Promoting Cleaner Production through Public-Private Partnerships in Guatemala

This public-private partnership aims to promote cleaner production nationwide, with the goal of increasing the quality and competitiveness of Guatemalan goods in local and regional markets while protecting the environment. The committee is chaired by MARN and includes members from various sectors, including the Ministries of Agriculture, Economy, and Public Health, as well as the Chamber of Industry, the Coordinating-Committee of Agriculture, Commerce, Industry and Finance Associations (CACIF), and the Guatemalan Export Association. The committee's objectives are aligned with the National Cleaner Production Policy, which emphasizes the importance of promoting coordination between cross-cutting sectors and institutions to achieve timely implementation of cleaner production strategies. The USAID Policy Regulatory Support for Economic Growth (PRS) Project supported MARN in facilitating the analysis and discussion of the committee's contents, functions, and organizational structure. The PRS Project also contributed legal advice to the development of the proposed ministerial agreement creating the Cleaner Production Committee. The committee's efforts focus on incentivizing cleaner production practices among Guatemalan industries, particularly in the coffee sector. Companies in the coffee industry have applied cleaner production mechanisms, and the committee aims to promote the adoption of appropriate technologies that will contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change. By strengthening the agricultural sector through cleaner production incentives, the committee seeks to improve the competitiveness and environmental performance of the country. The committee's work is guided by the principles of public-private partnerships, which are seen as a key strategy for promoting participation and cooperation among diverse actors in the public and private sectors. The committee's chair, Luis Muñoz, Executive Director of the Centro Guatemalteco de Producción más Limpia, emphasizes the potential economic, social, and environmental impact of agriculture in Guatemala, highlighting the importance of promoting cleaner production practices that are competitive, profitable, and sustainable. The committee's activities are expected to have a positive impact on the environment, as well as on the competitiveness and profitability of Guatemalan industries. By promoting cleaner production practices and the adoption of appropriate technologies, the committee aims to contribute to the country's economic growth and development while protecting the environment.