Subject: Guatemala
From: "Rick Leach" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Cc: <[email-masked]>, "Shannon Hiskey" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 16:44:41 -0400

Hunter - as discussed, following is a brief overview of Guatemala's initiative to alleviate childhood malnutrition.  This initiative is a top priority of Guatemala's President Otto Perez Molina.

Guatemala's Commitment to Alleviate Child Malnutrition:

*         The President of Guatemala launched an initiative in 2012 to alleviate early childhood malnutrition in the country (with a specific focus on the "first 1000 Days" - the period between pregnancy and age two).

o   Guatemala has one of the worst child malnutrition rates in the world (in 2011, almost 50% of children under age 5 suffered from chronic malnutrition).

o   In addition to robbing children of their full potential (malnourished children often did not fully develop physically or mentally), malnutrition has impacted productivity and the country's GDP.

*         The President is strongly/personally committed to this initiative and, at the launch of this initiative, spent a weekend in the home of a family living in extreme poverty.  He also directed his entire cabinet to join him and they spent the weekend in similar homes.  This initiative is a top priority of the President.

o   The private sector is also strongly supporting the initiative.  It is having a transformative impact on the country.

*         WFP USA, chaired by Hunter Biden, played a role in helping the country develop and launch the initiative.  We are currently exploring steps to help the Guatemalan Government ensure long-term support for the effort.

o   Juan Carlos Paiz (Presidential Commissioner for Competitiveness), Julio Ligorria (Guatemalan Ambassador to the US) and Andres Botran (private sector leader) have been working with us.

*         It would be appropriate to acknowledge and congratulate the President, his leadership team and the people of Guatemala for their commitment to eliminating child malnutrition.

o   Guatemala has been acknowledged globally for its political will and leadership in addressing child malnutrition.

I can be available if you/the traveling staff need any additional information (my cell phone is 202-716-3376).  Thank you.

All the best,
Rick

Richard Leach
President & CEO

World Food Program USA
1725 Eye Street NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20006
T 202.627.3737
F 202.530.1698
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>