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MCC began its work in Guatemala in 1976 after a devastating earthquake hit the country, killing more than 25,000 people and displacing 1.25 million. MCC began its work in El Salvador in 1981 in response to the overwhelming refugee crisis generated by the civil war that lasted throughout the 1980s. MCC’s work in both countries quickly shifted to long-term development and peacebuilding initiatives. In the 1980s and 1990s a large focus was on community health and appropriate technology, especially related to agriculture. MCC also worked extensively alongside the Mennonite Church Conference of Guatemala City to respond to various disaster that hit the country. The two country offices were merged in 2006 and are currently managed from Guatemala City.

Currently MCC maintains an intentional mix of ecumenical partners, including three separate Mennonite church conferences, partner organizations from various parts of the Catholic church, one local Baptist church, as well as a variety of civil society organizations in indigenous communities. MCC works in areas related to agriculture and food security, gender equity, health, education, peacebuilding and theological education, disaster response and disaster risk reduction. MCC maintains a staff of roughly 15 people spread out throughout the two countries, and manages an active Connecting People Program bringing eight Learning Tours annually to learn from and engage with local communities with a particular focus on advocacy.