Guatemala: Inter-institutional Group for Information on Food Security and Nutrition becomes a member of the UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security

The Inter-institutional Group for Information on Food Security and Nutrition (GIISAN Spanish acronym) was established in November 2003 with the goal of supporting government initiatives in coordinating and exchanging information regarding food insecurity and poverty issues in Guatemala. The GIISAN's work has been focused on food security and nutrition information systems and has recently included food security and nutritional interventions as a discussion topic in order to improve the appraisal and evaluation of beneficiaries.

The secretariat of the GIISAN is comprised of the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Health of Guatemala and FAO, who actively participates through its Special Program for Food Security (SPFS) and also helps facilitate the meetings. The group also includes the participation of various UN agencies, bilateral cooperation institutes, civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations. The pluralist nature of the group has allowed for the consolidation of a technical forum to exchange information regarding projects, programs and food security strategies and early warning systems.

Moreover, the group, aside from being an information exchange forum bringing together institutions, has also worked towards developing concrete products to be presented upon the government seeking to improve action against hunger. The group prepared a draft proposal o institutionalize the National Food Security and Nutritional System (SAN Spanish acronym) in order to include the National Information System (SINSAN Spanish acronym). The proposal was presented upon the government of Guatemala in March 2004 and is now being used in the design of the draft law and policies regarding SAN currently being discussed. A second output was the proposal of national and departmental indicators for the surveillance of Food Security and Nutrition. This second proposal was circulated within various institutions and is being included in the monitoring systems of the SAN programs of the Agriculture Ministry and those of the Front against Hunger.

For more information on the activities of the Thematic Group please contact Mr. José Luis Vivero, GIISAN coordinator, at pesasye@intelnett.com