El Salvador (view map)

As the most densely-populated state in Central America, El Salvador has a population of almost 7 million people. Over 40% are living in conditions of poverty and almost half of those live on under 50 pence per day; the formal measure of ‘extreme poverty’.

Around 18% of El Salvadorians over the age of 15 are illiterate and 24% have no access to health services. These statistics worsen in rural areas. The country’s main exports include coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals and electricity.

Civil war and natural disasters have left their mark on a society which is among the most crime-ridden in the Americas. From 1978 to 1991 El Salvador was consumed by an internal armed conflict between a wealthy elite dominating government and the wider population. This is believed to have resulted in 75,000 deaths. Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and earthquakes in 2001 left at least 1,200 people dead and more than a million others homeless.

Agriculture plays a key role in the Salvadoran economy, employing nearly 25% the country's labour force, providing a third of its export earnings, and meeting about 70% of domestic food needs.

However, inequality in income distribution has increased over recent years with the richest 20% earning 58% of the nation’s revenue, while the poorest 20% earn just 2%. There are an estimated 223,000 child workers in El Salvador and violations of female workers' rights are also reported.

Violence in El Salvador continues to be an issue which affects the daily life of all its inhabitants. Unemployment and a lack of opportunities for young people have encouraged the growth in street gangs.

The country has also seen a large increase in the number of people suffering from HIV/Aids over the past 12 years.

SCIAF has worked in El Salvador for over 20 years promoting food security, sustainable agriculture, rainwater harvesting, disaster preparedness, empowering people with disabilities, recovery from natural disasters, and education and awareness raising with young people on HIV/AIDS.

SCIAF’s partner organisations are already seeing the effects of climate change, especially in rural areas where droughts, floods and storms are more frequent and severe. Reducing the vulnerability of communities to these threats is becoming more and more crucial.