Quarterly Report: Communities Leading Development Project

The project, implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in partnership with Mercy Corps, Association for Integral Development of the Western Highlands (ADIPO), Caritas Los Altos, and Caritas San Marcos, targets 200 communities in Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, Quiché, San Marcos, and Totonicapán departments. The project's primary objective is to empower citizens through participation in development and implementation of Community Development Plans (CDPs). The CLD project has transitioned from phase I, which focused on building a participatory and inclusive model for community development and strategic alliance engagement, to phase II, where community development projects are being implemented with community-led and inclusive leadership. The project has established a strong foundation through empowerment strategies, construction of CDPs based on community needs, identification and prioritization of community development projects, and building alliances with private and public sectors. The CLD project has also restructured consortium teams to emphasize the project implementation cycle and changed project leadership to align with the focus of phase II. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, the CLD project continued to advance towards its objectives. The project staff developed a Contingency Plan for FY20 in response to USAID/Guatemala's request to prepare for potential reallocation of FY18 funding. The Contingency Plan prioritizes efforts in FY20 to maximize the impacts and reach of CLD's interventions. The project also continued to implement strategies to strengthen community participation, including the development of CDPs, identification and prioritization of community development projects, and building alliances with private and public sectors. The CLD project has made significant progress in empowering citizens through participation in development and implementation of CDPs. Communities are empowered along their journey to self-reliance through a series of strategies that strengthen their leadership and decision-making capacity. The project has also established a strong foundation for long-term sustainability through the establishment of a Community Development Fund (CDF) and increased investment in the Western Highlands. The CLD project's progress is reflected in the implementation of community development projects, which are being led and implemented by community members. The project has also established partnerships with private sector actors, including the Association of Municipalities of the Naranjo River Basin (MANCUERNA) and the Federación Comercializadora de Café Especial de Guatemala (FECCEG). These partnerships have enabled the project to leverage resources and expertise from the private sector to support community development efforts. Overall, the CLD project has made significant progress towards its objectives, and its continued implementation is expected to have a positive impact on the quality of life for project participants in Guatemala's most marginalized communities.