USAID: El Salvador Crime and Violence Prevention Project (CVPP) Quarterly Report

The project aims to improve citizen safety in El Salvador at the community, municipal, and national levels. CVPP supports the Government of El Salvador's (GoES) National Strategy for Social Violence Prevention (ENPV) and Plan El Salvador Seguro (PESS), and seeks to foster local ownership of crime and violence prevention efforts. CVPP works across three program components: Component 1, which increased GoES capacity to prevent violence and crime on a national scale, was completed in December 2017. Component 2, which supported municipal-led and community-based crime and violence prevention efforts, was completed in June 2018, with follow-up through December 2019. Component 3, which rapidly seizes windows of opportunity in crime and violence prevention and supports innovations, is ongoing and expected to be completed in March 2019. By the end of September 2018, a total of 533 activities in 61 municipalities were either ongoing or had been completed. In the past quarter, the program awarded 14 activities worth $1.7 million in total value. To date, the program has committed 87% ($15.2 million) and disbursed 64% ($11.2 million) of its activities budget ceiling of $17.4 million. The project has several key partners, including the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, local mayors, municipal government structures and employees, community leaders, local NGOs, local businesses, and other USAID implementers. The project has achieved several milestones, including training 46,136 people, establishing 131 active outreach centers, and investing $4.4 million in public-private partnerships. The country situation in El Salvador is characterized by increasing political tensions ahead of the February 2019 presidential elections. The four main political parties have selected and presented their candidates, and the National Assembly has been unable to elect five of the nine outgoing magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice Constitutional Chamber. The security situation in El Salvador has improved, with a 57% reduction in homicides compared to September 2017. However, femicides remain a significant concern, with reported rates of 16 and 12 per 100,000 in 2016 and 2017, respectively. CVPP has been working to address these challenges through its various components and activities. Component 2, for example, has supported municipal-led and community-based crime and violence prevention efforts, including the establishment of municipal prevention committees and the implementation of prevention and intervention family systems models. Component 3 has rapidly seized windows of opportunity in crime and violence prevention, including the establishment of virtual judicial hearings and the separation of gang leaders in prisons. The project has also invested in public-private partnerships, including the establishment of 14 active municipal employment units, 13 active FORMATE centers, and 9 active Microsoft Imagine Academies. These investments have helped to improve citizen safety and reduce crime and violence in El Salvador.