annual performance report year 2 · 2019. 3. 29. · annual report fy 2- seo project 3 2. acronyms...

Sustainable Economic Observatory

Annual performance report

Year 2

OCTOBER, 2017 - SEPTEMBER, 2018

In collaboration with:

APPROVED VERSION

DECEMBER 10, 2018

Annual Report FY 2- SEO PROJECT 1

Contents 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 2

2. ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................... 3

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. 6

4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION / INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 7

5. PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION BY TOPIC AND CROSSCUTING ISSUES ..................................... 8

5.1 AGRICULTURE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................... 8

5.2 FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY ...................................................................................... 12

5.3 COMPETITIVENESS AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT .......................................................... 18

5.4 ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY .................................................... 25

5.5 CROSSCUTTING THEMES .................................................................................................... 30

5.5.1 Rural Development – Local Economic Development ................................................ 30

5.5.2 Intersectionality approach ........................................................................................ 37

5.6 TRAINING EVENTS .............................................................................................................. 37

5.7 RAPID RESPOND FUND ...................................................................................................... 39

6. PARTNERS INVOLVEMENT .......................................................................................................... 41

7. MONITORING AND EVALUATION ANNUAL REPORT ................................................................... 42

7.1 Component 1: SEOP Consolidation .................................................................................... 43

7.2 Component 2: Research and Advocacy ............................................................................. 44

7.2.1 Disaggregated indicators of the Second and Fourth Component ............................. 49

8. COMMUNICATIONS .................................................................................................................... 65

9. ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL MANAGMENT ...................................................................... 67

9.1 FINANCE STATUS ................................................................................................................ 67

9.2 HIGHLIGHTS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2 .................................................................................... 67

PROCUREMENT ............................................................................................................................ 67

SEO HUMAN RESOURCES ............................................................................................................. 67

CONUNTERPART CONTRIBUTION ................................................................................................ 67

SUB-AWARDS ............................................................................................................................... 68

ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................................... 69


1. PROJECT OVERVIEW

Program Name: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC OBSERVATORY

Activity Start Date And End Date:

27/09/2016 to 26/09/2021

Name of Prime Implementing Partner:

Universidad Del Valle de Guatemala

[Contract/Agreement] Number:

AID-520-A-16-00006

Name of Sub awardees:

Asociación de Investigación y Estudios Sociales -ASIES- (Association for Research and Social Studies)

Fundación de la Caficultura para el Desarrollo Rural (Coffee Grower Foundation for Rural Development) -FUNCAFE-

Research Triangle Institute –RTI-

Geographic Coverage

(cities and or countries)

Guatemala, City and 5 departments of Western Highlands (Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Totonicapán, Huehuetenango, Quiché)

Reporting Period: FY 2 - October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018

Date: OCTOBER 3, 2018.


2. ACRONYMS

ACOFOP Asociación de Comunidades Forestales de Petén

AGG Asociación de Gerentes de Guatemala

ANACAFE Asociación Nacional del Café

AGEXPORT Asociación Guatemalteca de Exportadores

ASIES Asociación de Investigación y Estudios Sociales

AOR Agreement Officer Representative

AWP Annual Work Plan

BIOFIN Biodiversity Finance

CAMAGRO Cámara del Agro

CCIPPP Centro de Capacitación, Innovación y Producción Popoyán

CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy

CDAIS Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation System

CLD Communities Leading Development

CEAA Centro de Estudios Agrícolas y Alimentarios

CEAB Centro de Estudios Ambientales y de Biodiversidad

CIRAD French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development

CNMC Consejo Nacional de Mesas de Competitividad

COCOSAN Comité comunitario de Seguridad alimentaria y nutricional

COFETARN Comisión de Fomento Económico, Turismo, Ambiente, Recursos Naturales

COMUSAN Comisión de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional

CONASAN Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional

COP Chief of Party

CSO´s Civil Society Organizations

CRS Catholic Relief Services

DCI Department of Civil Engineering

DEL Desarrollo Económico Local

DITA Dirección de Información y Tecnología para el Aprendizaje

DO Development Objetive

EEA Environmental Economic Agenda

EFA Estrategia fiscal ambiental

EPAC Methodology to develop Economic Potential Studies and Competitiveness Agendas

EU European Union

EQSA Comercializadora Quetzalteca de bienes y servicios, S. A.

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization

FSMA Food Safety Modernizaton Act

FNS Food and Nutrition Security

FTF Feed the Future


FUNCAFE Fundación de la Caficultura para el Desarrollo Rural

FUNDESA Fundación para el Desarrollo Socioeconómico del Alto Aragón

FY Fiscal year

GCC Global Climate Change Iniciative

GFSS Global Food Security Strategy of the United States Government

GHG Greenhouse Gases

GIS Geographic Information System

GOG Goverment of Guatemala

HEP+ Health and Education Plus Project

IDB Interamerican Development Bank

IDIES Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales de la Universidad Rafael Landivar

IICA Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura

INE Instituto Nacional de Estadística

INFOM Instituto de Fomento Municipal

INTECAP Instituto Técnico de Capacitación y Productividad

LAE School-Children Feeding Law (Ley de Alimentación Escolar)

LED Local Economic Development

LEDS Proyecto de Desarrollo con Bajas Emisiones en Guatemala

MAEDES Maestría en Desarrollo de la Universidad del Valle de Guatemala

MAGA Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación

MARN Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales

MINECO Ministerio de Economía

MINEDUC Ministerio de Educación

MINFIN Ministerio de Finanzas Públicas

MOUs Memorandum of Understanding

MOE Ministry of Education

MSPAS Ministerio de Salud Pública

NGOs Non-govermental organizations

NIE National Innovation Ecosystem

OIRSA Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria

OPF Organización de padres de familia

PAFFEC Programa de Agricultura Familiar para el Fortalecimiento de la Agricultura

Campesina

PIPAA Programa Integral de Protección Agrícola y Ambiental

POLSAN Política Nacional de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional

POLCOM Política Nacional de Competitividad

PRONACOM Programa Nacional de Competitividad

RBM Reserva de la Biósfera Maya

RFA Request for application

RNGG Red Nacional de Grupo Gestores


RRF Rapid Response Fund

SAT Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria

SEGEPLAN Secretaría de Planificación y Programación de la Presidencia

SEOP Sustainable Economic Observatory Project

SESAN Secretaría de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional

SIECA Secretaría de Integración Económica Centroamericana

SPS Sanitary and Phytosanitary

TNC The Nature Conservancy

TORs Terms of References

UNDP United Nations Development Program

USAC Unversidad de San Carlos de Guatemala

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

USG United States Goverment

UVG Universidad del Valle de Guatemala

WB Wold Bank

WEF Wold Economic Forum

WWF World Wildlife Fund


3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This performance report presents the results and challenges that the Sustainable Economic

Observatory –SEO- has achieved during the four quarters of second year of the project

implementation. In year two the project introduced an innovative approach to implement by

project in each topic and cross-cutting themes. This work was complemented in the process with an

initial capacity building processes with civil society to analyze policies, participate in dialogue, and

advocate the Government of Guatemala –GOG- decision-making for a more effective

implementation and legislation.

The second year of the project reflects a greater stability in the implementation, this was reflected

in a more stable execution especially since the second half of the year, as well as a great effort to

coordinate the activities among the partners to improve their levels of execution, also the linkage

with research centers and faculties of the Universidad del Valle with SEO represented a more

significant advance during the second year. This allowed compliance with the execution objectives

and improve performance of the pipe line of the budget.

Agreements were signed with partners like Sotz’il, FUNDESA y Defensores de La Naturaleza, while

the agreement with Rafael Landívar University is still in review in USAID, expected to be signed

within the first quarter of next year. The activities related to the crosscutting issue of rural

development were the most productive in results; especially due to partners like Grupos Gestores

who adopted a fixed price agreement and FUNCAFE with all of its work in food security and the rapid

respond fund for a study of feasibility for cocoa production. Also there was made a significant

progress in the relationship with partners, stakeholders civil society, with the signing of 13

Memoranda of Understanding which will extend the impact of the SEO’s work.

The SEOP and its partners hired more consultants to strengthen the implementation activities. Now,

there is a team of 70 consultants working in different areas of the four topics and with different

partners, who contribute in the implementation of 46 projects included in year two.

In the area of communications, social networks showed an increased interest from people to know

more about the SEOP and its activities, also the web page is already finished and pending of approval

by USAID. One of the major contracts was the approval of the firm that will be in charge of the public

relations strategy for the SEOP.

The SEOP has advanced in the definition of its strategic plan and in the selection of the legal and

functional structure for the project inside UVG, and has been presented to USAID.

Finally, it is important to mention that one of the main limitations to achieve and consolidate more

results has been the high turnover of the authorities in the public sector, especially the ministers,

vice-ministers and some directors, with whom key actions were agreed and had to be put on stand-

by. Another problem is the lack of implementation in the government, which is a difficulty to

consolidate the proposals. These situations have caused the SEOP to review and re-evaluate its

strategies.


4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION / INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the Sustainable Economic Observatory Project is to contribute to the well-being and

development of the people of Guatemala by strengthening civil society engagement at national and

local levels for a more effective advocacy role to advance public policies and programs that foster

sustainable economic and social development. The Project will address rural development priorities

and key Sustainable Development Goals1 related to the following topics: (1) rural development and

food security; (2) agricultural sector growth; (3) the environment, including climate change

resilience and biodiversity conservation; and (4) competitiveness and business enabling

environment.

The Project will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of FTF and GCC initiatives, which

are directly linked to the USAID/Guatemala CDCS FY 2012-2017, DO2 and DO3. This project will

support the FTF initiative, including the Civil Society Action Plan for strengthening the civil society

advocacy role in support of the implementation of the GOG commitments related to the national

food security strategy, especially in the FTF Zone of Influence. This Project will support the GCC

initiative through interventions to build civil society awareness and capacity to study, monitor and

advocate for the advance of environmental issues related to climate change. It will also work with

the private sector to engage them in activities to reduce poverty and chronic malnutrition, as well

as to encourage their participation in activities to reduce GHG emissions. It will support actions and

changes to improve competitiveness and the business-enabling environment.

The Project aims to give voice and support to Guatemalan civil society for advocating the

advancement of the GOG initiatives that promote economic development. A range of approaches

including, but not limited to, research and analysis of the impacts of policy proposals, information

dissemination and capacity building of civil society organizations for advocacy, leadership and

participation in decision-making, social auditing, policy dialogue and multi-sector coordination.

Local communities will be the key focus areas of the program, as well as the strengthening of local

civil society capacity. In relation to food security and agriculture sector development, the project

will focus in the Western Highlands departments of Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Huehuetenango,

Totonicapan and Quiche (the FTF zone of influence), while addressing issues and policies that have

both national and local impact. The Project will help empower civil society groups that represent

the interests of the population by providing feedback about the effectiveness and future direction

of the GOG policies and programs.

1 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/


The Goal of the Project: To foster largely participatory, evidence-based dialogue on Guatemala’s

salient rural development needs and on solution options that will benefit all sectors equitably,

especially vulnerable populations.

Objective: Establish a Sustainable Economic Observatory as an independent research center / think-

tank, to strengthen the participation and contribution of civil society, public and private sectors and

other partners in dialogue, analysis, design and implementation of effective policies and programs,

at both national and local levels. The Observatory will focus on four key development topics: (1)

food and nutrition security; (2) agriculture sector development; (3) environment, climate change,

and biodiversity conservation; and (4) competitiveness and business enabling environment.

By the end of Year 5, the Sustainable Economic Observatory will be operating as a relevant,

independent and well-governed organization. A center capable of making significant contributions

to Guatemala’s sustainable economic development focusing in four key topic areas and with a

sustainability plan to continue operating by its own, when the project ends.

5. PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION BY TOPIC AND CROSSCUTING ISSUES

Implementation for Year 2 of the SEOP had a projects approach. The projects identified and

prioritized were the result of the Issues and Research Agendas. Following are the descriptions of the

achievements, by topic and prioritized actions.

5.1 AGRICULTURE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

There are two projects considered in the implementation of FY2 work plan:

1. Support the evaluation on the program through local actors and partners of the SEO and

its linkages with the School Feeding Law.

2. National Food Safety System Improvement: Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SP) measures for

plant and animal health in Guatemala.

As for the first project the support was coordinated with officials in the Ministry of Agriculture –

MAGA- in order to implement a strategy to strengthen their processes by emphasizing in the actions

that actually MAGA is entitled to perform and has prioritized, which are their role in the School

Feeding Law and the social audit of the Program for Family Agriculture and Strengthening of Peasant

Economy (in Spanish: PAFFEC). Two meetings were performed, the first one was held in the Ministry

of Agriculture –MAGA-, with the minister’s advisor Roberto Chávez. It was agreed that the SEOP

would support the design of the PAFEC and support in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary –SPS-

measures.

Some of the actions during the first part of the year were addressed, especially those regarding the

support to the PAFFEC implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture MAGA. The Sustainable Economic


Observatory supported the MAGA with various actions. Although, the Ministry was not able to

establish a work discipline that would advance in the results expected by PAFFEC.

Due the linkage of the School-Children Feeding Law (in Spanish: LAE2) with the PAFFEC, the MAGA

required technical support from the SEOP, in order to fulfill their obligations stated in the new

regulation. This includes the design and implementation of an administrative process by MAGA of

a national farmers register with an updated database in order to track peasants and small producers

who can become suppliers for local public schools. The LAE intends to use the PAFFEC register to

identify local suppliers who can sell to schools and Family Parents Organizations (in Spanish: OPF3)

to boost local economies. In other words, MAGA must deliver the PAFFEC records of family farmers

to MINEDUC, so that OPFs can identify possible local food suppliers.

During the coordination meetings with MAGA officers, it was identified that this support

requirement was not all clear for the process to register those producers who can truly participate

in the program and sell food to public schools, as well as in the formulation of a critical route for the

activities which are under the responsibility of MAGA that is preparing farmers to become suppliers.

Mr. Roberto Chávez, the PAFFEC Coordinator, argued that due the LAE’s statutory provisions have

not been approved, there are no funds for its execution. Nevertheless, the work continued in

supporting MAGA staff. Derived from the agreements with them, a series of three workshops were

held with the participation of the directors and technical staff of the Regional Coordination and

Rural Extension Directorates, DICORER; the Vice Ministry of Food and Nutrition Security, VISAN; the

Directorate of Cooperation, Projects and Trusts DCPF; and the IT Department of MAGA. The

workshops were held to discuss the bottlenecks that prevent MAGA from fulfilling its obligations

with the LAE and, at the same time, the participants proposed solutions that would reinforce the

ministry's institutionality.

However, by the end of the first quarter, the processes with MAGA reached a standstill, due to two

facts:

The Vice ministry of Rural Development –VIDER- informed that FAO has prompted a

subcommittee for LAE and will begin with the definition of a critical route. That meant to

start from cero again, since the SEOP has already made this, as well as the draft for the

electronic form to be implemented in the registry.

The minister’s advisor said that fear from prosecution has derived in a lack of action from

all the Ministry’s departments. The preliminary Registry is not yet consolidated and filtered,

so the information in it doesn’t enable to identify local food suppliers for schools. In the last

Registry showed by MAGA there was included a lot of coffee and cardamom producers, both

products are not of interest for schools. MAGA showed a general lack of interest in

accomplishing any of its programs.

2 Ley de Alimentación Escolar LAE 3 Organizaciones de padres de familia OPF


Due that in the agricultural sector it has been very difficult for the SEOP to work with the Ministry

of Agriculture –MAGA-, derived from all the changes and stand-by strategies found in the MAGA,

the decision taken by the Chief of Party -COP- Sigfrido Lee and Waleska Aldana the senior consultant

in this area, was to focus the efforts in a new initiative to support the Innovation sub-system in

Agriculture. In that order, there were various meetings with IICA, the rector of the Universidad de

San Carlos de Guatemala, USAC, and FAO officials (through CDAIS), in order to create an Agricultural

Innovation System, linked to the National Innovation System. CDAIS Guatemala has innovation

projects in 4 markets: avocado, cocoa, bean and honey. CDAIS has promoted the associativity of

producers in order to facilitate the commercialization of agricultural products. Director of

CDAIS/FAO Mr. Julio Catalán together with Bernard Triomphe representative of CIRAD, presented

the methodology for the establishment of such a system. There were identified an opportunity for

the SEO to lead the efforts together with USAC. Thus, the COP started conversations with USAC’s

rector, Murphy Paiz, in order to know the innovation axes that are being worked by the USAC and

the Sustainable Economic Observatory (Annex B Meeting minute 0829208).

Following these approaches, a first meeting with IICA, USAC, FAO and key actors (AGEXPORT,

CAMAGRO, USAID, USDA, private sector) was scheduled on October 8th, in order to set up an inter-

institutional group responsible for developing and making feasible a work proposal on an

agricultural and rural innovation system in Guatemala.

For the project related to the SP Measures coordination was made with USDA to foster a

Commission on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Trade Promotion. An agreement was

made with USDA officials, as food safety and a robust sanitary and phytosanitary measures system

can ease the trade in the agriculture sector.

The objectives proposed for the Commission were:

Identification of existing trade barriers for the food, agricultural, hydro biological, and

processed products of the country.

Definition of strategies for the gradual elimination of these barriers.

Monitor and ensure the implementation of the Food Safety System for all exporters and

importers.

Facilitate the trade of these products with the main commercial partners.

Establish a trade monitoring system.

Facilitate inter-institutional coordination on the issue of safety.

Likewise, the creation of the Risk Analysis Unit in MAGA was proposed, with the objective of

strengthening the ministry's institutional capacity and supporting the strengthening of the sanitary,

phytosanitary and food safety system.

An introductory workshop was held on May 3 with key stakeholders: Carmen Godoy Maestría en

Alimentos –USAC-; Víctor Guzmán -AGEXPORT-; Luis Caniz –APHIS/USDA-; Mónica Guerra -CENCIT-

; and Karla Tay –USDA-. The workshop reviewed the Commission’s agenda proposal, with technical


representatives of the aforementioned organizations. Sigfrido Lee and Karla Tay presented the SEO

and its actions in the different thematic areas. The main conclusions were that PRONACOM has the

political power to push the initiative. Nevertheless, they all were highly interested in the advances

of the project. They all agreed on the scheduling of further meetings, as soon as PRONACOM

approved the Commission’s agenda.

A meeting was held on May 25 with Francisca Cárdenas, Executive Director of PRONACOM, Lina

Roche legal advisor of the IDB Project of PRONACOM, Carolina Salazar and Sigfrido Lee. Consultant,

Waleska Aldana gave a presentation of the project explaining the involvement of various actors and

their support of the initiative. Given the lack of coordination between ministries, they proposed the

creation of the Risk Unit within the ministries (MSPAS, MAGA and MINECO) involved and fostered

through a Government Agreement driven by PRONACOM. Lina Roche reviews the agreed functions

of the Commission to send shortly further corrections to the SEO. Mrs. Francisca Cárdenas agreed

with the proposal, but mentioned that the project needed the approval of the MINECO minister and

vice minister Dougherty. With the MINECO approval, the SEO could schedule a meeting with all the

interested parties in a future date.

However, the SPS Commission Project got stuck, as PRONACOM changed the commissioner, and the

new commissioner Victor Asturias, didn’t knew the project. Thus, a meeting with Mr. Asturias and

Francisca Cardenas was scheduled in order to propose again to PRONACOM as leader of the SPS

Commission (Annex B - Meeting minute 08082018). In that meeting, it was clarified to the

Commissioner that the project requires the creation of a risk unit that coordinates the safety issues

within the MAGA.

Mr. Víctor Asturias asked if the MAGA would be the leader of the Commission and it was clarified

that the promoter leader would be PRONACOM, due to its legal nature and independence. Víctor

Asturias also commented that he was very hesitant to create a unit that struggled with the parallel

powers of MAGA, and clarified that PRONACOM had time limitations, personnel, etc. Sigfrido Lee

clarified that the different actors involved could support with technical resources and advocacy for

project (AGEXPORT, CAMAGRO, USDA), and what is needed is for PRONACOM to assume the

leadership. Víctor Asturias insisted on seeking legal opinions to see the viability of the creation of a

risk unit in the MAGA and mentioned that an important lobby should be done to carry out the

necessary actions. Mrs. Francisca Cardenas mentioned that it has to be done through the vice-

ministry of foreign trade. Sigfrido then asked about the willingness to lead the project, however, Mr.

Victor Asturias wanted some time to analyze the proposal.


5.2 FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY

As for food and nutrition security, there are three projects:

Actualization of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy (POLSAN), executed by ASIES;

Food and Nutrition Security National Campaign, promoted through ASIES, UVG, SESAN and

USAID projects; and,

Strengthening the Municipal Commissions for Food and Nutrition Security (COMUSAN),

executed by FUNCAFÉ.

As for the POLSAN actualization, consultant Mireya Palmieri was hired through ASIES on January

25, 2018. She began working on the preliminary proposal, which was agreed with the former

secretary. However, the actions contained in her proposal were set on a standby due to a change of

authorities in the Food and Nutrition Security Secretariat during early February. There was an

important delay, since it took several weeks to agree on a meeting with the new Secretary. The

consultant could not advance in this due the uncertainty in which decisions the new authorities will

assume. Finally, on Feb 20, the new Secretary received the Chief of Party, the consultant Palmieri

and the coordinator of the SEOP in ASIES, as a result of this meeting the secretary and his team

understood the proposal and assigned the Technical Sub Secretary to give follow-up. Nevertheless,

the SESAN’s participation is in stand-by for the actualization of the POLSAN and after several

communications and follow-up with authorities, with no answer from that institution, it was agreed

that Mireya Palmieri would continue with the proposal but under a new strategy, that it is a

preparation of a guideline document for the actualization of the policy that should be presented in

2019, for future political candidates.

In this new contract for Mrs. Palmieri, she has handed the first product of her consultancy. The

product consists in an initial diagnosis of the POLSAN, this exercise has been organized from two

analytical dimensions: the first is the design and formulation of the policy that includes explanations

related to the way in which the policy was developed. The second dimension is that of

implementation or operationalization, which, basically, includes a characterization of what has been

achieved, based on, in the absence of evaluations of the policy itself and its instruments,

documentary information available on each of its instruments, or about politics itself.

Conclusions on the design and formulation of the policy include:

1. It is important to add as an Strategic Guideline the topic of the articulation of nutrition

interventions with a focus on assistance, in the short term, with those of nutrition with a

development focus tending to expand social and economic opportunities in the medium

and long term.

2. The policy does not adopt the critical 'life cycle' approach and, therefore, excludes groups

of beneficiaries who must be guaranteed a good nutritional status, such as schoolchildren

and adolescents, with strategies to promote healthy lifestyles.


3. In relation to the relevance of the interventions and their methodologies, it was generally

found that the type of public offer indicated in the POLSAN is highly consistent with the

nature of chronic malnutrition in children under five years old - the main nutritional problem

in the country - that It is included in the situation analysis. Regarding the pillars of

Consumption and Biological Use, measures were not included to promote the importance

of the population's access to the formal education system, in the case of the former, nor

access to the health, water and sanitation services system. In a second. To address problems

related to the detection and management of acute malnutrition, the proposed actions are

fairly consistent since no measures are specified to guarantee effective coverage of

prevention and treatment programs. Finally, in relation to the subject of anemia and iron

deficiency, interventions are not explicitly addressed to improve the consumption of iron-

rich foods, or iron intake through supplementation.

Conclusions on the implementation of the policy include:

1. With the exception of the data from the Impact Assessment of the Zero Hunger Pact Plan,

there is no evidence related to aspects of the effectiveness and impact of the SAN policy on

the nutritional situation of the population.

2. In 2008 and 2009, the PDH office correctly pointed out the "bottlenecks" that had to be

foreseen to achieve the desired changes in food and nutrition security, among them lack of

political will and scarce positioning of the subject in the public agenda; weaknesses in public

institutional capacity; poor inter-institutional coordination and little communication from

SESAN and CONASAN with the ministries; inadequate budgetary allocation and lack of

focalization of the resources available in the territory, among others.

3. Over the years, starting in 2011, progress has been made in the aspects of political

commitment, especially after 2012 with the promulgation of the three Government

Agreements - one of which is Zero Hunger - but it is undoubted that there are still difficulties

related to: deficiencies in the targeting of vulnerable groups since the interventions were

not yet adjusted to what the policy stipulates; the plans (strategic and annual) do not

address the measures aimed at creating and increasing employment, education and health

opportunities as means to create a favorable environment and guarantee, in this way, that

they improve food and nutritional conditions; the approach to emergencies, recurrent year

after year, is assistance and has not yet established a framework for action that is aimed at

the timely management of risks and increase family and community resilience.

The second project in the FNS component is the Food and Nutrition Security National Campaign.

Jorge Lavarreda, the senior consultant on the FNS component, has made an initial diagnosis for the

campaign that includes:

A description of how to promote the collaborative work of civil society organizations.

A synthesis of the experience of the Great National Campaign.


A preliminary proposal of an alliance on the topic of the FNs is presented; it must be

submitted to a subsequent process of validation.

A preliminary mapping of actors that could be invited to participate in the new space of

collaborative alliance in FNS.

As UVG will be part of the promoting group, Jorge Lavarreda scheduled a meeting with the Rector

Roberto Moreno, Vice-rector Mónica Stein and Dean of the Research Institute, Edwin Castellanos,

on May 7, 2018. The guidelines received from UVG were that of a more defined project and

evaluation of the integration model that best corresponds. It is not the responsibility of the SEO to

replace the legal mandate of other public institutions. In addition, they suggested a series of

potential members for the promoter group that includes the OES, FUNDAZÚCAR and INCAP should

be part of it. It was also urged the mapping of possible actors, to identify other stakeholders. They

made emphasis in the careful handling with food companies. Some ideas were that the promoter

group should have a visible face, as Dr. Bressani's profile; as well as, a manager and champion to

lead and interest the society and Government. It is important for this project to contribute to the

objectives of the SEO.

Therefore, a first open meeting to share this initiative was scheduled with key actors from

FUNDEGUA, Woku Kawoq, URC, Fundazúcar, INCAP, USAID, RTI, FUNCAFÉ, and CSOs, in order to

publicize the work of the SEO to experts in FNS. This to provide inputs to promote the establishment

of a collaborative work space on the subject of Food and Nutrition Security, which aims to be

characterized by being independent, analytical, and multidisciplinary.

Sigfrido Lee presented the problem of FSN in the country: there is ample academic knowledge on

the subject, the levels of malnutrition in the country have been measured, and even though progress

has been minimal. There seems to be a total lack of coordination between the actors involved, this

despite the consensus on how this scourge should be addressed. Jorge Lavarreda continued with

the presentation of the proposal of the Campaign: the need was identified for the creation of a

space that would contribute to the social audit and the follow-up of the food and nutrition security

issue in the country; more precisely, the promotion of an initiative similar to the Great National

Campaign for Education was evaluated.

A workshop followed where the attendees discussed the following topics:

• Do you consider it worthwhile to promote a collaborative work space in FNS? Why?

• For what reason should this collaborative work space in FNS be created?

• What do you consider should be the main common objective of this collaborative work

space?

The attendees were divided in groups where they discussed and presented their answers to the

questions. There is a stagnation of the economic and social conditions of the country and much of

the cause is the very high levels of chronic malnutrition that we have been unable to fight. There is

an obvious need for the creation of an institution or collaborative space that links all the efforts


being done on the issue. In order to have social and political legitimacy, leadership on this issue

must be institutionalized. It is very important that there is a group that is representative of all

sectors. If you want to achieve sustainability of the actions, you have to strengthen alliances to

achieve advocacy at the political level.

Photo 1. Participants in the FNS campaign workshop. Guatemala City Jul. 24/2018

It was agreed that the assistants were going to feed a guide of questions that they were sent via

mail to define the steps to follow. FUNDEGUA through Conéctate-Guate is preparing a mapping of

actors to identify which program area each institution is working on. Further meetings were

considered to deepen the proposal (Annex B - Meeting minute 07242018).

Thus a second meeting was scheduled between FUNDEGUA, Woku Kawoq, Population Council, APN

and USAC. There, Jorge Lavarreda exposed the objectives of the SEO project and the FNS campaign

to the newcomers. Then, the attendees gave a presentation of the aspects that substantiated the

theory of change group DRCLAS / Harvard 2018. Based on the results of the study, a theory of change

was made:

1. Public awareness and participation.

2. Inclusive political advocacy takes into account the culture of the most vulnerable part of the

population.


3. Multidisciplinary intervention based on science.

It was agreed that the two projects have common lines to

work closely. It is imperative that the project achieves a

minimum common denominator that allows us to construct

an alliance with a basic structure and a clear orientation. The

project needs to define a more detailed space and then

involve other CSOs. INCAP and other universities needs to be

involved in the process. A consolidation of the core group is

needed before opening up to further spaces (Annex B -

Meeting minute 08292018).

A third meeting was held on September 12, just with SEO and the members of a group of institutions

led by Woku Kawoq, in order to find points of coincidence of agreements in order to complement

and do not duplicate the efforts fostered by each other (Annex B – Meeting minute 09122018) the

conclusions were to continue sharing information and to participate in the advocacy strategy.

The third project, Strengthening the Municipal Commissions for Food and Nutrition Security

(COMUSAN), is executed by FUNCAFÉ. The consultants, with the support of SEO and SESAN, kept

working the following actions within the framework of the COMUSAN strengthening project:

• Support the formulation of a municipal policy in FNS.

• Awareness on the matter to the municipal government.

• Promote the participation of civil society in FNS issues.

Since the beginning of February, 2 consultants, field technicians Wenceslao Barrios and Luis

Velásquez, were hired to promote FUNCAFE-SEOP actions in the municipalities identified in map of

actors in the western highlands. The consultants, with the support of SEOP and SESAN, are working

the following actions, within the framework of the COMUSAN strengthening project:

• Support the formulation of a municipal policy in FNS, based on a previous manual called

Guide for Investments in SAN, prepared by the Maternal and Child Survival Program –MCSP-

.

• Sensitize the municipal government.

• Promote the participation of civil society in FNS issues.

• The consultants are working in five departments and they are holding meetings with

municipal authorities, SESAN’s monitors, and COMUSAN’s. In each of the meetings, they are

presenting the SEOP project, making an initial diagnosis on the COMUSAN’s capabilities, and

they are giving workshops to train the members of the COMUSAN on FNS related issues.

The SEO, through the work of FUNCAFE made significant progress on the following issues:

Photo 2: Meeting with Woku Kawoq


1. Strengthening of COMUSAN for the creation of the Municipal Food and Nutrition Security

Office –OMSAN- (normative and technical framework) within the framework of the SESAN's

governance strategy.

2. Accompaniment for the formulation of municipal SAN policies.

3. Support the formulation of municipal investments policies (FUNCAFÉ adapted a HEP

framework guide for this matter).

4. To date, eight Municipalities in San Marcos have been prioritized; 11 in Quetzaltenango; six

in Huehuetenango; and five in Quiché. The municipalities in Totonicapán are yet to be

prioritized.

The joint work with the departmental delegates and the municipal monitors of SESAN made possible

the prioritization of municipalities. They have been important for the process, since they opened

spaces for the meeting of FUNCAFÉ’s technical staff with the COMUSAN members.

The prioritization criteria were:

Political will,

Installed capacities and

Absence or presence of institutions that promote political advocacy process.

That is why we are interested in the fact that the personnel do not change it and that the Secretary

knows about this work. A future meeting is foreseen to present further advances of the project.

In the work to support, the COCOSAN and COMUSAN of several municipalities we agreed on the

steps to strengthen the participation of leaders and people of the communities. This is because of

seven COCOSAN members only two were actively participating.

As the strengthening of the COMUSAN consolidated, the mayor of San Miguel Ixtahuacán, San

Marcos, decided to open the first Oficina Municipal de Seguridad Alimentaria –OMSAN. SEOP and

Secretary of the SESAN for the opening ceremony on April 5th

Photo 3: COCOSAN training by SESAN Monitor in Chelam, Huehuetenango


In the fourth quarter of this year a new subgrant was granted to FUNDESA to execute the project

Monitoring of the 1000 Day. FUNDESA developed the work plan for the Monitoring of the 1000 Day

Window. This project aims to collect evidence of the situation in the first level of health care through

the Monitoring of the Thousand Days Window, specifically in the actions of said program in the

departments prioritized by the Government's National Strategy for the Prevention of Chronic

Malnutrition. The main reason to continue with the monitoring of the 1000 Day Window is to

demonstrate the need to strengthen the first level of health. After losing two thirds of the health

care points at the community level, there seems to be no political interest to implement public

policies that strengthen the first level of care.

5.3 COMPETITIVENESS AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT There were four projects as part of the Research Agenda implemented in year two:

1. Strengthening Guatemala´s National Innovation Ecosystem.

2. Strengthening the Consortium for Local Economic Development.

3. Competitiveness Index for Region IV.

4. SME's competitiveness in Guatemala: current situation and future challenges including

SMEs in rural areas.

During FY2, in this topic the SEOP coordinate its work with the partners ASIES, Red Nacional de

Grupos Gestores (RNGG), RTI International, PRONACOM, FUNDESA and UVG. For all the

competitiveness and innovation projects, we have the following achievements:

Strengthening Guatemala´s National Innovation Ecosystem –NIE- As a first step SEO developed an

initial diagnose of the current innovation initiatives and experiences of the government, private

sector and academy. The results showed that the weaknesses and source of opportunities of the

ecosystems are related to: (a) financial resources; (b), cooperation and coordination; (c),

relationship between different public policy instruments aimed to strengthening science,

technology and innovation; (d), capacity building, physical infrastructure and management to

support innovation with technological content; (e), consolidation of innovation programs; (f), and,

investment on research, development and innovation related to productive/business sector.

With this diagnose as a baseline, the SEOP has elaborated a preliminary proposal that identifies all

the key actors and activities needed to create a strong and stable ecosystem that allows

competitiveness in Guatemala. To evaluate and improve this proposal, the SEOP coordinated a

training workshop on March 14, 2018, with the RTI innovation team that had as an objective to

share tools and information to evaluate innovation ecosystems based on international experiences

and lessons learned. After the innovation ecosystem training, the UVG and RTI teams met to re-

assess how RTI can play an impacting role for SEOP and its efforts to strengthen Guatemala’s

innovation ecosystem. The SEOP requested RTI to shift its focus from an assessment of the

ecosystem to an emphasis on action and implementation, developing a roadmap. There have been

many studies on Guatemala’s innovation ecosystem and there is a common understanding of its


status among stakeholders. The ecosystem is missing an action plan that turns the assessments into

tangible ways that champions within the ecosystem can generate greater momentum.

After hiring the new senior consultant Andrés Carranza, we set a new work plan that included not

only supporting the development of the roadmap for the ecosystem and all innovation activities,

but the articulation with key actors of public and private sector; and support other competitiveness

and innovation initiatives regarding of public policies and corporative governments of the SEOP

advocacy agenda.

During this last quarter, the SEO reached many achievements to promote innovation and

competitiveness. In July, the technical team met with the CONCYT and SENACYT authorities to

present the progress of the project and to propose to work together in the roadmap and identify

the key actors that we need to reach and get involve with (Annex B - Meeting minutes 07062018 &

07182018). Due to this, the SEO send a formal request for the senior consultant and the technical

assistant to join the national innovation commission round tables, with the objective to promote

the SEOP projects and archive consensus in some of the priorities for the SENACYT (Annex B -


On the other hand, RTI finished the baseline assessment that review all recent reports on

Guatemala’s ecosystem (Annex C – RTI Report 091818). This small assessment included the protocol

interview that the SEOP developed last quarter that provides a baseline of understanding for a

roadmap. Nevertheless, it did not include a micro and small business perspective on innovation. To

complete it, RTI developed a new protocol interview to work on in its last visit on September 5th.

As a result of this report, the SEOP defined that there are many challenges for strengthening the

innovation ecosystem in Guatemala, starting with the lack of resources dedicated to education and

human capital. Guatemala consistently ranks poorly based on global indicators for economic

development, innovation, and competitiveness. However, there are elements of a nascent

innovation ecosystem driven by motivated entrepreneurs, public sector leaders, and academic

innovators who already work and see the potential for innovation-led economic growth. This

potential is serving as a call to action, to understand the current strengths and weaknesses of

Guatemala and build them into a roadmap that can be impulse by the government through a

strategic plan and a policy agenda.

During the first week of September, the SEOP, RTI International and SENACYT carry out the two

workshops to develop the roadmap (Annex B - Meeting minute 09062018). There were participants

from different key actors of the public, private and academic sector, between them advisors and

members of the national innovation commission, PRONACOM, Industry Chamber, Asociación de

Gerentes de Guatemala, Agexport, Fundasistemas, Alterna Impact, Universidad Galileo, Rafael

Landívar y Universidad Marroquín, UVG, ANDE, FAO, and many other organizations, foundations

and projects that promote innovation and support accelerator and entrepreneurship programs.


Photo 4. Participants in the second workshop to strengthening Guatemala´s National Innovation Ecosystem.

Guatemala City Sep. 5/2018

In this event, the SEOP was able to create a platform for discussion and analysis, identify strategic

activities for the roadmap and enhance the compromise of each actor in the ecosystem and to move

on the roadmap not only in the central region, but in the intermediate cities identify in the National

Competitiveness Policy.

Photo 5. Work sessions on the second innovation workshop. Guatemala City Sep. 6/2018

On the other project Competitiveness Index for Region VI, ASIES finished the strategy and in a

review with PRONACOM and key actors the document received feedback and two more regional

workshops were implemented to strengthen the proposal (Annex B Meeting minute 07182018)

With the contributions of the participants in the 6 departmental workshops, a preliminary report on

regional competitiveness and employment strategy in the VI region was developed. This was

submitted to validation in two workshops at regional level with the participation of the main

regional and departmental actors. In these participative spaces, the strategic axes, their objectives

and the strategic actions or intermediate results to be achieved were defined. Then we proceeded

to break down these broad actions into activities, indicators, institutions in charge, support entities


and where they exist, the resources that might be necessary and the projects to be implemented to

achieve them. In the final validation processes there were incorporated activities proposed in

another inputs like

A useful tool developed to disseminate basic information on competitiveness was the information

sheet called ABC of competitiveness, designed and published by ASIES, which is now in a second

edition to be used in advocacy and by other partners such as PRONACOM and FUNDESA in their

activities, as well as the informative bulletin about the competitiveness and employment strategy

delivered in every workshops (Annex D Fact sheets).

The National Network of Grupos Gestores –RNGG- concluded with several important inputs for the

SEO activities. The mapping of key actors linked to the competitiveness of Region VI, which

identified through a participatory approach, all the groups and organizations present in Region VI

(San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Totonicapán, Sololá, Retalhuleu and Suchitepéquez) that may affect

or be affected by a proposal on competitiveness, also through a map of relationships, the links of

efforts related to competitiveness were identified. The actors present in the region were qualified

according to important characteristics, such as their decision-making power, their interest in the

problem and the position they could adopt in relation to the proposal or process in question (such

as the Council). National). Competitiveness Policy), to achieve this milestone, 6 consultation

workshops were held (one in each department), the preliminary results were presented through 6

validation workshops (one in each department), were also carried out to present the results to OES

partners linked to The competitiveness component.

In addition, diagnoses of economic potentials for the departments of Region VI were developed

applying the Methodology to develop Economic Potential Studies and Competitiveness Agendas -

EPAC-. The purpose of the study was to establish the current and potential economic drivers of each

department, as well as to serve as a starting point to establish a strategy that stimulates the local

economy. It is aimed to improve the quality of life through a comprehensive approach. In order to

achieve the results, the Regional Competitiveness Roundtable and the Departmental Competitiveness


Tables were involved, a documentary exploration was carried out for the economic diagnosis of each

department, 12 consultation workshops were held and results validation with key actors.

The RNGG organized the Fourth Congress of Competitiveness Tables in Quetzaltenango, in which

exhibitors from Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala gave masterly talks on competitiveness issues;

this Congress in particular, presented the possibility for the establishment of an economic corridor

in the western highlands. The event has held through the 21th to the 23th of August. In this meeting,

strategies are sought to improve the economic conditions of the country's.

Photo 7. 4th Competitiveness Tables Congress. Guatemala City Sep. 6/2018

With a new sub grant implemented by FUNDESA it was developed the preliminary report for the

first 5 phases of the Preliminary Plan for Road Development, this report highlights the importance

of infrastructure investment in social and economic development; overall a good transport system

enhances efficiency and reduces cost, making the country more competitive and attractive for

investors and tourists.

The purpose of the consultancy is the definition and proposal of a road network that interconnects

the country in a primary and secondary network. The project’s objective is to contribute to one of

the engines of development in Guatemala, in its economic dimension, through the design of a

proposal for the National Plan of the Road Network in Guatemala, which will serve as the basis and

complement for updating the current Road Development Plan by the Ministry of Communications.

The primary network aims to connect:

● Seaports and airports.

● Departmental headers at the country level.

● Official border crossings.

● Emerging cities.

● Intermediate cities.

● Areas of high demand (of destinations, by tourism, commerce, or other).


The secondary network will connect:

Hospitals and health centers

Schools

Assistance stations (firemen, red cross, police delegations, others)

Department-level municipal headers

Villages and villages

Current Tertiary network.

Furthermore, we have had other complementary activities for this topic:

“Study and analysis of public policies that promote local economic development” (Annex C –

ACarranza Report 08062018).

This study included the review of all national proposal for economic development, and investment

attraction specially in local territories. Also, it involves the diagnosis and analysis of its objectives

and implementation mechanisms. The policies selected in this study were:

• National Competitiveness Policy 2018-2032

• Economic Policy Plan 2016-2021

• Industrial Policy Proposal 2016-2044

• National Policy for Scientific and Technological Development 2015-2032

• Entrepreneurship Policy 2015-2013

Some of the findings were that most of them are indirectly linked to the National Competitiveness

Policy. Although, it is necessary to consider that for the alignment, implementation and fulfilment

of its objectives they need:

a. A responsible institutionality that promotes the policy and assign resources for its

implementation. In this case, must be MINECO and PRONACOM the ones that develop

mechanisms to strengthen other institutions dedicated to improving the competitiveness

indicators of the country through the coordination with private sector, academia and civil

society.

b. Territorial capacities development that allows the National Competitiveness Policy

implementation in the intermediate cities and regional nodes. It’s important to build

capacities in the regional competitiveness tables through programs and projects that

influence them and allows the coordination with other initiatives focused on incentives,

investment, productivity and employment at a departmental o municipal level

c. Indicators generation through monitoring and evaluation plans that shows the progress and

results on the priorities that should be addressed in a short and long-term. As well as an

institutional infrastructure and platform that allows this process to transcend governments

temporalities and remains as a state plan.


For the formulation of public policy proposals, the SEOP has hired a new consultant that will be in

charge of the project Dialogs to promote the generation of formal employment in Guatemala and

will coordinate all the activities.

Consultant Starting date Ending date Consultancy

Felipe Girón

17/08/2018

31/12/2018

Dialogs to promote the generation of formal employment in Guatemala for the formulation of public policy proposals

Its objective is to organize 8 focus groups with diverse audiences: students, business associations,

political parties, private analysts and columnists, research centers, municipal mayors, civil society

and workers' representatives. Its purpose is to identify the initiatives or visions that different actors

have to generate formal employment. This inputs are needed for the formulation of Public Policy

proposals in coordination with the Association of Exporters of Guatemala, AGEXPORT. A report with

the findings of the focus groups will be consolidated into a document for it to be presented to future

political candidates. The first draft was delivered this quarter (Annex C – FGirón Report 09172018).

Photo 8. Dialogs to generate formal employment in Guatemala with Business Guilds. Guatemala City Sep.

4/2018

Among the conclusions it is possible to emphasize the following:

• Entrepreneurship classes are not transversal in the curriculum of administration sciences

and middle and upper class people do not worry because they will inherit the family

business.

• The way salaries are established: the minimum wage becomes the maximum salary and not

a point of reference for productivity.


• The importance of citizen security, there are many costs derived from the low levels of

security in the country.

• There is a fall in foreign direct investment that affects investment in the country's

infrastructure.

• There is a lack of legal security. (Annex C. FGirón Report 09172018)

For the next quarter, there will be a document that systematizes the conclusions and proposals

generated in the dialogues, this document will serve as input for the formulation of the proposal for

formal employment generation, from which two policy briefs are expected to be drawn.

Finally, in order to support the implementation of the Competitiveness National Policy, a new

consultancy began on September 2018 addressed to develop Strategic territorial competitiveness

strategies in 7 intermediate cities that is in charge of Julio De La Roca – EQSA


EQSA 09/12/2018 04/12/2019 Identify territorial economic development strategies in the framework of public policies that promote competitiveness in 7 intermediate cities identified in the POLCOM.

The workshops to implement the methodology will start in October and it is estimated to finish in

February 2019.

5.4 ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY

Related to the Public Policy Guidelines for Water Management in Guatemala during the fourth

quarter, the senior consultant Rodolfo Cardona finished his contract, and we took other actions to

hire a new consultant, with a profile that adapts to the project and that had experience in water

management and consultation processes. This new consultant will support and coordinate all

actions that will be implemented in the next year. Also, will follow up all actions of the other

consultants of the project and partners involved. This includes the validation of the proposal, review

of analysis and studies and the keep of socialization, discussion and advocacy spaces with the key

actors identified during this year.


Mónica Orozco

16/09/2018

31/07/2021

Coordination and support of the

“Public Policy Guidelines for Water

Management in Guatemala” project

Within the framework of the proposal, the implementer consultant, Andrea Najera develop the first

report of the survey for the validation of different aspects of the proposal, including the governance

principles and guidelines (Annex C – ANajera Report 071518 and 091718). As a result, the trends


suggest that certain agreements on water management already exist. For example, the direct

relationship between water and ecosystems; management through local actors; share

responsibilities between users and government; need of transparency and information; alternative

solution of conflicts and; territory management and basins. Although, there were also discrepancies

in the perception of stablish a national water authority and which participation mechanisms will be

used.

The report also shows us that public policies on water resources must be encouraged to incorporate

gender considerations and recognize the value of traditional knowledge. Finally, it suggests to

consider the progress that has already been made regarding on water legislation, and to resume the

key conjunctures that have shaped and validated previous policy instruments.

The SEOP held different meetings to follow up the project and to develop a better roadmap and

strategic activities that can move forward the initial proposal (Annex B - Meeting minute 08242018).

Also, and due to the MOU addendum between UVG and MARN signed in the past quarter, we held

a second workshop with both technical team of MINFIN and MARN to organize the validation

workshops with government, private sector, NGOs and indigenous people (Annex B - Meeting

minute 08082018). As a result, it was concluded that the SEOP should look for a strategic partner to

made all events calls. It’s expected to have the validation process finish on the next quarter. The

following key actors were identified:

a. For the government workshop: MINFIN and MARN

b. For the NGOs workshop: The Nature Conservancy

c. For the private sector workshop: Chamber of Industry

d. For the indigenous people workshop: Sotz’il and 48 Cantones

e. For the academic workshop: FAUSAC and IARNA

Photo 9. Second workshop with MARN and MINFIN. Guatemala City Aug. 8/2018

Finally, on past September 20th MINFIN officially launch the Environmental Fiscal Strategy well

known as the EFA (by its initials in spanish), which was elaborated with the collaboration of different


key actors including the SEOP, through our political articulator, Benedicto Lucas (Annex B - Meeting

minute 09202018). This strategy seeks to create an economy based on environmental sustainability

and to activate mechanism within MINFIN to promote public expenditure quality taking into account

the environment needs and energetic efficiencies. However, because of political changes within

MINFIN, we are still waiting for the signature of the MOU to formalize the participation of the SEOP

at the EFA spaces and validate all the actions and collaboration of MINFIN and its partners on the

project.

Photo 10. Vice minister of MINFIN presents the EFA. Guatemala City Sep. 20/2018

Another partner involved in this topic is Asociación Sotz’il with the Indigenous Vision of Water. As

the Terms of Reference for the study were approved by the indigenous people specialist of USAID,

Ajb’ee Jimenez; Sotz´il carry out the first workshop to socialize and obtain inputs for the study

(Annex B - Meeting minute 08272018). In the event we had different key actors from many regions

of the country. As a result, the SEOP was able analyze the perspective of the actors as to local

regulations, conservation and management, knowledge, traditional and cultural practices and,

conflict resolution. It is expected to have the final report on the next quarter.

Photo 11. Carlos Quarques from the Guatemalan Association of Mayors and Indigenous Authorities at the

first workshop for the Indigenous Vision of Water study. Guatemala City, Aug. 31/2018


On the other hand, and to move forward with the economic governance model, Water economic

valuation and HydroBID, CEAB and RTI International started their first review and analysis for the

design and development of the hydro-economic model of Samalá River Basin located at the

southwestern highlands of Guatemala. The main objectives of this work is to develop and implement

a valuing water in irrigated agriculture methodology in the basing (a), identify highly vulnerable

population to water scarcity (b), and identify how policymakers can use this information to develop

water management proposals (Annex B – Minute meeting RTI 08282018).

For this work, CEAB is supporting RTI to obtain the respective data and information from studies,

national statistics, surveys and public policies. Also, during the past month formal requests have

been made to the National Institute of Electrification (INDE) to have free access to the information

from their meteorological and hydrological stations in the watersheds of interest.

Related to the First Knowledge Report on Climate Change in Guatemala During the month of July,

the SEOP and CEAB held three events in different departments including Quetzaltenango, Santa

Lucia Cotzumalguapa and Guatemala City. The main objective was to socialize the project and show

document advances with different key actors of the three regions: south, central and western

highlands. As part of the progress, the three consultants incorporated the comments and feedback

obtained in the events, meetings and other internal workshops (Annex B - Meeting minute

07012018) and, review and arranged the chapters to finish the first draft of the report (Annex C –

MRosal, JEscribá, ASantizo Report 09052018).

For the project Support the Mayan Biosphere Reserve -RBM- Forest Concession Model we

coordinate with Rainforest Alliance and ACOFOP. On this quarter the we finished the

preliminary version of the actor’s map (Annex C – CCabrera Report 08282018). As a firs

result, the expert consultant defined three key elements for a future strategy:

a. A political axis that involves a communication, participation and advocacy

improvement with governmental institutions and political parties,

b. a media axis that allows sharing success stories of the communities in the territory,

and that involves a strategy for archaeological material handling inside the

concessions and,

c. a legal axis that involves starting and press the renovation process with CONAP, an

internal preparation for a contract evaluation and, the establishment of agreements

and MOUs with key actors, such as universities, NGOs, think tanks and other

cooperation projects.

To validate this work, we carry out a first validation workshop with the stakeholders (Annex

B - Meeting minute 08312018). In this workshop ACOFOP asked the SEOP to expand the

consultant's contract to seek more interviews with other key actors and integrated all the


information discused. We finished all the administrative process and expect to have the

final report on October.

Photo 12. First validation workshop for the Forest Concession Actors Map. Flores, Petén Aug. 31/2018

Furthermore, we have had other complementary activities carry out for this topic:

Participation in the “II Symposium of Continental Waters of the Americas:

watersheds, good practices and governance” on July 9th (Annex B - Meeting minute

07092018). The event focused on the integrated watershed management as a

strategy conservation and water management. There were different presentations,

forums and roundtables led by national and international experts to share successful

experiences and the legal framework and proposals in other Latin American

countries for some of the topics.

Photo 13. Organizers of the II Symposium of Continental Waters of the Americas, including UVG and the

European Union. Panajachel, Sololá. Jul 09/2018


Workshop "Perspectives of Water and Development" on August 7th. This workshop aimed

to discuss academic perspectives on water management and identify key actors to be

invited for the V Congress of Development Studies to be held in the next quarter (Annex B -


Hiring of a UVG experts pool for the topic that will support in the review and analysis of the

products and publications that the SEOP develops during life project.


Gabriela Fuentes 20/08/2018 30/06/2021

Professionals experts to support the

Observatory in the environment,

climate change and biodiversity

topic.

Gabriela Alfaro 20/08/2018 30/06/2021

Jackeline Brincker 20/08/2018 30/06/2021

Diego Incer 24/08/2018 30/06/2021

Daniel Ariano 27/08/2018 30/06/2021

Carlos Godoy 30/08/2018 30/06/2021

5.5 CROSSCUTTING THEMES

5.5.1 Rural Development – Local Economic Development

The RNGG developed the inventory of municipalities that have Commissions for Economic

Development, Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (COFETARN) and Municipal

Offices of Local Economic Development (OMDEL) also called Technical Units of Local

Economic Development (UDEL), was constructed with through a telephonic census made to

the 340 municipalities of the country. In each of the telephone calls, a survey, the

"Governance Practices in the Promotion of the Local Economy", was addressed to the

municipalities that reported COFETARN and / or OMDEL – UDEL. Afterwards, a visit was

made to nine municipalities in order to make a focal group with key actors, UDEL or

COFETARN officials.

Through the investigation, it was determined that only 75 municipalities have COFETARN,

however, it must be taken into account that 200 municipalities did not respond to the

information requested, and 65 indicated that they do not have a COFETARN. Nationwide,

only 36 technical units were reported, which can be called OMDEL, UDEL, or with another

series of name, and they present the same challenges:

1. The lack of manager or managers in COFETARN.

2. The lack of resources allocated to the same Commission

3. The non-existence of public policies in the area of local economic development.


In order to strengthen the activities of LED Consortium, it was designed its Strategic Plan.

The Strategic Plan for the LED Consortium was formulated by Julio de la Roca, it was

validated through 3 workshops made with the key actors. The DEL Consortium constitutes

an inter institutional alliance of public entities and private companies that, operating in

different fields of knowledge, research, production and development, are aligned in the

common purpose of helping to Guatemala promotes tangible, sustainable and sustainable

economic development, particularly necessary and urgent in communities and

municipalities in the interior of the country. The plan included a SWOT analysis, a mapping

of key actors and the strategic objectives for the Consortium for the 2018-2023 period.

Photo 14. DEL consortium workshop. Guatemala City, Jun 14/2018

In the Geographic Information System GIS Coordinated by the Engineering Faculty of UVG Esteban

Wyss was hired as the consultant in charge of the consolidation of the SIG project for the

Engineering Faculty of the UVG.


Esteban Wyss

16/09/2018

31/07/2021

Coordination and support of

Geographic Information System GIS

The project has to accomplish 7 objectives, the advances of each topic are explained below:

1. To identify geographic information processing sources:

INSIVUMEH handed meteorological maps constructed by the Climatology Department.

They also gave the coordinates of the rainfall stations.


MAGA handed information on, land use, watersheds, edge faults, physiography,

geology, life zones, soil capacity, soil use intensity, threat by frost, humidity,

temperature and areas with flood risk.

SEGEPLAN gave geospatial information on: municipal boundaries, departmental

boundaries, rivers, populated places, Municipal headers, Departmental headers,

schools, health centers, Fire volcano event, base map of Belize, municipal urban streets,

land use capacity, Central American Highway, cases of malnutrition, census, dry

corridor, hydrography, fire station, general indexes, Risks, poverty, protected areas,

railroad track, land use 2012, methodological guidelines for municipal development.

COVIAL gave geospatial information on: DGC, FSS, Paved roads 2017, non -paved roads

(earthwork) 2017,

SIECA handed: Norms for the mechanical revision of vehicles, norms for the terrestrial

transport of goods and dangerous residues, Central American Manual for risk

management in bridges, Central American Highway Maintenance Manual with a focus

on risk management and road safety, Central American Manual of standards for the

geometric design of roads, Regional mobility and logistics framework of Central

America, and the Manual of technical considerations Hydrology and Hydraulics for

Road Infrastructure in Central America.

CEAB handed geospatial information on: Forest cover, Precipitation, Temperature,

Mosaic and land use, Water bodies, Edge failures, Physiography, Micro basins,

Protected areas, Geology, Ethnic groups, Life zones, Orthophotos, Cartographic

sheets, Risk areas, Digital Elevation Model.

Civil Engineering from the UVG gave the following information related to the

university’s megaproject: Shape files in the area of hydrology, drinking water (tanks,

births, pumping, wells), stretches of storm drains, manholes and treatment plants

(Megaproject of Antigua Guatemala), and a compilation of the maps generated by

students in water recharge (Megaproject of Xayá-Pixcayá in Chimaltenango).

Further institutions were requested to hand over information related to SIG, but

are pending of their commitment. These are: MARN, INDE, CONRED and the CNEE.

2. To collect information on the actual conditions of the territory to enhance the analysis on

geographic, geological, hydrological, demographic, archaeological, and agricultural data,

103 vector files have been collected, classifying them into the following topics:

Environment: 18 files containing rivers, sub-basins, bodies of water, edge

failures, physiography, micro-watersheds, protected areas, geology, life

zones, land use capacity, classification of lands in Chimaltenango, dry

corridor, watersheds, intensity of use of soil, hydrography of lakes, and

springs.


Economy: 8 files containing the same geometry of limitations between

municipalities, but with specific information within the attribute table.

Statistics: 3 archives containing census size 1986, 2001 and 2008,

representing statistical and geographical distribution by means of the

geometry of the limitations of the municipalities.

Event: 8 files containing mainly resources about the tragedy of the Volcán

de Fuego on June 3, 2018. Within these are: affected area, populated areas,

pyroclastic flow, rivers of the volcano and approximate area of lahar. This

classification is for any event that information has been collected, but at

the moment you only have spatial files of the Volcano of Fire.

Infrastructure: 7 files containing Guatemalan roads, municipal urban

streets, Chixoy dam roads, Central American roads, milestones per

kilometer, location of bridges and railways.

Limits: 8 files that limit their territory, these municipalities, departments,

base map Belize, territorial differences, among others.

Relief: 4 files, specifically of contour lines, describing the composition of the

relief and the topography by means of lines represented in a plane.

Risk: 4 files containing lack of response capacity, risk index in Guatemala,

danger of exposure and vulnerability.

Health: 9 files containing health centers, cases of acute malnutrition,

mortality associated with malnutrition, food security, and health services.

Like other space resources, some of these files contain the limitation of

municipalities from geometry.

Social: 31 files containing populated places, municipal capitals,

departmental capitals, schools, ethnic groups, Chixoy communities,

linguistic communities, SEGEPLAN headquarters, inequality by municipality,

fire station, general municipal ranking, municipal management ranking,

municipal ranking of administration, municipal ranking of strategies, citizen

information, citizen participation, public services, Chixoy municipalities,

municipal development processes, municipal decentralization and

administrative regions.

Soil: 4 files containing soil level order in Chimaltenango, susceptibility to

erosion, use of land in Chixoy and land use in Guatemala.

3. In raster space resources, almost 4,000 georeferenced images have been collected,

classifying them into the following topics:

Environment: 7 files containing map of forest cover of 2001, 2006, 2010,

1991 and World Clime temperature.

Cartography: 9 image files containing the cartographic sheets per block.


DEM: 2 files that contain a digital elevation model of all of Guatemala, with

30 meters of precision and pixel size.

Meteorological: 11 files containing information on rain, evapotranspiration,

rainfall intensity, Isoyetas, maximum daily rainfall, humidity, flow and

rainfall of World Clime.

Orthophotos: 3,946 orthophotos were collected from Guatemala, covering

the entire country except Petén.

Risk: 2 files containing the delimitation of risk in landslides and floods. From

these resources, the information is extracted to generate vector files from

the images and analyze the risk areas.

Soil: 2 files containing land use information for the year 2012 and 2014. In

these files one identifies the areas that have had changes in the surface of

the land.

Relief: 1 file in TIF format that provides an image on the relief throughout

the Republic.

4. To develop the SIG standards so to standardize the geographic information, so to elaborate

the platform to manage the SIG data:

An inventory was made of the standards that are most used both globally and in the

region. The document that adapts and becomes standard for the Universidad del

Valle de Guatemala is Regulation (EC) No. 1205/2008 of the Commission of

December 3, 2008. It is an established regulation and focused on the ISO 19115

standard on spatial metadata. The most important characteristics that should have

the information that will be stored were selected. All collected information was

organized by means of an Excel file to classify it by topic and describe the metadata

necessary to validate the information. A proposal is being structured based on the

regulation for feedback to institutions that generate geographic information.

5. To make the necessary approaches to promote the SIG workshop. (see above) Support the

SEO with information gathering on Quiché, Totonicapán, Huehuetenango, San Marcos and

Quetzaltenango.

Information on the areas of interest of the SEO is already consolidated. It is planned

to filter the following characteristics: rivers, towns, schools, contour lines, floods,

landslides and other characteristics that describe the geography of the place.


Photo 15. Combination of raster layers with vector layers on region 6

6. To work in conjunction with other public and private institutions in order to

coordinate efforts for the collection, ordering and processing of information.

7. Create a specialist forum on Territorial Planning:

The Territorial Planning Seminar took place at the Real Intercontinental Hotel on

September 4th and 5th. It was followed up with an internship workshop on

Geographic Information Systems at the central campus of the University of Valle de

Guatemala, on September 6th. The workshop was given to capacitate public,

private and academic institutions, in GIS and territorial planning topics and

tools, with the purpose of raising awareness among the entities in charge of land

management. Luis Leite Ramos and Ricardo Bento from Universidades de Tras-Os-

Montes y Alto Douro, UTAD, from Portugal where entitled to give the master

conferences, based on the experience of territorial planning in Portugal.

The Rector of the University of the Valley of Guatemala, the COP of the Sustainable

Economic Observatory, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, the

Minister of Economy, the President of the National Association of Municipalities

and the Director of the Department of Civil Engineering. were entitled to give the

welcoming words and exposed the problematics linked to territorial planning, from

their institutions point of view.

The event was divided in blocks alike, so that the speakers shared their knowledge,

the methodological guides and the best practices that have to do territorial

planning. Guatemalan emerging cities are perfect examples of the lack of territorial

planning, both at the central and local government; business are constructed near

highways, there are not industrial zones within the cities, no waste disposal tools,

etc. Territorial planning allow us to have a methodological guide, according to our


lands and resources, for socio-economic and infrastructural development, this way

communities and areas can be developed in a sustainable and arranged way. (Annex

B Seminar minute 09042018).

Photo 16. Authorities in the first Territorial Planning seminar. Guatemala City Sep. 04/2018

Photo 17. Portuguese experts in the Seminar of Territorial Planning. Guatemala City Sep. 04-5/2018

As a follow-up of the seminar a meeting was called by the Department of Civil Engineering and

SEO to work with a group of women professionals involved in territorial planning in Guatemala

to share with them all the information in GIS as well as to find paths to work together to

strengthen technical capacities in the Municipalities.


5.5.2 Intersectionality approach

As planned for the year 2 of the project it was held the first workshop to build capacities in SEO staff,

partners and consultants who work for the project. The training process "Theoretical-

methodological contributions from the perspective of intersectionality", aims to facilitate the

inter-learning and provide theoretical-methodological contributions from the perspective of

intersectionality for the analysis and preparation of proposals from the team of consultants of the

SEOP. The main objectives are:

- Identify the construction and intersectional reading of statistical data.

- Recognize the legal, political and institutional framework related to women,

indigenous peoples, youth and rural development.

- Provide tools to incorporate the intersectional gender perspective in planning /

budgeting.

- Establish a theoretical-conceptual framework on intersectionality

The workshop presented statistical data, analyzed from the perspective of intersectionality, despite

the fact that statistical production in the country lacks of analysis of gender and ethnicity. It provided

an overview of the set of norms, policies and institutions that have been incorporated in the State

of Guatemala in the last three decades, as a result of advocacy processes from various social

movements and the development of international regulations, to address situations that still need

to be addressed. In addition, it was suggested how, from these normative, political and institutional

frameworks, instruments have been created to integrate this perspective of intersectionality in the

structures and state processes of planning and budget (Annex B Minute workshop 07312018).

5.6 TRAINING EVENTS

With the aim of strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations and key actors and contributing to

the public debate on key issues of development, the SEO has coordinated with the Central American Institute

of Fiscal Studies, -ICEFI- and the Master in

Development Program of UVG, to provide the

course of Fiscal Policy for Development that is

divided into 7 modules, 16 hours of training,

which was taught over 4 days. The objective was

to strengthen the capacities of civil society for

the analysis of public policies from the fiscal

analysis to perform social audits. It is aimed at

explaining how the operation of the State

generates (or not) conditions for development,

making the State responsible to citizens. This

formation process began on Tuesday,

September 18th and will be ending on October 2th 2018. Photo 17. First training day, Sep 18/2018


The workshop seeks to provide fundamental and practical aspects that allow understanding the benefits, advantages and impact of fiscal policy in the economy and how this can affect the decisions of the people who are part of it. (Annex B First day of workshop 09182018). A total of 33 participants received their diploma for completing the training, participants from various institutions and experiences, including civil society organizations, academia (URL, FLACSO, USAC, UVG), research centers, NGOs, international cooperation and the private sector through FUNDESA.

Photo 18 Group of participants in the training with ICEFI-MAEDES-SEO. Guatemala, September 2018

In Quetzaltenango the Training on Municipal Governance continued held in the facilities of

Universidad Internaciones, with the participation of an average of 21 students this training

developed three modules and will finish in November 2018. The modules covered the following

themes:

July: 3rd Module Transparency and social audit in municipal Governments, developed by

Acción Ciudadana. Included topics as: Participatory and inclusive planning: youth and

gender. Participatory budget. Electronic government tools: Guate Compras, SNIP, local

government portal, etc. Presented by Marvin Flores from ONG Acción Ciudadana

August: 4th Module Socialization of the US Government Strategy for World Food Security

for Guatemala (2018- 2022) with the participation of Gerson Morales of USAID.

September Module No. 6: Territory and Competitiveness, presented by MSc. Victoria

Peláez from Institute for Economic and Social Studies –IDIES- URL.


Photo 19: Lecture by Marvin Flores

Photo 20 Class with Mr. Guillermo Recinos with preparation of final rep Photo 21 Participans in module 3 with

teacher Mandredo Marroquín, Acción Ciudadana

5.7 RAPID RESPOND FUND

During year 2 the SEOP answered two requests from USAID to implement under the Rapid

Respond Fund allocated in the project, the following actions:


1. Training workshop on the Environmental Regulation 216 held on Quetzaltenago in July 16-

20. In this event there were participants from all the implementers or projects funded by

USAID in Guatemala.

Photos 23-24 Training workshop on USAID Regulation 216. Quetzaltenango, July 2018

2. A study on the technical and economic feasibility for cocoa production in Quiché. This study

was carried out by the consultancy firm Rural Innovation. The consultants presented the

results on May 30 in USAID The work done by consultants of Rural Innovation, Carlos

Urizar and José Antonio Hernández, is relevant in terms of the wide consultancy in

the territory and the agronomic, economic and social analysis included in the report.

The study concludes that the geographical area has the appropriate climatic

conditions for the cacao cultivation, especially the communities located south of the

municipality of Ixcán, the Zona Reina and some of Chajul. They identified at least 26

producer organizations with an interest in cultivation and land surface making cacao

feasible as a productive and commercial alternative. From the cost and income

analysis at producer level, they concluded that cacao might indeed be an agricultural

alternative that expands and diversifies employment and income options.


The final presentation of the study was held on August 13, 2018 in Guatemala City

(Annex B Meeting minute 08132018). Within the main conclusions was identified

that there are opportunities for the Guatemalan cocoa in the segment of fine cocoa

that is in constant growth, especially in the United States market. To support this

initiative in Guatemala, a strengthening plan was recommended by Rural Innovation

which includes organizational development, technology for production and access

to markets, with emphasis on 70% to international markets and 30% to the domestic

market, which can be carried out in two phases, the first 5 years for its promotion

and establishment and another 5 for a stage of development.

At the end of the meeting, the representatives of different institutions showed their willingness and interest to continue supporting this production as an option for small producers in Quiché that will be of benefit in terms of income and diversification of production. The main recommendation is a close follow-up to respond to some expectations of producers and institutions.

6. PARTNERS INVOLVEMENT

During year two the SEOP made four partners meetings, specially focusing on the process of the

strategic plan formulation, in the following dates:

A coordination meeting held on October 11, 2017 with partners as a startup of FY2, in

order to agree on the procedures to create the agendas, calendars and activities to be

coordinated with all partners

Meeting on March 7, 2018 in order to obtain inputs and contributions from the partners for

the formulation of the strategic plan of the OES, which will help guide the actions of the

coming years to achieve the results of the project

Meeting on April 26, 2018, to review and validate the basic technical components of the

Strategic Plan draft 2018-2021 based on the inputs provided by the different sources

consulted and the previous workshop: i) Conceptual model of the main problem that we

want to contribute to solving; ii) Theory of change of the problem with results and products;

iii) Results framework with indicators and goals; iv) Matrix of actors; v) Risk management

matrix. As well as to answer to the learning questions generating strategies to improve the

execution and results of the OES.

Meeting on August 2, 2018 with two main objectives: Inform about the actions carried out

in year 2 and identify lines of work to coordinate the work of all the partners for year 3. The

second objective was to carry out a Team Building activity with the theme: Assertive

Communication in charge of consultant Sara García who was hired for that purpose. Within

the framework of the planning process for fiscal year 2019, the aim was to promote high


performance work teams, defined as those that achieve a high level of results with high

satisfaction and motivation of its members. The general objective of this activity was to

make the technical and administrative teams of the OES a single high performance team

(Annex B Minute meeting 08022018).

An important activity was activated again this year within the UVG, which consisted of the SEO

Advisory Committee, which is made up of the Vice-Rector for Research, the Deans of the Research

Institute, the Faculties of Engineering and Social Sciences, as well as the Director of the Center for

Agricultural and Food Studies CEAA. This year, two meetings were held to follow up SEO actions but

also to provide strategic research guidelines for the project.

Some difficulties arise in the execution of ASIES. Therefore, this partner and SEO-UVG had several

meetings and exchanged electronic communications by mail and official correspondence, in order

to find options to improve their execution and implement new activities for the FY2 work plan. A

series of letters and meetings were held and the last action taken was a meeting every two weeks

(early Monday) as a follow-up of all activities in the technical and financial areas. As a result, a better

level of communication and better mutual understanding has emerged and the implementation of

ASIES has improved. (Annex B Meeting minutes of four work sessions with ASIES-SEO)

7. MONITORING AND EVALUATION ANNUAL REPORT

Based on the document "Strategic Planning of the SEOP", the structure of project components was

modified, components two and four were added to give greater meaning to the interventions.

The mind map of the project during year two works as follows:


The following is the detail of the monitoring of indicators of each component:

7.1 Component 1: SEOP Consolidation This component just has one work area, SEOP consolidation, whit the milestone (1.a) “The

Sustainable Economic Observatory is legally constituted”, this will be achieved with the legal

document establishing the SEOP.

Following the program description, the SEOP proposed products that can be measured through the

indicator "Percentage of implementation of the Sustainable Economic Observatory as a Non-

SEOP objective

Component 1: SEOP

Consolidation

One Work Area

No line of research

No Public Policy

Objective

16 Projects

Component 2: Research

and Advocacy

Seven Work Areas

11 line of research

17 Public Policy

Objective

32 Projects

Component 3: Capacity

building

Five Work Areas

No line of research

5 Public Policy

Objective

7 Projects


Governmental Organization" (indicator 1.1.a). Therefore, eight lines of action were stablished, with

a series of activities that allows the milestone (1.a) achievement.

During this second year, the SEOP has the next achievements:

Line of actions of the indicator 1Qtly -FY2

2Qtly – FY2

3Qtly – FY2

4Qtly – FY2

Total Verification

means

Knowledge tools that evaluate success factors, approaches and lessons learned from similar entities

3 0 0 0 3 Documents

Find potential interested organizations to participate in the objectives and approaches of the SEOP;

47 0 2 0 49 Meetings reports

Creation of documents that allow the legal constitution of the SEOP;

1 0 1 0 2 Legal Documents

Elaboration of procedures, manuals, publications and other documentation that allow the SEOP function;

23 6 17 4 50 Documents and Reports

Communications events in the strategic communication campaign that allow SEOP to be recognized as an NGO;

2 0 0 0 2 Communications Reports

A thematic agenda that identifies problems, prioritizes policies, laws and programs, and establishes strategic activities for the SEOP;

1 0 0 0 1 Document

Effective and sustained relationship with civil society and private sector partners developed;

5 3 7 3 18 Grants and Memorandums of Understanding

A SEOP sustainability plan. 0 0 0 1 1 Document

166 products planned to finish FY2. 27 126 75 % of implementation

7.2 Component 2: Research and Advocacy This component its separate in six work areas, every work area has lines of research (grey boxes),

public policy objectives (yellow boxes) and projects (blue boxes):

1. Competitiveness, 2. Agricultural Development, 3. Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity, 4. Food and nutrition security, 5. Crosscutting issues, 6. Macro themes.


Competitiveness

National Innovation Ecosystem (NIE)

Present proposals to improve the

implementation of the Science and Technology Policy, the M & E Plan, the instruments that

facilitate the process of Intellectual Property and

Patents

Articulate the NIE

Hoja de Ruta para mejorar el ENI

National Competitiveness

Policy

Public Policy for strengtheningof

SMEs

Competitiveness of SMEs

Present regional strategy for the

implementation of the National

Competitiveness Policy

Competitiveness Strategy of Region IV

Mapping of actors from region IV

Diagnosis of economic potential of region IV

Strengthening of the Consortium for Local

Economic Development


Agricultural Development

Profitable and sustainable

agricultural sector

Implementation of the Family Farming

Program to strengthen the Peasant Economy

Support social audit and evaluation in the

PAFEC program through local actors

and partners of the OES

Mapping of actors for the development of the

agricultural sector

Presentation of the Governmental

Agreement for the creation of the SPS

Commission

Improvement of the National Food Safety System: sanitary and

phytosanitary measures (S&P)

Implementation of the regulation of the School Feeding Law

(SFL)

Preparation of the SFL Regulation for

MINEDUC


Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity

Environmental Economic Strategy

Present a Water Governance Model

Water Governance Proposal

Evaluation model HydroBid

Application of Statistical Modeling Methodologies

for Environmental Assessment Scenarios

Indigenous Vision of Water

Consultation of Indigenous Peoples

Support for the implementation of the

Environmental Tax Strategy

Climate Change

Dissemination of proposals for the

adaptation, resilience and

mitigation of Climate Change

Climate Change Report

Conservation of Biodiversity

Renewal of the Forest Concessions contract

Promotion of the Forest Concession

Model


Food and nutrition security

Food and Nutrition Security

in Guatemala

Presentation of the Food and Nutrition

Security Policy update

FNS National Campaign

FNS Policy update

Effectiveness Analysis of the FNS policy in Guatemala

Prepare a proposal to mitigate child

chronic malnutrition rates in the country

Impacts of corn aflatoxins on

human nutrition.

Crosscutting issues

Inclusion of Women,

Indigenous Peoples and Youth

N/A

Intersectional approach

Empowerment Strategy for

Women, Youth and Indigenous Peoples

Analysis of Livelihood Conditions

Indigenous participation

strategy in Public Policy Proposals


7.2.1 Disaggregated indicators of the Second and Fourth Component

7.2.2 The indicator 2.1.a In the indicator 2.1.a “Number of impact studies, diagnoses and thematic analyzes completed to

fill the gaps in the understanding of the topics related to the agenda of research of the Sustainable

Economic Observatory that considers the incorporation of gender and indigenous population”, the

final count is:

Work Area Project # products concluded

Name

Competitiveness and enable environment for companies

National Competitiveness Policy

2 (First Quaterly FY2)

Competitiveness Mapping Actors at the National Level

The ABC of Competitiveness (Policy Brief of the National Competitiveness Policy)

Macro themesStrengthening of

the State

Guidelines for a HR Policy for the Executive Body

HR Policy for the Executive

Include geographic information within

the Municipal Territorial Planning

Geographic and hydrometeorological information

system

Present Reforms to the State Purchasing

and Contracting System

Towards a new national system of

public procurement

IncidenceStrengthening of

the State

Proposal of a strategy to promote the

generation of formal employment in

Guatemala

Dialogues to promote the generation of

formal employment in

Guatemala



Name

Competitiveness Strategy of Region VI

1 (Third Quarterly FY2)

Preliminary version of the regional competitiveness and employment strategy for the VI region

Policy for the Strengthening of Medium and Small Companies

---




1 (Fourth Quarterly FY2)

Inventory of Municipalities with commission of Economic Development, Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources and Municipal Offices of Local Economic Development

Reform the National Innovation Ecosystem

3 (Second Quarterly FY2)

Proposal for the National Innovation Ecosystem for Guatemala (Draft)

Studies of Flows and Restrictions of the National Innovation Ecosystem in Guatemala

Proposal of the National Innovation Ecosystem for Guatemala (Final version)


Consultant: Accompanying report to CONCYT

Study of the flow and restrictions of the National Innovation Ecosystem in Guatemala

Development of the Agricultural Sector

Implementation of the School Feeding Law in the MAGA and the MINEDUC


Report of the diagnosis of responsible and times of the processes identified in the current operation of the MINEDUC to apply the new School Feeding Law

Review report of the proposed regulation and the actions suggested as necessary for its application by the MINEDUC

Final report of the consultancy including other suggestions that the consultant proposes to strengthen the School Feeding program



Name

Presidential Commission for the National Food Security System


Proposed Government Agreement for the creation of the Presidential Commission on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Trade Facilitation.

Consultant: Progress report on technical assistance presented to the Interinstitutional Commission for the National Food Security System

Food and Nutrition Security

Update of the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy

---

Great Campaign for Food Security

---

Environment, Climate Change (mitigation or adaptation) and the conservation of biodiversity

Guidelines for a National Policy for Water Management

2 (Second Quarterly FY2)

Water Governance: Principles, Actors and Institutions (Draft)

Water Governance: Principles, Actors and Institutions (Final version)

Support for the Environmental Tax Strategy

3 (Fourth Quarterly FY2

First Progress Report on the support for the Environmental Tax Strategy

Second Progress Report on the support for the Environmental Tax Strategy

Environmental Tax Strategy approved

Crosscutting Issues

Analysis of Livelihood Conditions


Results of the Bibliographic Review on the Analysis of livelihood conditions of rural people in 5 departments of the western region of the country


Results of the structured interviews and focus groups for the analysis of livelihood conditions of rural people in 5 departments of the western region of the country

Final report on the analysis of livelihood conditions of rural people in 5 departments of the western region of the country

Empowerment Strategy for Women, Youth and Indigenous Peoples


Results of the Bibliographic Review to Develop the Empowerment Strategy for women, youth and indigenous people in the rural area of 5 departments of the western region of the country



Name

Results of the structured interviews and focus groups to develop the Empowerment Strategy for women, youth and indigenous people in the rural area of 5 departments of the western region of the country

Macro themes Human Resources Policy with the principles on which a civil service law should be based for the Executive Body

---

Geographical and Hydrometeorological Information System


First Progress Report on the implementation of the Geographic Information System

Second Progress Report on the implementation of the Geographic Information System

Plan for Road Development


Report of the first 5 phases of the preparation of the Preliminary Plan for Road Development

Incidence Dialogues to promote the generation of formal employment in Guatemala


First report on 4 Dialogues to promote the generation of formal employment in Guatemala

The Indicator 2.2.a

In the indicator 2.2.a “Frequency of the use of electronic platforms managed by the Observatory

for accessing and exchanging information on topics related to the SEOP" the final report of the

year is:


The indicator 2.3.a

In the indicator 2.3.a “Number of public-private investment plans designed, developed and / or

implemented to promote economic and social development in rural areas in accordance with the

Policies, Regulations and Government Programs contained in the Policy Agenda”, the SEOP still not

have results.

The indicator 4.a

The indicator for the component 4 “Number of public-private partnerships formed as a result of

assistance from the Government of the United States”, doesn´t have progress in Fiscal Year 2.

The indicator 4.1.a

The operative indicator for the component 4 “Number of governmental and legislative meetings,

public debates and information exchanges sponsored by the Sustainable Economic Observatory


between civil society groups and officials and legislators” have excellent results this Fiscal Year 2,

in the next graphic we can read the indicator disaggregate.

Indicator A

These are the instruments of public policy finished in the second fiscal year for the SEOP and their

status:

Key Issue Policy Agenda Type of instrument

Status

Competitiveness National Competitiveness Policy Policy Approved

Competitiveness Strategy of Region VI Strategy Analyzed

Strengthening to the National Innovation Ecosystem

Guidelines Analyzed

Agriculture Development

Register of agricultural producers of MAGA regarding the School Feeding Law

Guidelines Present

Presidential Commission for the Food Security System

Government Agreement

Analyzed

Food Security Regulation of the School Feeding Law in the MINEDUC

Regulation Approved

1

3

17

6

2

11

2 2

6 6

7

5

2

6

1

Q 1 ( O C T - D E C ) Q 2 ( J A N - M A R ) Q 3 ( A P R - J U N ) Q 4 ( J U L - S E P )

NUMBER OF GOVERNMENTAL AND LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS, PUBLIC DEBATES

AND INFORMATION EXCHANGES SPONSORED BY THE SEOP

Competitividad

Desarrollo del Sector Agrícola

Medio Ambiente

Seguridad Alimentaria


Key Issue Policy Agenda Type of instrument

Status

Environment Guidelines for a National Policy for Water Management

Guidelines Present

Environmental Tax Strategy Strategy Approved

Component 3: Capacity building

The component 3 “Build capacity of civil society and their constituents to contribute to public

discourse on key development topics” its compost by three work areas, every work area has lines

of research, public policy objectives and projects:

It’s important mention that the “Internal Trainings” doesn´t count for the indicators 3.a, 3.1.a,

3.2.a, 3.3.a, 3.4.a.

Training for Local Government

Capacity building

Implementation of Municipal SAN

Policies

Strengthening of COMUSAN

Geographic and hydrometeorological information system

Land Management Seminar

N/ADiplomado de Gobernanza

Municipal

Training for Civil Society

Capacity building N/AFiscal Policy Workshop

Internal Training Capacity building

N/AIntersectional

approach

N/A PLOCA


In this table it´s possible reed the disaggregate indicator by organizations, areas, sector and number of beneficiaries. The indicator is “Number of institutions / organizations that have been strengthened of their capacities / competences as a result of the assistance of the Government of the United State”.

Type of training

Training name Organizations involved

Area Sector # beneficiaries

Mo

re t

han

16

ho

urs

Diploma of Municipal Governance Quetzaltenango (seven modules of 13 hours)

National Association of Municipalities

Guatemala Public Sector

35

Génova Costa Cuca

Huehuetenango

Quetzaltenango

San Marcos

Sololá

Totonicapán

Sacatepéquez

Commonwealth of municipalities metropolis of the high

La Esperanza Public Sector San Mateo

Sibilia

Quetzaltenango

Red Nacional de Grupos Gestores

Cantel Private Sector Quetzaltenango

Quiché

San Marcos

Fiscal policy for development (four modules of four hours)

Asociación Pop No'j Guatemala Civil Society Organizations

46

INCEDES Guatemala

Asociación Sotz´il Chimaltenango

Socialab / IDGT Guatemala

FDL de Guatemala Guatemala

Colectivo de Organizaciones Mayas de Guatemala

Sololá

Centro Internacional para Investigaciones en Derechos Humanos

Guatemala

Asociación para Ayuda a la Niñez, Adolescencia y Juventud

Guatemala

Universidad Maya kaqchikel

Guatemala

Mesa Nacional para las Migraciones en Guatemala -MENAMIG-

Chimaltenango

IDESAC Guatemala

GOPA/Formación para el Trabajo

Guatemala


KOMON MAYAB Guatemala

Catholic Relief Services

Guatemala

ChildFund Guatemala

Guatemala

Techo Guatemala Guatemala

FUNDESA Guatemala

CRECE ONG Guatemala

Universidad del Valle de Guatemala

Guatemala Academy

FLACSO Guatemala

Universidad Rafael Landívar

Guatemala

Registro General de la Propiedad


Ministerio de Economía

Guatemala

Land Management Seminar (two sessions of eight hours and one session of four hours)

Ministry of Economy


75

Ministry of environment and natural resources

Guatemala

Secretariat of planning and programming of the presidency

Guatemala

National Association of Municipalities of the Republic of Guatemala

Guatemala

National Institute of Electrification

Guatemala

National coordinator for disaster reduction

Guatemala

Commonwealth of municipalities metropolis of the high

Quetzaltenango

Municipality of Guatemala

Guatemala

Central American Economic

Centroamérica


Integration Secretariat

National competitiveness program (PRONACOM)

Guatemala

GEOIN Guatemala Private Sector Corporación Afinco

S.A. Guatemala

University of the Valley of Guatemala

Guatemala Academy

University of San Carlos of Guatemala

Guatemala

15

ho

urs

or

less

Strengthen of Municipal Commissions of Food and Nutritional Security (COMUSAN) (workshops of one or two hours)

Commissions of Food and Nutritional Security (COMUSAN)


Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango.

San Miguel Sigüilá, Quetzaltenango.

373

San Pedro Sacatepéquez, San Marcos.

La Blanca, San Marcos.

San Antonio Sacatepéquez, San Marcos.

San Mateo Ixtatán; Huehuetenango.

Colotenango, Huehuetenango.

San Sebastián, Huehuetenango.

Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango.

San Andrés Xecul, Totonicapán.

San Marcos, San Marcos.

San Bartolomé, Quiché

Sacapulas, Quiché. Cunén, Quiché.

Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango.

San Miguel Ixtahuacán, San Marcos.


The only projects that count for the indicators in this component are: “Strengthening of

COMUSAN”; “Strengthening municipal officials in GIS”; “Diploma of Municipal Governance

Quetzaltenango”; “Fiscal Policy Workshop”.

Coatepeque, Quetazltenango.

Momostenango, Totonicapán.

San Bartolomé, Quiché.

Cunén, Quiché

Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango.


Table 1. Summary of M&E results for the Quarterly 4 of Fiscal Year 2

Indicators

Base

line

Annual

Target FY2

Annual

Performance On Target

Comment(s) FY

2016-

2017

FY 2017-

2018 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

(%) Achieved to the

End of Reporting

Period

Y/N

Indicator A Number of Policies, Laws and

Government Programs analyzed, drafted and

presented for public consultation of

stakeholders, presented as law or decree,

approved or for which implementation has

been initiated, addressing the following

topics: Food and nutritional security;

Development of the agricultural sector;

Climate change (mitigation or adaptation)

and conservation of biodiversity;

Competitiveness and the environment

conducive to business.

1 9 2 1 3 1 89% Y

Intermediate Result (IR.1): ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC

Milestone 1.a The Sustainable Economic

Observatory is legally constituted. 0 1 0 0 0 0 0% N

Operative Indicators (IR.1)


Indicator 1.1.a Percentage of

implementation of the Sustainable Economic

Observatory as a Non-Governmental

Organization (NGO).

41% 40% 55% 60% 73% 75% 75% Y

Intermediate Result (IR.2): SUPPORT ANALYSIS, ADVANCE DISCUSSION, AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ON POLICIES, PROJECTS, STRATEGIES AND LEGISLATION

RELATING TO KEY DEVELOPMENT TOPICS: (1) RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY, (2) AGRICULTURE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT, (3) ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE

CHANGE, AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, (4) COMPETITIVENESS AND BUSINESS ENABLING ENVIRONMENT.

Milestone 2.a A research agenda designed

and under implementation. 1 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Y*

*This milestone

was completed

in year 1 and in

implementatio

n during FY2

through SEOPs

topics and

components

reported along

this report.

Milestone 2.b A policy agenda developed,

agreed upon, and implemented with civil

society groups, the GOG, the private sector,

and other stakeholders.

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 N

Policy agenda

is under

construction. It

is expected to

finish its design

during Q4 and

Q1 of FY3.



Indicator 2.1.a Number of impact studies,

diagnoses and thematic analyses conducted

to fill gaps in the understanding of issues

related to the agenda of the Sustainable

Economic Observatory that consider the

incorporation of gender and indigenous

population.

12 40 2 5 10 12 100% Y

40 thematic

analysis

concluded of

40 (goal)

Indicator 2.2.a Frequency -number of visits

(hits) per month- of use of Observatory-

managed electronic platform for access to

and exchange of information about the

effects of policy and external events on the

economic wellbeing of the rural poor.

0 1 Web Site 0 0 1 0 0%* N

*Although the

OES website

has been

created, there

is still no final

approval from

USAID to

release it to the

public.

80 300 FB 41 62 42 128 100% Y

76 300 TW 28 69 56 83 100% Y

0 300 YT 0 0 0 0 0% N

0 0 INST 0 0 21 12 100% Y

Indicator 2.3.a Number of public-private

investment plans designed, developed and /

or implemented to promote economic and

social development in rural areas in

accordance with the policies, regulations and

government programs contained in the

policy agenda.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0%* Y

*This actions

are not priority

for the second

year, are

planned for the

third fiscal year.

Intermediate Result (IR.3): BUILD CAPACITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOS) AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON KEY

DEVELOPMENT TOPICS

Indicator 3.a Number of institutions/organizations, undertaking capacity/competency strengthening as a result of USG assistance.

0 5 0 21* 3 33 100% Y

*The number 21 was added because this training


workshops were report as governmental meetings.


Indicator 3.1.a Score, in percent of combined key areas of organization capacity amongst USG direct and indirect local implementing partners.

0 25% 0 0 0 0 0% N

Indicator 3.2.a Number of private (for-profit) enterprises, producer organizations, labor organizations, water user associations, women's groups, trade and business associations and community-based organizations receiving assistance from the United States Government .

0 2 0 0 0 1* 50% N *MOU signed with ADAM

Indicator 3.3.a Number of civil society individuals who have been trained on how to effectively engage local and national Guatemalan leaders, policymakers and government officials on issues related to the four development issues.

0 200 0 0 35 42 38% N

Indicator 3.4.a Proportion of female participants in USG assisted projects designed to increase access to productive economic resources (assets, credit, income, or employment).

0 15% 0 0 0 0 0% N

Intermediate Result (IR.4): PROVIDE OBJECTIVE INFORMATION TO GOVERNMENT OF GUATEMALA OFFICIALS, LAWMAKERS, AND POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LEADERS TO

PLAN AND IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICIES

Indicator 4.a Number of public-private

partnerships formed as a result of United

States Government assistance.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0% N



Indicator 4.1.a Number of governmental and

legislative meetings, public debates and

information exchanges sponsored by the

Sustainable Economic Observatory between

civil society groups and officials and

legislators.

11 15 11 20* 33 14 100% Y

* The

modification of

this number

from 39 to 20,

was made

because the 19

actions that

had been

counted were

training

workshops that

are reported in

indicator 3.a.


8. COMMUNICATIONS

As part of the overall Communication Strategy, SEOP and its partners have developed information documents as Factsheets and Policy briefs addressing the main issues of the project. In the current quarter, the document of the Competitive Policy Brief was approved and will be distributed by FUNDESA and PRONACOM. In addition, the Food Security document was approved for printing and distribution. Documents are being prepared on COFETARN, Competitiveness in Region VI, Indigenous Vision of Water, that we hope will be approved in the following quarter.

In the current quarter SEOP has supported the dissemination of events, conferences, forums, seminars scheduled to be carried out by SEOP, UVG and other partners, including support for environmental regulation workshop for USAID partners.

Funcafé, Grupos Gestores and Sotzil developed their communication plan as part of the SEOP consortium

The use of social media has increased due to the number of messages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

A database with contacts was created to initiate the sending of electronic bulletins with the information of the SEOP.

In this quarter the validation of the SEOP website (www.oes.org.gt) was completed and sent to USAID for approval.

After a long Process, the agency Burson Marteller was hired as the company that will coordinate efforts on PR, relations with Stakeholders and support for big events.

UVG has been supported in convening for academic activities related to the SEOP´s main issues also in the signatures of the MOU with new partners.

Design of a factsheet about the strategy of Feed the Future for the next years, as well as support in the presentation of the information in a meeting in Quetzaltenango.

It was negotiated with the AGEXPORT magazine "Beyond Expectations", the publication of an article about competitiveness in Guatemala. The article is in the process of being edited for approval by USAID before send to the magazine editorial board.

Photo 25. Yassin Osman USAID, in UVG at

MOUs signing in August 2018.


Activities for the next Quarter FY3:

An information Newsletter will be distributed to the database starting in October

Support to the congress of the Master's degree in Development to be held in October focused on the

theme of water governance.

Organization and communication of SEOP events and their partners.

Coordination with UVG centers for the development, design and publication of printed material.

Document Print: Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) Guatemala Country Plan.

Workshops in two intermediate cities Antigua Guatemala and Huehuetenango

It is important to point out that one of the main limitation that is affecting the communication plan is the time

consumed in the approval by USAID of all the communication materials and communications, which are the main

way in which the SEO has to inform and makes advocacy. In that order, the SEOP proposes to USAID to find better

ways to solve this delays in approvals. Since next year is expected to have a lot more publications the proposal

of a reviewing committee to make these procedures easier.

Photo 26: Signing of MOUs with public sector: PRONACOM and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources; and with private sector AGEXPORT, AGG and Chamber of Agriculture. UVG August 2018.


9. ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL MANAGMENT

9.1 FINANCE STATUS The finance report in this draft version of this report is not attached yet, it will be included as Annex A, when the

total expenses for the month of September 2018 be reported by UVG. As of August 31, 2018 the total expenses

for FY 2018 is in the amount of US$1,275,497, and the cumulative is by $1,747,693.31. It is expected that the

execution in this fiscal year will surpass the previous fiscal year execution by 170%.

The execution of this fiscal year will reach the 63% of the total FY2018 Annual plan budget. The 37% of the

budget that has not been executed, corresponds to the portion for the sub-awards The sub-awards status will

be shown in the Table Sub-awards summary.

During this fiscal year the SEO started with the collaborative agreements Sotz’il, Yuam Magazine – (Defensores

de la Naturaleza), and FUNDESA, and activities with UVG Centers (CEAB, CEAA, and the Engineering Faculty).

9.2 HIGHLIGHTS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2

PROCUREMENT

The SEO finished the process for the acquisition of computer equipment for ASIES and Grupos Gestores. The SEO

offices was moved to their new offices outside from the UVG campus but very close to it, in a house rented by UVG in

front of gate No. 6.

Also the SEOP finished the process for the contracting of a communications and public relationships. Having the

USAID’s instruction to made a full and open competition, the process was conducted within the supervision of

the UVG Acquisitions department, UVG Marketing and UVG Public Relationship, the contract was granted to

Burston-Marsteller, effective on August 31, 2018. The web page and intranet contract was also initiated in this

fiscal year.

SEO HUMAN RESOURCES

The project team is complete with the hiring of the third technical junior since August 2018. The fact of being all

gather at the same offices space has facilitated the execution of the tasks the actions in a more efficient way,

and the consultations and decisions making are better reviewed.

As the end of this fiscal year 2018, the SEO has hire 42 consultancies (individuals and companies) to work in the

four key topics of the project.

CONUNTERPART CONTRIBUTION

The counterpart contribution of UVG and their partners have included technical and administrative labor, social

security employer quota (10% over payroll) office space and facilities, communications services, and the usage

of a vehicle. The SEO and DAP continues working in the process of updating and recollecting information for the

actual counterpart contribution reporting, in order to have written clearly the process and to have all the support


documents needed for the records.

SUB-AWARDS

FUNCAFE and ASIES presented a low execution, the major issue is with ASIES, since their budget is the biggest of

the sub-grantees. Closer accompaniment actions have been carried out to ensure the increase of the execution

of activities and funds.

The negotiation process with the Rafael Landívar University (URL) has been finalized and the approval of the sub

grant was requested to USAID in August 2018, but until now we are expecting for the approval.

The information on the execution of the sub-awards will be shown in the next version of the report, since there

are pending financial data in order to complete the final report.


ANNEXES