El Salvador

Luxembourg’s development cooperation with El Salvador began in 1993, following the Chapultepec Peace Accords, as part of the country’s post-civil war reconstruction efforts. Initially, Luxembourg’s support focused on fighting poverty and strengthening democracy. Between 2003 and 2015, cooperation expanded to include poverty reduction, institutional capacity-building and sustainable development. During this period, LuxDev helped implement initiatives in education, healthcare, and rural development, improving living conditions for vulnerable populations and strengthening local infrastructure.

El Salvador’s economic and social progress has reshaped the partnership, leading to a diversification of cooperation efforts. Since 2016, Luxembourg’s focus has shifted to supporting civil society and fostering South-South and triangular cooperation.

LuxDev operates in El Salvador through its regional representation office based in Costa Rica.

As a key economy in Central America, El Salvador faces complex development challenges. Despite notable progress in poverty reduction and economic growth, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted these achievements. Social inequalities persist, with a substantial portion of the population still living in poverty.

The education system struggles with high dropout rates and inconsistent teaching quality, particularly affecting children from low-income families and perpetuating cycles of poverty. While security conditions have improved, they remain a concern for the country’s stability.

El Salvador is leveraging digital transformation and renewable energy innovations to drive economic growth and create new opportunities. The government is also prioritising access to education and healthcare to foster sustainable and inclusive development.

Luxembourg Cooperation supports El Salvador’s efforts to modernise and diversify its economy. LuxDev implements initiatives focused on youth employment in the digital sector, and south-south and triangular cooperation.