Quarterly Performance Report FY21Q2: Peacebuilding Project

The project is implemented by Creative Associates International, Inc. for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The report highlights key activities and progress made during the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. Geographic expansion is a main focus of the community implementation team, with the project assessing which municipalities to enter in the second and third entry groups. In March, the project visited 11 municipalities and conducted 70 interviews with key actors. The project plans to enter six new municipalities, bringing the total to 10, and approximately 50 communities, bringing the total to approximately 77, in FY21Q3. The project aims to enter the third and final group of municipalities and communities in FY22Q1. Institutional strengthening is another key area of focus, with the project developing relationships with the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights (COPADEH), Ministry of the Interior (MINGOB), and Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM). The project is in the process of developing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with these institutions and drafting requests for applications (RFAs) to respond to identified needs. The institutional strengthening effort will focus on reinforcing the capacity of personnel, developing institutional frameworks, and improving systems to perform core functions sustainably. The project has also made progress in integrating the newly formed Departmental Commission on Security and Conflict Management (CODESAC) in Totonicapán with support from the Peacebuilding Project. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the project, as it is now working with CODESAC to address security and conflict management issues in the region. The project's geographic expansion and institutional strengthening efforts are critical components of its overall strategy to promote peace and stability in Guatemala. By working with local communities, governments, and institutions, the project aims to build resilience and address the root causes of conflict in the region. The project's quarterly performance report highlights the progress made during FY21Q2, including the assessment of municipalities for entry into the second and third entry groups, the development of relationships with key institutions, and the integration of CODESAC in Totonicapán. The report also provides an overview of the project's overall strategy and goals, as well as its plans for the upcoming quarter. Institutional strengthening efforts are ongoing, with the project working to develop MOUs with COPADEH, MINGOB, and MEM. The project is also drafting RFAs to respond to identified needs and will focus on reinforcing the capacity of personnel, developing institutional frameworks, and improving systems to perform core functions sustainably.