Regional Partnership for Decentralization and Local Governance in the Americas

Municipal Partnerships for Violence Prevention in Central America

Quarterly Report XVIII January 2014 to March 2014

Prepared for the U.S. Agency for International Development Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean Office of Regional and Sustainable Development

International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Cooperative Agreement Award No. RLA-A-00-09-00050-00

Isabelle Bully-Omictin Tel (202) 489-2780 Program Director Municipal Partnerships for Violence Prevention

Ms. Brennan Dorn Assistance Officer’s Technical Representative USAID/W/LAC/RSD/DHR USAID 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW RRB 5.09-075 Washington, DC 20523 (202) 712-5942

Subject: Cooperative Agreement Award No. LAG-A-00-98-00060-00 Municipal Partnerships for Violence Prevention in Central America

Dear Ms. Dorn,

In compliance with 22 CFR 226.51 (d), Monitoring and reporting program performance, ICMA is pleased to submit the following report for the subject cooperative agreement.

• Quarterly Report XVIII – January – March 2014

If you have further questions about the technical content of these reports, please contact me directly. For administrative matters, please contact Lisa Lau at (202) 962-3650. For contractual matters, please contact Mr. Krishna Sob (202) 962-3504.

Sincerely,

Isabelle Bully-Omictin, ICMA

Regional Partnership For Decentralization and Local Governance In the Americas

USAID Quarterly Report XVIII

January through March 2014

Table of Contents

I. Introduction II. Major Accomplishments/Progress Towards Results III. Challenges/Remedial Actions Taken IV. Proposed Activities and Expected Results for the Next Quarter

Annex 1: Boletín AMUPREV – January-March 2014 Annex 2: Plan Estratégico Institucional – Santa Catarina Pinula

I. Introduction

ICMA has designed a program that began on October 1, 2009 which focuses on two key objectives: (1) to promote comprehensive municipal-based violence prevention strategies and programs with key Central American stakeholders and foster development of regional peer knowledge networks; and (2) to provide training and technical assistance to local governments and community groups, in coordination with national police efforts and other municipal-based programs.

ICMA has worked with key institutions in the region to promote the first objective and engage in outreach. We developed a Toolkit for municipalities to use to promote the creation of municipal-led mechanisms to provide leadership in bringing together key stakeholders to design and implement crime and violence prevention programs. We have facilitated the participation of experts in national, regional and international conferences and conducted workshops for municipal associations and municipal stakeholders. We have developed a website (www.amuprev.org) which showcases daily examples of municipalities throughout Latin America which are taking the initiative to develop programs that are building the foundation for crime prevention in their communities. Furthermore, we have documented via video the experiences of 8 municipalities in Central America which have demonstrated a commitment to crime prevention through the leadership of their elected officials, the dedication of their police forces and the collaboration of representatives from all sectors of civil society, as well as national government agencies. We have shared these videos through our website and at events and workshops throughout the Region.

To accomplish Objective 2, ICMA has engaged in a series of municipal partnerships with cities in the US to share the model of community-oriented policing and governance with municipalities in El Salvador and Panama. Through these partnerships, police officers, municipal staff, community and private sector representatives from Santa Ana, California; Arlington, Texas and Pinellas County, Florida, have provided information, training and technical assistance to their counterparts to bring about a greater awareness of the need to prioritize and act upon violence and crime prevention programs in a coordinated and comprehensive fashion. The lessons learned and knowledge gained from the municipal partnerships have been shared with the broader network through the AMUPREV website.

In September 2012, USAID issued a six-month extension to ICMA through March 29, 2013. Subsequently, USAID issued a no-cost extension to ICMA through April 30, 2013 and another cost extension through September 30, 2013. During the last year of the Program, ICMA continued to support both objectives. ICMA applied the tools and methodologies tested throughout the first Phase of this Cooperative Agreement to new municipalities in Guatemala and El Salvador; provided continuing support to the Municipal Crime and Violence Prevention Committees of Palencia and Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala; provided continued strategic support to Nahuizalco and Sonsonate, El Salvador; continued to share information and practices with its established network of violence prevention and other interested practitioners in the Region; developed a sustainability plan to maintain the network after project end; and facilitated the sharing of the Youth Services Eligibility Tool developed by the City of Los Angeles Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) Office with stakeholders in Guatemala and Honduras.

In October 2013, USAID issued a two-year cost extension to ICMA to continue our work with supporting the creation and strengthening of Municipal Crime and Violence Prevention Committees in Guatemala and El Salvador. In addition, ICMA will strengthen the Municipal Association Network for Violence Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic (the “Red”) formed in August 2013 so that it becomes a sustainable network which carries on the work of AMUPREV in the Region.

This report summarizes activities and major accomplishments carried out during the period of January to March 2014.

II. Major Accomplishments/Progress towards Results

A. Summary of trips in current Reporting Period: Jan to March 2014

Trip No. 66 – Jan 14 – 19, 2014 El Salvador – Carlos Loría-Chaves Purpose: Coordinate 2014 activities for AMUPREV regional and El Salvador activities

Trip No. 67 – Jan 20-25, 2014 Guatemala – Carlos Loría-Chaves, Francisco Astacio, Karina Canto Purpose: Promote creation of MVPC in Ata Verapaz and participate in ANAM congress

Trip No. 68 – Jan 28-31, 2014 Guatemala and Honduras – Carlos Loría-Chaves Purpose: Present AMUPREV to Parlacen, coordinate participation of AMHON in Red AMUPREV.

Trip No. 69 – Feb 2 – 7, 2014 Brazil – Carlos Loría-Chaves Purpose: Coordinate with USAID Mission in Brazil to have a Citylinks program with selected municipalities in Central America under AMUPREV.

Trip No. 70 – Feb 11 – 15, 2014 El Salvador – Carlos Purpose: Support the creation of a new MVPC, coordinate activities in Suchitoto with Creative, define communication campaign in Nahuizalco and present risk maps for Ayutuxtepeque.

Trip No. 71 – Feb 17 – 22, 2014 Guatemala – Carlos Loría-Chaves Purpose: Activate new MVPC in Alta Verapaz, provide technical assistance to another MVPC in Guatemala and coordinate with Municipal Associations.

Trip No. 72 – March 4 – 7, 2014 Dominican Republic – Carlos Loría-Chaves

Purpose: Sign MOU and coordinate actions with FEDOMU to implement Red AMUPREV. Present AMUPREV to USAID, IADB and World Bank Missions in DR

Trip No. 73 – March 18 – 22, 2014 El Salvador – Carlos Loría-Chaves Purpose: Provide TA to MVPC in Cuscatlan Department, meet COMURES, SICA and Municipality of Nahuizalco

Trip No. 74 – March 25 – 29, 2014 Guatemala – Carlos Loría-Chaves Purpose: Provide TA to MVPC in Mixco, Santa Catarina Pinula, Palencia, Coban, Tactic and SJ Chamelco, sign Memorandum of Understandings with ANAM and with AGAAI.

B. Accomplishments by Objective

Strategic Objective 1: Promote comprehensive municipal-based violence prevention strategies and programs with key Central American stakeholders and foster development of regional peer knowledge networks.

Intermediate Result 1.1: Orientation and information provided to local government, law enforcement, and civil society representatives on municipal-based violence prevention.

➢ Integrate website and other ICT The AMUPREV web site (www.amuprev.org) continues to be updated daily with news (http://www.amuprev.org/noticias.php) and articles related to municipal-based violence prevention. Quarterly bulletins continue to be prepared, posted on the website and on Facebook, and sent by email to more than 2000 stakeholders in the Region. (See Annex 1 for copy of this Quarter’s Bulletin)

The new Website was launched this Quarter. It includes a section on the Red AMUPREV, with information on each of the Municipal Associations which make up the Red.

➢ Below are the statistics of the AMUPREV site traffic during this Quarter. Visits per page increased from an average of 1819 visitors/month last Quarter to 2016 per month this Quarter. Facebook contacts increased from 1516 at the end of last Quarter to 1645 this Quarter.

CONCEPTO SUBTOTAL ENERO FEBRERO MARZO Visitas 1,812 2,095 2,142 Páginas por visita 2.73 2.60 2.17 Tiempo por visita 2:37 2:27 2:12 Páginas visitadas 4,944 5,448 4,639 Noticias 60.15% 55.37% 56.02%

Página principal 10.15% 9.32% 8.59% Experiencias 12.91% 15.65% 12.23% Municipales Varias 3.91% 11.17% 12.05% Index 3.31% 5.77% 7.47% Publicaciones 9.57% 2.72% 3.64%

Origen de Centroamérica 60.43% 65.15% 62.51% Visitantes Estados Unidos 10.32% 10.74% 9.90% Otros (Latinoamérica) 21.68% 15.27% 17.88% Otros 7.57% 8.84% 9.71%

Objetivo de Búsqueda general 63.24% 52.30% 56.95% búsqueda Búsqueda directa 27.26% 30.40% 25.79% Búsqueda por 2.98% 9.40% 17.26% referencia Otros 6.52% 7.90% 0.00%

Correos Confirmados 1,977 1,989 2,025 electrónicos Contactos 1,548 1,582 1,645 Facebook Consultas y 3 2 1 solicitudes de publicaciones vía Facebook y correo electrónico

Intermediate Result 1.2: Regional peer network(s) established and municipal coordination mechanisms strengthened.

➢ Establishment of Network of Municipal Associations to Prevent Violence in Central America and the Dominican Republic

During this Quarter, ICMA was able to get all members of the Red, except for the Salvadoran Municipal Corporation (COMURES) and the Honduran Municipal Association (AMHON), to sign a memorandum of understanding which includes a commitment to sustaining the Red beyond the life of project. Both COMURES and AMHON are expected to sign an MOU with ICMA next Quarter. Each Association designated a liaison to the Communications Coordinator of AMUPREV. These liaisons, together with the Communications Coordinator of AMUPREV form the “Communications Team of the Red.” It is the responsibility of each member of the Communications Team to actively participate in the development of an annual work plan based on the general AMUPREV plan. The AMUPREV Program, acting as the Technical Secretariat of the Red, is in charge of ensuring that information is shared among the Communications Team regarding how to select news articles for publication on the Website. This includes providing training/information on what constitutes primary and secondary prevention to each of the liaisons, as well as municipal media/communications coordinators and journalists in the respective Red countries. The Communications Team will be responsible for putting on workshops which focus on the use of alternative technology to disseminate information about municipal violence prevention and support municipalities in their efforts. AMUPREV will also support each association to incorporate a municipal violence prevention focus in their strategic plan and support to municipalities to implement municipal AGAAI Representatives at the violence prevention programming in their operational signing of the MOU with ICMA to implement the Red plans in accordance with local legislation and based on the principles of the AMUPREV Toolkit.

The Associations committed to the following:

✓ Providing information on a regular basis to the Red in compliance with the Guide provided by AMUPREV for identifying content ✓ Contribute to the section of the site related to the legal framework for crime and violence prevention ✓ Document best practices in municipal crime and violence prevention ✓ Create and maintain a database of all members of the Association for distribution of information from the Red. ✓ Providing physical space in the annual assemblies of each municipal association to display and disseminate AMUPREV and Red information and an opportunity to present the Program and the Red to association members.

By June 2015, AMUPREV will present to the Association members of the Red a mechanism to structure the Red such that costs are distributed in an equitable and shared manner and to ensure that the Red continues to exist and provide information to its members on municipal-led crime and violence prevention initiatives. Within that framework, AMUPREV will suggest a mechanism to name a Technical Secretariat for the Red to assume the role of the current AMUPREV Project and the Communications Team led by the AMUPREV Communications Coordinator.

➢ Participation in Municipal Association Conferences

AMUPREV participated in the Annual Congress of the Municipal Association of Guatemala, ANAM. AMUPREV was invited to present its methodology during the Conference as well as maintain a booth, as in previous years. During the trip, the AMUPREV Director also met with representatives from the Vice-Ministry for Violence Prevention at the Ministry of Governance to explain the assistance provided to the municipalities in Guatemala through AMUPREV.

➢ Participation in Regional Fora/Mechanisms

The AMUPREV Director presented the AMUPREV Program to the Municipal Development and Citizen Participation Commission and the Peace, Citizen Security and Human Rights Commission of the PARLACEN (Central American Parliament). The PARLACEN representatives agreed that the objectives of AMUPREV fit within their priorities. The PARLACEN has programs focused on vulnerable sectors such as youth and supports the creation of networks. The PARLACEN agreed to involve AMUPREV in its programs, in particular an upcoming conference in the Dominican Republic to restructure and strengthen networks in Central America and the Dominican Republic.

Strategic Objective 2: Support comprehensive municipal-based violence and crime prevention programs in select municipalities

Intermediate Result 2.1: Training and technical assistance provided to pilot local governments and community groups, in coordination with national police efforts and other municipal-based programs

1) El Salvador

➢ Ayutuxtepeque AMUPREV hired a consultant to produce a set of risk maps for Ayutuxtepeque modeled after similar maps produced in Mejicanos. The consultant conducted a series of meetings with representatives of the eighty five communities in the municipality using the “talking map” methodology, where members of a community graphically represent the streets, infrastructure, and landmarks of their community. Since the objective of the exercise was to come up with a set of risk maps, community members were asked to identify the risk factors as well as the protective factors – not only sites where illicit activities were being conducted, where most traffic accidents occur, where there is a lack of lighting, etc. but also where police posts are located, where there is sufficient lighting and positive activities in the community. The results were validated by the members of the CMPV and other municipal authorities and key actors in an open meeting. The report and maps are currently being edited and will be finalized by next Quarter.

✓ Nahuizalco—

The proposal for the adjustment of rates and fees in Nahuizalco to raise additional revenue to support prevention programs aimed at youth and adolescents was approved by the Council on March 19th. It will be published in the official newspaper on April 21. AMUPREV will support Nahuizalco in the development and funding of an information campaign on the new ordinance.

✓ San Bartolomé Perulapía and San José Guayabal

AMUPREV began supporting both the Municipality of San Bartolomé Perulapía and San José Guayabal through its Local Technical Coordinator in January with support from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, PREPAZ.

Even though San Bartolomé Perulapía already had an Inter-institutional Committee “Plan de Paz,” at a meeting of the Inter-Institutional Committee, a new Board of Directors was designated and the Board decided to change the name of the Municipal Committee to the Violence Prevention of SB Perulapía. The Municipality of San José Guayabal formed its Municipal Violence Prevention Committee in February.

AMUPREV and PREPAZ facilitated several workshops to conduct and then validate a SWOT analysis in each municipality. In the case of San Bartolomé Perulapía, even though the municipality already had a strategic plan1, support was provided to review the vision (institutional philosophy), mission and objectives. In addition, the workshops with the MVPCs helped to Swearing in of Board of Directors gather initial inputs to begin filling out a participatory of new MVPC in San Jose Guayabal diagnostic matrix which includes the principal problems that are affecting each municipality, the situation regarding insecurity and delinquency, actions that the population can undertake to improve their situation and actions that the municipal authorities and the National Civil Police can undertake to provide citizens with better security.

AMUPREV and PREPAZ then held a series of focus groups in each municipality with school administrators and teachers, community leaders, women and the national police to obtain input on the situation with respect to crime and violence in the municipality as a whole as well as in schools and within families. Questions were also asked with respect to the relationship of the National Civil Police to the municipality (governance structures) and to gain perspective on how the Police perceive youth crime and violence. The results of the focus groups will serve as additional input into the participatory diagnostic matrix. From this matrix an initial outline of the key strategic areas to be included in the Participatory Strategic Plan of each municipality and a first draft of the Operational Work Plan were developed, incorporating all of the activities which are already under way in the municipality relevant to the strategic areas of focus. For San Bartolomé Perulapia, the current Plan will be adjusted and validated. This process and the

1 The Plan exists but is not really followed. Many of the key stakeholders interviewed had no knowledge of the Plan.

10 instruments being used are in accordance with the National Violence Prevention Strategy of the Government of El Salvador.

✓ Suchitoto—

Pursuant to discussions with USAID/El Salvador and the USAID-funded Crime and Violence Prevention Program, AMUPREV is waiting to provide assistance to Suchitoto until the Crime and Violence Prevention Program and PREPAZ work with the municipality to develop its diagnostic and strategic plan. Once these are ready, AMUPREV will begin to provide support to the MVPC to implement its plan (technical assistance and funding) and will identify key members of the Committee to travel to the US for a CityLinks exchange, along with representatives from San José Guayabal and San Bartolomé Perulapía.

2) Guatemala

➢ Palencia—

During the Quarter, Palencia finalized and approved its Municipal Violence Prevention Plan but the Unit for the Community Prevention of Violence (UPCV) of the Vice-ministry of Violence and Crime Prevention requested to review it before publication and as of the end of the Quarter, they had not returned a revised version to Palencia. We anticipate that the UPCV will provide the revisions and the Plan will be ready and approved for publication during next Quarter.

In the meantime, AMUPREV staff have been conducting meetings with the Municipal Violence Prevention Commission of Palencia to ensure that activities proposed under each strategic area of their Strategic Plan are coordinated with the UPCV so as to leverage and not duplicate efforts. This includes discussions with youth on the theme of civic engagement as well as trainings with the Municipal Women’s Office.

➢ Santa Catarina Pinula –

The Strategic Plan for Santa Catarina Pinula was formally approved by the Municipal Council this Quarter. A copy of the Plan is included in Annex 2.

The MVPC continues to be active, although the Youth Congress scheduled for February had to be postponed due to cost considerations. Among the other activities being planned by the Commission is a guide for School Patrol Officers, a program coordinated by the Municipal Transit Police to educate primary school students in themes related to discipline, values, respect, order, etc. School patrol officers ensure that peace and order are maintained during recess. The Committee is considering publishing written guides for the School Patrol Officers to be used in training and for their reference.

At the end of February the Director of ICMA Mexico-Latinoamérica, Dr. Octavio Chavez, conducted a diagnostic of Santa Catarina Pinula to evaluate aspects of its institutional capacity for sustaining violence prevention initiatives. Dr. Chavez met with the Vice Mayor, the Director of Social and

Economic Development and the Municipal Women’s Office, the Director of the Municipal Transit Police and Municipal Police, representatives of the Planning and Finance Departments, Public Works and Sub-commission on Violence Prevention. He also visited the Centro de Alcance por mi Barrio. (In addition to the interviews, Dr. Chavez reviewed normative and operational documents related to financial administration and planning. The diagnostic is based on a tool developed by ICMA for Mexico that enables municipalities to understand what policies, principles and practices need to be in place in order to sustain activities, including those in crime and violence prevention. These include human resource, planning and programming, legal and financial systems and well as tools for measuring performance. Dr. Chavez is drafting a report which will be shared with Santa Catarina Pinula next Quarter. A work plan will be established to provide support to the municipality to implement some of the recommendations of the report.

➢ Mixco–

Support to Mixco continued this Quarter with the creation of working groups for each of the strategic areas identified during last Quarter: 1) social development; 2) community development; 3) confidence-building between police and the community (community police); and 4) perceptions of safety/security (implementation of the Mixco-Seguro Program). The working groups include participants from all key stakeholders, including the National Civil Police, the UPCV, the Secretariat for Public Works of the Mayor’s Wife (SOSEA), the Center for the Investigation of Violence Prevention (CIPREVI), municipal offices and representatives from the USAID-funded Crime and Violence Prevention Project in Guatemala and AMUPREV.

➢ Cobán–

On March 27, the Sub-commission on Violence Prevention was formally approved by the Council of Cobán. AMUPREV will support the development of a strategic plan for Cobán aligned with the Municipal Crime Prevention Policy currently being developed by the municipality with support from the USAID-funded Crime and Violence Prevention Project in Guatemala.

➢ San Juan Chamelco and Tactic-

Pursuant to discussions with USAID/Guatemala at the start of the Quarter, the municipalities of San Juan Chamelco and Tactic were selected to receive support under AMUPREV. AMUPREV hired a new Technical Consultant to provide support to the 3 municipalities in Alta Verapaz.

San Juan Chamelco formed its Municipal Violence Prevention Committee on March 28, 2014.

Tactic already had an MVPC; thus assistance started immediately. An event was held in Tactic with support of AMUPREV on March 27 to highlight the role of educational centers in prevention. The event was held by the MVPC and included the participation of 300 Event in Tactic, Guatemala to promote positive behavior among school children and promote MVPC 12 secondary school students. In addition to providing the students with tools and information to avoid violent behavior and influence in the schools, the event also promoted the role of the MVPC.

3. Brazil

The AMUPREV Director traveled to Brazil from Feb. 2-7 to meet with USAID/Brazil and with representatives of the Secretariat of Security of Rio de Janeiro to present the AMUPREV Program and identify specific activities in support of sharing information and replicating the experience of the Río de Janeiro Programa de Pacificacao e Policia de Proximidades (known as UPP). The Secretariat has provided an initial draft work plan to develop a Toolkit and training program and a visit to a Central American country by Brazilian representatives to begin to share information on the experience and the model to counterparts. Discussions will continue to be held through the next Quarter to come to agreement on the Work Plan and begin activities.

III. Challenges/Remedial Actions Taken ICMA is waiting discussions on and approval of the revised M&E Plan for the Project.

IV. Proposed Activities and Expected Results for next quarter – April-June 2014

1. Continue working to support the Security Commissions with a focus on Violence Prevention in Mixco, Santa Catarina Pinula and Palencia to help them finalize/present their municipal violence prevention plans and work plans 2. Continued support to new municipalities in Guatemala and El Salvador 3. Assist the CMPV of Nahuizalco to implement the communications campaign to educate the public regarding the new ordinance related to fees and permits. 4. Present and disseminate risk map report for Ayutuxtepeque. 5. Develop Work Plan with Santa Catarina Pinula to implement recommendations of institutional capacity assessment. 6. Prepare for and conduct training of Municipal Police and Municipal Transit Police from Santa Catarina Pinula, Palencia and Mixco. 7. Obtain signed MOU with COMURES and AMHON for involvement in and support to the Red. 8. Participate in AMHON Annual Assembly 9. Participate in PARLACEN Forum in the Dominican Republic and conduct training of journalists and municipal communications coordinators in the DR 10. Conduct training of journalists and municipal communications coordinators in Honduras 11. Work with AGAAI to implement mobile phone SMS pilot project based on model used by AMHON (Consultant to travel to Honduras and Guatemala) 12. Identify topic and conduct webinar with the Red members 13. Finalize Work Plan with Security Secretariat of Río de Janeiro and begin activities 14. Continue to update website daily and Facebook account; prepare and disseminate quarterly bulletins. 15. Select participants from Mixco, Cobán, Tactic, San Juan Chamelco, Suchitoto, San Bartolomé Perulapía and San José Guayabal to go to selected cities/counties in the US; begin the vetting process.

16. Select US city/county to undertake a CityLinks Partnership with municipalities in the Department of Cuscatlán in El Salvador and Alta Verapaz in Guatemala and plan activities to conduct during the first visit of members of selected US cities to the AMUPREV-supported municipalities. 17. Select secondary prevention activities that AMUPREV will support in selected municipalities in Guatemala and El Salvador. 18. Select destination of grants (provision of goods/services) in accordance with expressed needs of selected municipalities in Alta Verapaz (Guatemala) and Cuscatlan (El Salvador).