Intense climate change and chronic instability have left thousands of women and girls in vulnerable situations, affecting them in terms of social, economic and political inclusion.

In Guatemala, COOPI promotes protection activities aimed at strengthening the empowerment of women and girls at multiple levels:

• strengthening protection mechanisms at the community and municipal levels;
• implementation of projects for rapid and inclusive response to food and nutrition insecurity;
• installation of protection infrastructures for women, girls and boys;
• promotion of accountability projects targeting women and youth during the implementation of community food and nutrition security strategies.

Due to the devastating effects of the "prolonged heat wave" and the El Niño phenomenon, food and nutritional security are severely compromised in Guatemala. The Dry Corridor (departments of Huehuetenango, San Marcos and Quiché) is the first witness to numerous cases of child malnutrition.

To help save lives and reduce the social and economic impact caused by the prolonged food and nutrition crisis of extremely vulnerable rural families in Central America's Dry Corridor, COOPI has developed coordinated interventions, responding to the immediate needs of the population through:

• transfer of cash, food and agricultural kits;
• early identification and care of severely malnourished children from 0 to 5 years of age;
• governance projects (in coordination with local authorities) to strengthen capacities to promote development policies and foster municipal and inter-municipal alliances;
• awareness-raising on issues of social responsibility, transparency and active citizen participation, with emphasis on women and youth;
• inclusive rural development strategies from a gender perspective, aimed at adapting to climate change, food security and improving access to drinking water.