Guatemala Programme 2018 Guatemala is facing times of political turmoil. The president tried to expel the UN Commissioner against impunity and corruption. Both congress and government are doing everything possible not to be prosecuted for illicit party financing and other crimes. For the moment, they have impunity because of their functions. 

Civil society organizations, networks and youth platforms continue to raise the issue of impunity, corruption and the need for electoral and political party reform. The actions of government and congress did not lead to massive outrage in 2017. The question is, if a situation arises during 2018 where people massively are going to protest, like in 2015. 

Meanwhile, the judicial system can hardly cope with the workload. More and more investigations and trials are started. Recently the powerful politician Alvaro Arzú, mayor of Guatemala City, was charged with illegal financing of his political party. If this means weakening the powerful network of conservative entrepreneurs and (former) military officials is yet to be seen. It is however clear, that with going after Arzú, the prosecutor and CICIG are creating even more resistance towards their actions. 
  
The political issues high on the agenda for 2018 are (further) reform of the political party and electoral legislation, constitutional reform regarding the judicial sector and the election of the new prosecutor and state controller. Each of these issues will be a moment to measure the temperature of the country: are decisions taken in favour of impunity and self-enrichment, or in favour of transparency, justice and reform?



2. Problem Analysis & Theory of Change Update (max 2 pages)
The problem analysis for the Northern Triangle of Central America continues to be valid. The three countries suffer from a lack of confidence in political actors. In NIMD’s view, to overcome this crisis, important changes are necessary in the political party system to make it respond to the needs and demands of the population. Furthermore, the countries need more resources to address issues of poverty, education, healthcare, insecurity and employment. The objectives that NIMD formulated in the MAP continue to be valid:
1. Inclusive and representative political party system;
2. Political inclusion of underrepresented groups with a focus on women and youth, including youth- and gender mainstreaming in policy and legislation;
3. Better linkages between politics and regional, national and local level;
4. Enhanced capacity of political parties to deal with environmental issues with a focus on water;
5. Technical assistance and facilitation of dialogue on fiscal reform.

For NIMD an important angle for 2018 is to continue to support laws that ensure an equal level playing field in politics. This means supporting Congress and EMB in processes that reduce illicit campaign financing and political corruption and positive measures for inclusion of women and/or indigenous people. NIMD also continues to support the transparency commissions in congress and at departmental level.

Like in El Salvador and Honduras, NIMD Guatemala is advancing with objectives 1 and 2, while less human and financial resources are available for the other three objectives. NIMD will include in the training curricula the issues of environment/water, regional integration and fiscal issues to sensitize future generations politicians on those issues. 




3. Programme outlook (max 4 pages)
Political system
a) Technical assistance for civil and political actors
Disseminate the proposals for the reform of the electoral and political party system and organize debates throughout the country. Accompany and support the Electoral Affairs commission of Congress and the EMB with analysis, best practises, facilitation of dialogue and the implementation of the reform. 


b) Facilitate dialogue between political and civil society on inclusion of underrepresented groups: Women, youth and indigenous people.
Facilitate dialogue on measures to advance with political participation of youth, Women and indigenous people. 

c) Support Women politicians and Women organizations
Support Women political inclusion through capacity building, building of networks and mentorship programmes and the institutional strengthening of women’s organizations.

d) Representation
Support meetings between MPs and CSOs and think tanks to prioritize issues for the legislative agenda and exchange views and opinions.

e) Provide technical support to Congress and CSOs.
Support the recently established Women’s caucus in Congress.  Support CSOs in their political analysis and political lobby strategy.

f) Support learning and debate on political party reform, fiscal reform and environmental Governance.

NIMD will issue studies on these subject to feed the debate and present these in workshop and debates.  


 Intermediate indicators for reform of the political party system:
1. # of proposals on electoral reform taking into account input from CSOs.
2. # of public policies proposals that take into account CSO input
3. # of L&A initiatives for making the political system more inclusive (in relation to women / youth / minority groups)


Political actors 
 Capacity strengthening of political parties in dialogue and consensus building.
Support strategic planning processes of political and civil actors including democratic values and accountability. 

  Facilitate interaction between politicians at supranational, national and local level
Address issues that affect all three countries together and share experiences between countries of northern triangle. 
 
 Technical assistance for civil society and political actor to define legislative agenda regarding transparency and anti-corruption. 
Support Congress Commission on Transparency with their work. Accompany Open Parliament processes. 

 Ensure sufficient financial Capacity to apply for funds
Deepen network of experts that can contribute with project proposals for donors.
 
 Share best practises in the region
Continue to build internal Capacity of staff of programme and finance/admin staff. Facilitate joint learning in the region. 

Intermediate indicators for political actors:
1. # of representatives (male/female) of political actors who have been trained in strategy development, programmatic and/or policy development skills with a focus on developing a distinctive profile
2. % of plans implemented for organizational strengthening.

Political culture
 Democracy Schools
Two democracy schools for young (indigenous) men and women. 

Intermediate indicator political culture:
1. # of alumni from democracy schools.

Gender and diversity
a) Facilitate thematic debates between civil society and political actors.
Support for positive measures and interparty and intersector dialogue on inclusion. Technical assistance women’s caucus in congress.
 
Intermediate indicators gender and diversity:
1. # of women in decision-making positions in congress.
2. # of proposals presented by women MPS in support of the legislative agenda of the Women Commission of Congress. Political actors are defined as the combined main target group of the Strategic Partnership: - (representatives of) political parties - politicians - (Members of) Parliament and its Committees - Other elected representatives at local levels. NIMD will primarily focus on political parties.