IBIS in Guatemala

In Guatemala, Ibis is involved in three thematic programmes concerning decentralisation and local development, education and education reform, as well as access to land and land-tenure rights.

The objectives of the thematic programme Decentralisation and Citizen Participation are to:

• Promote citizen participation in discussions and decisions.
• Strengthen local civil societies and their capacity to gain influence on municipal development policies.
• Enhance cooperation and dialogue between civil society and authorities.
• Heighten the capacity of local authorities to involve the population in democratic decisionmaking processes and mechanisms of accountability.
• Boost municipal associations and forge alliances with civil-society organisations, among other reasons in order to conduct joint advocacy towards the national government.

The programme is implemented in several rural municipalities, primarily in the highlands, which has a predominantly indigenous population.
The thematic programme entitled Support for Education Reform and Education for All in Guatemala with a Regional Perspective sets out to:

• Secure the right to education through the statefunded school system.
• Promote a school system that serves to create social change, equality and equal opportunities for all, free from racism and discrimination against the indigenous population.
• Strengthen civil society’s capacity to exert influence on the education reform.

The programme is being implemented in 12 of the country’s regions.

The thematic programme Access to Land in Support of Rural Development in Guatemala is concerned with:

• Advocacy regarding land reform (legalisation and regulation of ownership, including women’s tenure) and agricultural policy-making.
• Organisational strengthening, support for land committees and their struggle for access and title deeds to land.
• Institutional strengthening, networking and cooperation on advocacy, negotiations with the government, ministries and other public institutions.