ObjectivesFund scope
People living in the district of San Marcos, Guatemala, face a host of challenges linked to socio-economic stressors, climate change, natural disasters, poor governance, and upticks in violence. The impact of COVID-19 exacerbated poverty, inequality, and gender-based violence, reduced human development in rural and indigenous communities, and increased vulnerability through low health access and coverage. The JP Comprehensive Rural Development in San Marcos focuses on the design and delivery of integrated multi-sectoral, multi-dimensional and multi-level initiatives model that are rights-based, gender sensitive, and public facing regarding the promotion of social, economic and environmental development.
Programme stakeholders work closely with local government to meet the needs of their populations and boost participation rates in local social and governance processes. Interventions in 10 rural provinces take advantage of advances and lessons learned from previous joint programmes, and look to them when consolidating processes (e.g., women’s empowerment), embedding principles from international agreements like the 2030 Agenda, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, or Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and aligning programme action with the Strategic Framework for Cooperation for Sustainable Development of the United Nations 2020-2025 and ten multi-modal national development plans and policies. Sustainability and scalability are central features of the Joint Programme.
Theory of change
Public institution staff have made great strides in revamping regulatory policy frameworks and projects to guarantee the well-being of entire communities. Despite this, institutional challenges remain that need to be addressed while, in tandem, expanding local capacities to strengthen legal approaches and institutional frameworks that serve the members of San Marcos. Strengthening the management and resilience aspects of civil society organizations is one way of increasing citizen participation in development processes and bringing more women and youth into the fold.
If the bearers of obligations (municipal governments and sectoral institutions) expand their capacities, accessing the means (technical, administrative and financial) to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of services, increase accountability practices, implement territorial development plans focused on agricultural production, climate change adaptation, raising resilience to extreme weather events, lowering socio-economic risk factors, and improve the channelling of public investment, then local governments can increase the quality and efficiency of public investment, governance, accountability and territorial management. In short, they are better equipped to use public investments for programmes and plans that meet the needs and demands of citizens, and incorporate approaches inclusive of gender equality, sustainable natural resource management, adaptation to climate change, disaster risk management, economic inclusion, protection and comprehensive care, and resilience—especially for the most vulnerable.
People, especially women, youth and children, can improve their quality of life, level of food security, and access to basic services by increasing their overall sense of well-being and resilience. The Joint Programme strategy is oriented towards institutional strengthening, coordination, and network growth to generate impact in the areas of inclusive, sustainable development and empowering members of local organizations to use public resources in ways that have broad, community benefit.