Quarterly Report #07: Nexos Locales Project

(DAI) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project's primary goal is to strengthen municipalities in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, fostering more responsive, inclusive, and effective socio-economic development while reducing local vulnerabilities such as food insecurity and natural disasters. The project's six results include the establishment of sound public financial systems, strengthened civil society participation in social accountability processes, increased quality of potable water in thirty Feed-the-Future (FtF) municipalities, local development plans to improve food security and economic development, municipal plans to reduce climate change vulnerability, and increased capacity for the National Association of Municipalities (ANAM) and/or the Guatemalan Association of Indigenous Mayors and Authorities (AGAAI) to support municipal development. During the seventh project quarter (Q7), which spanned from January 1st to March 31st, 2016, the project achieved several significant milestones. MOU signing ceremonies were held in Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, and El Quiché to renew MOUs with 27 project municipalities, and two first-time MOUs were signed with Zacualpa and Santa Cruz Barillas. Proposed TA plans for Public Financial Management (PFM) were presented to 281 municipalities as part of the validation process. The project also coordinated three workplan sub-activities to be implemented with in-house technical assistance beginning in Q8, including Citizen Charter Workshops and Follow-on TA for Citizen Advocacy and Budget Analysis. Five diplomado courses were coordinated to begin in Q8, covering topics such as Municipal Management and Administration, Public Finance Management for DAFIM Employees, and Capacity Building in Public Access to Information Law. The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) approved the expenditure of Rapid Response Funds in support of several activities, including the 2014 SEGEPLAN Municipal Management Ranking, translation of the USAID conflict assessment report for Guatemala, International Women's Day forums in four departments, and the design of a transparency application for Chiantla. Four grants totaling USD were awarded for the implementation of technical activities across three project results and the Youth Strategy. The project's quarterly progress results indicate that significant operations and project milestones were achieved during Q7. The project's financial information per funding source is also provided, highlighting the project's financial performance during the reporting period.