Annual Performance Report FY2021: Peacebuilding Project

in partnership with approved subrecipients PartnersGlobal and ProPaz. The project aims to reduce social conflict and violence and strengthen social cohesion in the Western Highlands. The project addresses the underlying causes of social conflict by focusing on four general categories: 1) youth, gender, and families; 2) governance; 3) land; and 4) natural resources. The project's main objective is to establish and/or strengthen inclusive locally-led engagement, dialogue, and mapping to identify, prioritize, and develop action plans addressing sources of and increase resilience to social conflict and the impacts of COVID-19 on social cohesion. To achieve this objective, the project builds partnerships between communities, municipalities, and other stakeholders to implement plans prioritized by communities. The project also focuses on building partnerships between communities, municipalities, and other stakeholders to implement plans prioritized by communities. This includes strengthening the capacity of the Government of Guatemala (GoG) and non-governmental organizations to participate in managing, responding to, and resolving local conflicts, including long-standing grievances and new instability linked to COVID-19. The project also focused on social inclusion and gender integration, addressing issues such as gender-based violence and promoting the participation of women in decision-making processes. The project's geographic focus was on the Western Highlands, with a specific emphasis on the departments of Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, and San Marcos. The project's timeframe was from May 2018 to November 2024, with a total estimated amount of $6.5 million. The project's main challenge this fiscal year was uncertainty around incremental funding. However, the project was able to adapt to this challenge and continue implementing its objectives. The project's success was measured through various indicators, including the number of communities engaged in dialogue and conflict resolution, the number of partnerships established between communities and stakeholders, and the level of social cohesion and resilience in the target areas. The project's achievements included the establishment of 15 community development councils, which brought together community leaders, municipal officials, and other stakeholders to address local conflicts and develop action plans. The project also supported the development of 10 community violence prevention commissions, which worked to prevent and respond to violence in their communities. The project's collaboration with USAID partners and other USG agencies was also an important aspect of its implementation. The project worked closely with these partners to leverage resources, expertise, and support for the project's objectives. The project's security considerations were also a key aspect of its implementation, with a focus on ensuring the safety and security of project staff and beneficiaries. Overall, the Peacebuilding Project was a successful initiative that made significant contributions to reducing social conflict and violence and strengthening social cohesion in the Western Highlands. The project's achievements and lessons learned will be important for future peacebuilding initiatives in Guatemala and other countries.