Annual Performance Report Fiscal Year 2019

The project is a platform that catalyzes investment in the region, aligning with the needs and priorities of the most marginalized communities. The CLD project consortium consists of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Mercy Corps, the Association for Integral Development of the Western Highlands (ADIPO), Caritas Los Altos, and Caritas San Marcos, working together to reach over 200 communities in Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, Quiché, San Marcos, and Totonicapán. The project's first objective is to empower citizens through participation in the development of Community Development Plans (CDPs). To achieve this, the CLD project seeks to increase inclusive participation in identification and prioritization of community needs and assets, strengthen the Community Development Councils' (COCODEs) capacity to lead the development of the CDPs, and engage local groups to implement projects that are responsive to the CDPs. During project year three (FY19), the major accomplishments related to objective one include the establishment of Savings and Internal Lending Community (SILC) groups, which have practiced savings and financial management skills, increased access to loans, and offered a space to practice communication and leadership skills. Additionally, the Families with Dignity methodology has promoted equitable relationships, assertive communication skills, and joint partner decision-making, empowering community members with leadership skills to participate in community development. The second objective of the CLD project is to improve the quality of life through the development and implementation of CDPs. This is accomplished by the transparent prioritization and design of CDP responsive projects, the mobilization of community contributions, regular participatory monitoring of projects, and increased community-based services and income-generating activities for healthy prosperous citizens. During FY19, the major accomplishments related to objective two include the selection of 546 project ideas from more than 2,900 strategic actions in the CDPs, with 387 project technical summaries developed and 290 prioritized for co-financing with USAID funding. Furthermore, communities have mobilized contributions, and regular participatory monitoring of projects has been conducted, resulting in increased community-based services and income-generating activities. The CLD project consortium has also made significant progress in strengthening the capacity of COCODEs and sub-committees, with more women and youth represented. Currently, 473 women and 130 young people are registered as members of COCODEs or in sub-commissions. Additionally, COCODEs with guidance from the CLD project have completed 131 CDPs, each with comprehensive community assessments and prioritized project development needs. The project has also provided training sessions to further strengthen the community development and project management skills of COCODE members, with 1,496 members participating and 1,036 completing at least seven sessions. The CLD project has also made significant progress in leveraging local and external resources to improve the long-term sustainability of community development. The project has established partnerships with local organizations, such as the Association of Municipalities of the Naranjo River Basin (MANCUERNA), and has mobilized resources from external actors, such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project has also developed a sustainability plan, which outlines strategies for maintaining project momentum and ensuring the continued involvement of local stakeholders. Overall, the CLD project has made significant progress in empowering citizens, improving the quality of life, and promoting long-term sustainability of community development in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. The project's community empowerment approach has been successful in supporting the self-determination of communities, and its partnerships with local and external actors have helped to leverage resources and improve the sustainability of community development initiatives.