El Salvador has improved its food security, nutrition, equality and security in recent years, while reducing poverty.

However, it still faces challenges, such as limited access to food and nutrition, limited job opportunities and low incomes for many population groups.

The country is highly vulnerable to the effects of an erratic climate. Situated on the Dry Corridor, phenomena like droughts and tropical storms cause significant damage and losses to crops and other livelihood sources.

Access to food has worsened, leading to negative coping mechanisms like smaller meals or selling belongings.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has adopted an innovative food systems approach that spans the entire value chain – from production, processing and distribution, to consumption. It involves helping people access adequate food and nutrition, and resilience at the community level following emergencies.

In partnership with the Government and the private sector, WFP promotes women's and youth economic empowerment through better employment opportunities, enhances emergency preparedness, strengthens school meal programmes, and creates opportunities for entrepreneurship.

What the World Food Programme is doing in El Salvador

Emergency response
WFP provides food assistance to people affected by multiple crises, such as droughts, floods and tropical storms, and the socioeconomic impact of external factors such as global food-price increases. WFP supports early-recovery activities that equip beneficiaries with the technical skills to produce food and help diversify their livelihoods. Productive assets, including family and community gardens, are built using climate-smart methods such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and solar-pump systems.
Strengthening food systems
WFP supports smallholder farmers in improving vegetable and sorghum production for local consumption and institutional markets – such as the School Meals and Health Programme, which incorporates sorghum in Biofortik (nutritional supplement) and uses vegetables to improve children's nutrition. Through its Innova initiative, WFP enables local bakers to produce affordable and nutritious products, including gluten-free sorghum. WFP also promotes youth development through Gastro-Lab, a certification programme that equips young people with culinary skills and connects them to the hospitality sector – including restaurants and hotels – fostering employment and strengthening local food systems.
National capacity strengthening
WFP strengthens the capacity of national institutions in areas such as supply chain management, social protection, nutrition and education. Based on food security analysis, WFP shares information that contributes to informed decision-making. WFP supports the national school meals programme through initiatives including the production of a nutritious drink.
Enabling partners
To support humanitarian and development partners in achieving their programme objectives, WFP offers on-demand services such as logistics, warehousing, procurement of food and non-food items, cash for food assistance, and telecommunications.

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in El Salvador is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Adaptation Fund Canada Central Emergency Response Fund El Salvador Agency for International Cooperation European Union

Operations in El Salvador

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Contacts

Office

Bulevard del Hipódromo No. 738, Colonia San Benito, San Salvador, El Salvador
El Salvador

Phone
+503 25071700
Fax
+503 25071742
Email
WFP.SanSalvador@wfp.org
For media inquiries
WFP.SanSalvador@wfp.org
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