Guatemala CEO Gender Action Plan (2018-2023)

The project will strengthen the promotion of investment and trade, catalyze productive infrastructure, develop Guatemala's workforce, and improve the business-enabling environment. A core objective of the CEO Project is to strengthen the private sector as an engine of growth to reduce poverty, improve living conditions, and create sustainable economic opportunity for Guatemalans. The project will design activities to empower and include marginalized groups, with a focus on addressing high levels of gender-based inequality and violence against women. These issues are exacerbated by economic insecurity, a culture of machismo, and women breaking out of traditional gender roles. The CEO Project will affirm the critical role women and girls play in accelerating economic development by creating opportunities, while emphasizing household prosperity and targeting both women and men with gender empowerment messaging in media and workshops. The project will address key gender-based constraints and opportunities across all components, including trade and investment, financial services, productive infrastructure, and private sector capacity. The Gender Action Plan (GAP) will be fully integrated into the project work and M&E plan, as well as into individual component-specific work plans. This will ensure that the project is effective in promoting economic growth and reducing poverty, while also addressing the needs and challenges of marginalized groups. The CEO Project will focus on several key areas, including: * Strengthening the private sector as an engine of growth to reduce poverty and improve living conditions * Promoting investment and trade to catalyze economic growth * Developing Guatemala's workforce to improve competitiveness and job creation * Improving the business-enabling environment to support economic growth and development * Empowering and including marginalized groups, including women, indigenous people, and youth The project will use a range of strategies to achieve its objectives, including: * Designing activities to promote investment and trade * Developing productive infrastructure to support economic growth * Providing training and capacity-building programs for the private sector * Improving access to financial services for marginalized groups * Promoting gender empowerment and inclusion through media and workshops The CEO Project will be implemented over a five-year period, from 2018 to 2023. The project will be led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and will involve a range of partners, including the Government of Guatemala, the private sector, and civil society organizations. The project will be monitored and evaluated through a range of indicators, including: * The number of jobs created and the level of economic growth * The level of investment and trade promoted * The level of access to financial services for marginalized groups * The level of gender empowerment and inclusion * The level of poverty reduction and improvement in living conditions Overall, the Guatemala CEO Project aims to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve living conditions in Guatemala, while also addressing the needs and challenges of marginalized groups.