, and boost child development and public health. It also stresses the need for community engagement, integrated policies, and action to tackle ultra-processed foods and the triple burden of malnutrition.

Guatemala

National Commitments

Commitment submitted on
September 2021
Declaration signed by the Ministry of Education