Guatemala

Photo: Julio Román, Prensa Libre

“Schools in this project will have classes that are created rather than classes that are just given. For us this is a profound change that will benefit many generations to come. We are very thankful to you.” ~ Ministry of Education Supervisor in Quiché Department

Overview

Guatemala is the most populated country in Central America.  With nearly 13 million people and a population growth rate that surpasses its Latin American neighbors (2.8 percent a year) the country’s population doubles about every 22 years. 

Guatemala boasts a wealth of unique natural resources and diverse cultural heritage, nevertheless, an estimated 51% of its people still live in poverty. The nation has the second most skewed income distribution in the hemisphere.  Most of Guatemala’s poor are rural indigenous people of Mayan descent who have suffered a long history of repression and exclusion from full participation in society.  They were the most seriously affected by the 36-year armed civil conflict that claimed more lives than recent conflicts in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chile, and Argentina combined.

Significant progress has been made since the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996.  Guatemala has great potential due to a wealth of natural resources, management talent, and a large, young labor force.  Guatemala has produced high-quality products and has access to U.S. and Central American markets.  Still affected by many weak and antiquated public sector institutions and deep rural poverty, it is increasingly threatened by migrations, natural disasters, gang violence, escalating crime, and the corrosive effects of narco-trafficking. 

Working with public sector institutions, civil society, the private sector and other donors, USAID supports numerous reforms including fighting corruption, increasing public sector transparency, accountability and management, promoting rural development and competitiveness, and improving access to and quality of health care and primary education.  USAID is collaborating with the private sector and NGOs to open new markets, create jobs, and raise incomes of the poor, while forging public-private partnerships committed to a broad development agenda.

Programs

Governing Justly & Democratically

Threats to Guatemalan democracy include insecurity, crime, corruption, and political exclusion. USAID supports programs in crime prevention, anti-corruption, justice, and local governance. We work with the Guatemalan government to promote judicial reform, improve prosecution of homicides and other serious crimes, undertake community-based policing efforts, provide youth training and job placement as alternatives to gang membership, and support to local governments so they are more effective in responding to constituents’ needs.

Economic Growth

USAID helps enterprises become more competitive in global markets to take advantage of CAFTA-DR--the regional free trade agreement with the U.S. We support rural development and efforts to build competitiveness of small and medium-sized business in tourism, forestry, and agro-industry sectors and link them to new markets. USAID implements a loan program using Development Credit Authority funds that increases access to medium-term investment credit.

Environment

Our work fosters environmentally-sound management of natural resources in priority areas of biodiversity. This management simultaneously provides income-generating alternatives such as certified timber production and eco-tourism ventures as well as “green-friendly” and sustainable agricultural production to people living in and around the protected areas.

Investing In People

Education

USAID programs focus on increasing investment, transparency and accountability in public expenditure for education and education standards.  Assistance is targeted to improve the quality of education, boost primary school completion rates, and build public-private partnerships to help bridge the gap between educational attainment among rural indigenous populations and the rest of the country.

Health

.USAID supports the Guatemalan government’s efforts to expand access to quality health care by promoting increased social sector investments, ensuring transparency in public expenditures, and developing partnerships with the corporate sector.  Our health programs focus on access to quality maternal-child health care, preventing HIV/AIDS, improving nutrition, reproductive health, and family planning services.

Regional HIV/AIDS

USAID/Guatemala manages the Central America and Mexico regional program for HIV/AIDS as part of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). 

Humanitarian Assistance

Food Security

USAID Guatemala manages one of the largest PL-480 Title II food security programs in the hemisphere. Resources provide essential support to vulnerable populations, through programs that integrate nutrition, animal husbandry, micro-enterprise, health, education, improved local governance, and sustainable environment practices.

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Disaster Response

USAID/Guatemala is an active player in the disaster relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following Tropical Storm Stan, which hit Guatemala in October 2005.