More than 800,000 people in El Salvador (13% of the analysed population) experienced high levels of acute food insecurity, classified in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above) from July to August 2021, due to the combined impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, high food prices, and low household income. From July to August 2021, the departments classified in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) were Ahuachapán and Morazán, while the rest of El Salvador was classified in Stressed (IPC Phase 2). The number of people experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity will likely decrease to around 600,000 (10% of the analysed population) from September 2021 to February 2022 and increase to around 900,000 (14% of the analysed population) between March and May 2022.

For the months of September 2021 to February 2022, despite the expected increase in economic activity in different areas, mainly the sale of agricultural labor, the increase in the minimum wage in the formal sector, the upward trend in the flow of remittances and the postrera harvest of basic grains such as corn and beans, contribute to improve household incomes and ensure food reserves. However, the high probability of the occurrence of the La Niña phenomenon (65%) may negatively affect the postrera harvest and, therefore, compromise the availability of food reserves, the main source of food for subsistence farming families. 

For the period of March to May 2022, Ahuachapán and Morazán are expected to be in Crisis (Phase 3), as a result of the seasonal reduction in the sale of agricultural labor during the dry season, generating a decrease in income during this period of the year. In addition, it is estimated, that the slow economic recovery due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to affect different sectors of the population in the labor market, especially the informal sector dependent on precarious incomes. However, at the national level, actions continue to be taken to mitigate the impact on households, so that the second projected figure for next year could decrease. 

• Identify at sub-national level municipalities and/or territories that have a higher proportion of households that have depleted their reserves and are employing crisis or emergency strategies. Response objectives should be geared towards protecting livelihoods and reducing food consumption gaps in households in Phases 3 or 4. Continue with risk reduction actions defined with local, municipal and commonwealth actors: short-term programmes and projects.
• Maintain targeted social protection programmes for populations with vulnerable livelihoods: informal trade, irregularly paid day labour, urban and rural communities with higher poverty rates, households with people with disabilities, among others.
• Activate an immediate response plan for social protection in Emergency populations (Phase 4), households with acutely malnourished children, to reduce food consumption gaps and save lives.
• Strengthen family farming; implement food systems that promote climate resilience, with the adoption of climate-smart production techniques and through the conservation and rehabilitation of natural environments, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable territories, in the short and medium term.
• Design a work strategy, prioritising households led by women and with young people in the family group, aimed at strengthening resilience, reducing risks and protecting the livelihoods of the population in Stressed, Crisis or Emergency situations of acute food insecurity (Phases 2, 3 or 4).
• Evaluate the national and territorial plans for economic reactivation 2021, where the populations affected (temporary, informal day labour) by the current pandemic could find opportunities for new projects.