Final Report: USAID Nexos Locales Project

The project's main objective is to reduce local vulnerabilities such as food insecurity and natural disasters. Nexos Locales will work in 29 municipalities across the departments of Huehuetenango, San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Totonicapán, and Quiché. The project's geographic focus is on the Western Highlands, which is considered the region of greatest need in Guatemala. Nexos Locales will concentrate its activities in the five departments based on the needs of agriculture, health, education programming, security, and environmental programming, prioritizing municipalities and regions where there is the greatest need. The Programa Integrado del Altiplano Occidental (WHIP) is the conceptual framework of USAID for the implementation of collaborative activities funded by the US government in the departments of Huehuetenango, San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Totonicapán, and Quiché. WHIP aims to reduce poverty and chronic malnutrition through programs of food assistance, school feeding, applied agricultural research, improved access to healthcare, and increased income from high-value horticultural crops and crafts. WHIP recognizes the comparative advantages of US-funded partners and seeks to collect and focus these resources and the productive access of partners to communities and understand the development context to address poverty and chronic malnutrition. The project's strategy for cooperation with USAID Guatemala for the country's development is to achieve "A safer Guatemala that promotes greater socio-economic development in the Western Highlands and manages its natural resources sustainably" through activities that support the three Development Objectives of the Mission, which include: 1) Greater security and justice for citizens; 2) Improved economic growth and social development in the Western Highlands; and 3) Improved management of natural resources to mitigate the impacts of global climate change. The context of the consultancy and technical requirements are based on the diagnosis of municipal financial management conducted by Nexos Locales in 29 municipalities of the Western Highlands in 2015. The study analyzed 28 indicators, disaggregated into seven themes: a) citizen participation, b) budgeting, c) auditing, d) accounting, e) treasury, f) municipal purchases, and g) transparency. The results of the diagnosis showed that the municipalities have a high priority in the following areas: budgeting, auditing, treasury, municipal purchases, and transparency. The consultant will be responsible for implementing technical assistance in public financial management in the municipalities of Chiantla, Todos Santos Cuchumatán, and San Sebastián Huehuetenango in the Department of Huehuetenango. The consultant's tasks will include participating in an induction meeting, developing a work plan, and elaborating a monthly and weekly plan of assistance. The consultant will work with the municipal officials (DAFIM1 or Public Services Office) using the methodology and tools provided by Nexos Locales.