Municipal Partnerships for Violence Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic (AMUPREV) Quarterly Report – October- December 2018

ICMA has worked with key institutions in the region to promote this objective and engage in outreach. A Toolkit for municipalities was developed to promote the creation of municipal-led mechanisms to provide leadership in bringing together key stakeholders to design and implement crime and violence prevention programs. ICMA has facilitated the participation of experts in national, regional, and international conferences and conducted workshops for municipal associations and municipal stakeholders. A website (www.amuprev.org) was established to showcase daily examples of municipalities throughout Latin America that are taking the initiative to develop programs that build the foundation for crime prevention in their communities. Additionally, ICMA has documented the experiences of 10 municipalities in Central America through video, highlighting their commitment to crime prevention through the leadership of their elected officials, the dedication of their police forces, and the collaboration of representatives from all sectors of civil society and national government agencies. To accomplish the second objective, ICMA has implemented the Toolkit in 19 municipalities to create and/or strengthen municipal violence prevention committees/commissions (MVPCs). Municipal partnerships were established with cities in the US to share the model of community-oriented policing and governance with municipalities in Central America. Police officers, municipal staff, community, and private sector representatives from US cities provided information, training, and technical assistance to their counterparts to bring about a greater awareness of the need to prioritize and act upon violence and crime prevention programs in a coordinated and comprehensive fashion. During the reporting period of October-December 2018, ICMA conducted a series of trips to Central America, including visits to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. These trips focused on promoting comprehensive municipal-based violence prevention strategies and programs with key Central American stakeholders and fostering the development of regional peer knowledge networks. ICMA also provided training and technical assistance to local governments and community groups, in coordination with national police efforts and other municipal-based programs. Key accomplishments during the reporting period include the orientation and information provided to local government, law enforcement, and civil society representatives on municipal-based violence prevention. Regional peer networks were established and municipal coordination mechanisms were strengthened. Training and technical assistance were provided to pilot local governments and community groups, in coordination with national police efforts and other municipal-based programs. The program has made significant progress in promoting comprehensive municipal-based violence prevention strategies and programs with key Central American stakeholders and fostering the development of regional peer knowledge networks. ICMA has established partnerships with municipalities in Central America and the US to share the model of community-oriented policing and governance. The program has also provided training and technical assistance to local governments and community groups, in coordination with national police efforts and other municipal-based programs. The program has also established a regional peer network and strengthened municipal coordination mechanisms. The program's success can be attributed to the strong partnerships established with municipalities in Central America and the US. The program's focus on community-oriented policing and governance has been instrumental in promoting comprehensive municipal-based violence prevention strategies and programs.