CONVIVIMOS Quarterly Performance Report Fiscal Year 2019, Quarter 1: October 1 – December 31, 2018

QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT Fiscal Year 2019, Quarter 1: October 1 – December 31, 2018

Host Country Contact Headquarters Contact Project Summary

Award No. AID-520-A-15- Chief of Party Senior Program Officer 00002 Community Strengthening Project Mercy Corps Headquarters

Start Date: June 12, 2015 Portland Oregon, USA End Date: June 11, 2020 Guatemala City, Guatemala

Tel: Tel Report dates: October – December 31, 2018

Mobile + ( Fax Total Award: $40 million

January 30, 2018 This document was prepared by Mercy Corps for review by the United States Agency for International Development.

Contents Acronyms List 1

Program Overview 4 Problem Statement 4 Theory of Change, Goal and Objectives 4

Executive Summary 5 Key Progress, Fiscal Year 19, Quarter 1 5 Key Indicator Results 7 Challenges and Lessons Learned 8

Update on News and Context Relevant to Program Implementation 9

Analysis of Project Implementation and Partnerships 10 Challenges and Lessons Learned 10 Integration of Gender, Vulnerable Groups, and Compliance with USAID Disability Policy11 Institutional Capacity Building 12 Short-term Projects and Strategic Activity Funds 13

Progress on Activity Implementation 13 Objective 1: Support community commissions to institutionalize proven, integrated violence prevention initiatives in targeted areas 13 Objective 2: Strengthen and mobilize municipal and national stakeholders and resources to develop and implement municipal level prevention plans through a multi-stakeholder, interinstitutional process. 23

Monitoring & Evaluation 29 Indicator Results 29

Coordination, Communication, Compliance, and Future Activities 31 Collaboration with USAID Partners and Other USG Agencies 31 Social Communication 31 EMMP Compliance 32 Activities Next Quarter 32

Acronyms List

AMG Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel (International) (International) 1

APS Annual Program Statements

BSMP Branding strategy and marking plan

CA Cooperative Agreement

CAU Crime analysis unit

CCPC Comisión Comunitaria de Prevención y Convivencia, Community Prevention and Coexistence Commissions (formerly Community Violence Prevention Commissions, CVPCs)

CEPC Comisiones Escolares de Prevención y Convivencia

CICAM Centro de Investigación, Capacitación y Apoyo a la Mujer

CICIG Comisión Internacional Contra la Impunidad en Guatemala, Commission against Impunity in Guatemala

COCODE Consejos Comunitarios de Desarrollo, Community Development Councils

CONJUVE Consejo Nacional de la Juventud, National Youth Council

COMUDE Municipal Development Councils (Consejos Municipales de Desarrollo, COMUDE)

COMUPRE Comisión Municipal de Prevención de Violencia, Municipal Violence Prevention Commission (formerly Municipal Violence Prevention Commission (MVPC) or Municipal Crime and Violence Commission (MCVC))

CPTED Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

DMM Direcciones Municipales de la Mujer, Municipal Women’s Offices

EMMP Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan

FLACSO Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences

FUNDAESPRO Fundación Esfuerzo y Prosperidad, Foundation for Effort and Prosperity

IEE Initial Environmental Examination

IEPADES Instituto de Enseñanza para el Desarrollo Sostenible, Institute of Teaching for Sustainable Development

INL US Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

JOVI Asociación Jóvenes por la Vida, Youth for Life Association

LGBTI Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, intersex

MESA DE LA Mesa de la Niña, Working Group in Favor of Girls and Adolescents/Working Group on Girls’ NIÑA Rights

MICUDE Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte, Ministry of Culture and Sport

MINGOB Ministerio de Gobernación, Ministry of the Interior

NGO Non-government organization

OCI Índice de Capacidad Organizacional, Organizational Capacity Index

OPNA Oficina Municipal de Protección a la Niñez y Adolescencia, Child and Adolescent Protection Office

PDH Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos, Human Rights Ombudsman

PNC Polícia Nacional Civil, National Civil Police

RFA Request for Application

RRF Rapid Response Fund

SAF Strategic Activities Fund

TSU Technical Support Unit

ToC Theory of change

UPCV Unidad para la Prevención Comunitaria de Violencia, Unit for Community Violence Prevention

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USG United States Government

YSET Youth Service Eligibility Tool

Program Overview

Problem Statement Staggering rates of theft, human and drug trafficking, domestic violence, child abuse, extortion, kidnapping, assault and murder plague Guatemala, much of it concentrated in urban areas in and around Guatemala City. This chronic insecurity limits Guatemala’s potential. Income and profits are spent on increased security rather than contributing to Guatemala’s economic growth. Job and educational opportunities are limited in vulnerable urban neighborhoods in particular, where population growth has been dramatic over the last 30 years, and where few schools have been built, and where few investors or employers seek business opportunities or to recruit employees. Families often remain isolated in their homes, further disintegrating Guatemala’s social fabric and limiting the development of social capital. Yet staying at home does not necessarily protect women and children, who are the most likely to be the victims of intra-family violence. Some parents prefer the risk of their children migrating alone to the United States rather than having them remain in Guatemala to become a victim of violence or recruited into one of urban Guatemala’s many gangs. Even when children are returned, many try to migrate again. Mercy Corps recognizes that Guatemala is at a critical moment, where violence continues to tear families and communities apart. However, it is also a moment in which positive trends can be built upon to create a tipping point where urban Guatemala becomes safer and more secure.

Theory of Change, Goal and Objectives The Community Strengthening Project, known as the CONVIVIMOS Program, is a five-year violence prevention program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). CONVIVIMOS is based on the following theory of change (ToC): If individual, family, community and government capacities are improved, then communities’ resilience will increase and communities will become safer and more secure. The project goal is to support the Government of Guatemala, municipalities, civil society, and community actors to address the causes and consequences of violence through integrated prevention techniques. CONVIVIMOS has four complementary and mutually reinforcing objectives: Objective 1: Support community commissions to institutionalize proven, integrated violence prevention projects in targeted areas; Objective 2: Strengthen and mobilize municipal and national stakeholders and resources to develop and implement municipal-level violence prevention plans; Objective 3: Support secondary prevention projects in close coordination with municipal authorities; and Objective 4: Promote and integrate evidence-based policy making among violence prevention actors.

Executive Summary

Key Progress, Fiscal Year 19, Quarter 1

Mobilizing communities to prevent crime and violence

Working with community commissions to develop violence prevention projects During this quarter, CONVIVIMOS partner FUNDAESPRO held a total of 34 coordination meetings with CCPCs to update and operationalize the annual work plans derived from the Community Prevention and Coexistence Plans that were developed during the first two years of the project and then subsequently updated last year. Additionally, CONVIVIMOS reinforced the sustainability of community plans by working with the CCPCs to develop project proposals and to identify potential funding sources for the project proposals. During the past quarter, the following projects were developed: In Mixco, a proposal for a “Community Youth Office”; in Guatemala City, a proposal for a “Network of Women Violence Prevention Promoters”; in Villa Nueva, a “Community Youth Office” project proposal, and; in Amatitlan, a project proposal and funding strategy for a “Production and Commercialization of Baked Goods” project

Improving community infrastructure Improving community infrastructure raises the quality of life for local residents by mitigating the environmental features that make an area vulnerable to crime & violence, and by strengthening the social fabric by creating new public spaces where neighbors can peacefully coexist. In this quarter, five infrastructure projects were underway, including improvements to public parks, public street-lighting projects and the renovation of the Municipal Women’s Office in Guatemala City. The public street lighting project, an expansion and improvement of the public lighting network in six communities of La Bethania Peninsula and La Verbena, in Zone 7 of Guatemala City, was completed during this quarter and included the installation of 194 light poles and 296 luminaires, benefiting a population of 53,000 residents.

Supporting education initiatives in violence prevention: During this quarter a total of 10 teachers (6 women and 4 men) participated in a final training workshop on the PLENITUD methodology. The focus of the workshop was to provide feedback and verify that the teachers are fully prepared to implement the PLENITUD methodology in their classrooms during the 2019 school year. The PLENITUD methodology emphasizes teaching styles that encourage students, through a process of self-reflection, to take ownership of their own academic performance. The result is that this methodology fosters growth in emotional intelligence as well as cognitive development for its participants.

From October to December, CONVIVIMOS’ partner Fe y Alegria held vacation schools in the municipalities of Amatitlán, Guatemala, Mixco, Villa Canales, and Villa Nueva. These “schools” respond to a need to provide a safe, supervised environment for children and adolescents when the school year ends, as well as to provide academic support to reduce the possibility of students experiencing “vacation learning loss” over the holiday break. The vacation schools covered both academic topics, including English and Music, and recreational 5

activities such as sports and arts & crafts. During this quarter 1,011 students (471 girls and 540 boys) participated in the vacation schools.

Additionally, Fundación Paiz coordinated with Fe y Alegría to present the “Through Homework, I Play and Learn” activity that will be implemented during the 2019 school year. Prior to implementing the activity, Fundacion Paiz has begun collecting baseline data about the factors associated with school dropouts, including conducting focus groups with students. As part of this data collection process, Fundacion Paiz also tested 5th and 6th grade students` performance in math, language arts, and technology in a school managed by Fe y Alegria.

Supporting municipal and national governments as partners in violence prevention:

Building the capacity of the COMUPREs to carry out violence prevention activities in their communities During the first quarter of Year 4, CONVIVIMOS partner IEPADES continued supporting the (Comisiones Municipales de Prevención de Violencia, COMUPRE) in the five project municipalities that have established COMUPREs to develop and carry out activities in their annual work plans for 2019, as well as to present updates on activities carried out during 2018. Specific activities carried out with the COMPUPREs in this quarter include: in Villa Canales, working with the COMUPRE’s technical subcommittees to oversee two activities – a theater- forum implemented in conjunction with the working group on youth and children, and recreational activities implemented as part of the “Steps and Wheels” community fairs; in Mixco, providing support to the technical subcommittees planning processes for 2019; and, in Villa Nueva: providing support to the technical subcommittees planning processes for 2019.

Promoting municipal policies to reduce crime and violence: During this quarter, CONVIVIMOS continued to support progress on the development, validation, and approval of a variety of municipal policies designed to increase support to vulnerable populations, including: in Mixco, a Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Protection Municipal Policy and Comprehensive Municipal Policy for Women’s Development and Advancement; in San Miguel Petapa, a Youth Policy and a Comprehensive Municipal Policy for Women’s Development and Advancement; in Guatemala City, a Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Protection Municipal Policy; in Amatitlán, a Youth Policy, a Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Protection Policy and a Comprehensive Municipal Policy for Women’s Development and Advancement; and finally, in Villa Canales. a proposed Comprehensive Municipal Policy for Women’s Development and Advancement.

Increasing the capacity of municipal crime and violence data collection systems In October, international criminology expert and crime analysis instructor traveled to Guatemala for a week-long follow up training session with members of the Crime Analysis Units. The purpose of this trip was to provide individualized crime analysis training to the municipalities of Villa Nueva, Mixco, San Miguel Petapa, Villa Canales and representatives from IEPADES. This training was a follow-up to the three-day training provided in July to each of the above groups to address equipment (computers and mapping software licenses) and training issues.

Strengthening secondary violence prevention services:

Developing a tool for identifying at-risk youth The Mercy Corps Technical Support Unit has adapted and customize a tool used by the Peruvian Ministry of Education to help the project identify at-risk youth. The tool takes into account conditions and situations of psychological risk that affect youth at the individual, household, school and community levels and is designed as an “initial screen” that can be applied broadly in a community and will allow CONVIVIMOS to significantly extend the reach of the project’s efforts to identify at-risk youth. During the past quarter Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit has been reviewing the available secondary violence prevention services to strengthen the referral protocols associated with the at-risk youth identification tool.

Short-term partnerships with secondary prevention service providers During this quarter, CONVIVIMOS short-term partner Fundación Paiz wrapped up its “Youth Action for Employment” project. This workforce readiness project was designed to prepare at- risk youth to join the labor force. Over the course of the project 20 participants from Villa Nueva and Guatemala received a total of 128 hours of training. Since this is an ongoing activity, participants have been counted towards project indicators in previous progress reports.

Deepening understanding of crime & violence through innovative research:

Producing research on crime & violence in Guatemala During this quarter, CONVIVIMOS continued to make progress on producing research on a number of topics, including: “Youth in Guatemala City: Employment, Participation and Perceptions of Citizen Security”; workplace violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) populations in Guatemala City; a mental health assessment of in-school children and youth, and effects of the “schools for parents”; the influence of open air gyms on violence prevention, citizen security, and wellbeing in communities in Guatemala City and Villa Nueva; and a study about psychological care in communities in Guatemala City, Villa Nueva, Amatitlán, San Miguel Petapa, Villa Canales and Mixco

Increasing local capacity to perform research on violence prevention During this quarter, Social Sciences (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, FLACSO), implemented one course to build local capacity to conduct research and analysis about citizen security and violence prevention. The purpose of the course was to increase participant capacity in using software for data management and visualization for violence prevention. Topics covered during the 25 hours of course instruction included open-source data analysis and data visualization tools, as well as training on online platforms for editing websites and creating infographics.

Key Indicator Results ● 1,673 people (972 women and 701 men) from target communities benefited from CONVIVIMOS´ community activities. ● CONVIVIMOS provided technical and financial support to 6 projects that include activities or services designed to reduce specific risks or harm to vulnerable populations. 7

Challenges and Lessons Learned Implementation Challenges ● One of the main challenges CONVIMOS faces continues to be the project’s work with the National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil, PNC). As mentioned in previous reports, CONVIVIMOS supports the Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio de Gobernación, MINGOB)´s focus on prevention through the Vice-Ministry for Violence and Crime Prevention. The PNC are part of MINGOB and the Prevention Unit reports directly to the Vice-Ministry for Violence and Crime Prevention. Per the Vice- Minister’s request, Mercy Corps has shared outlines of its training curricula. However, at this time, the project does not anticipate approval for the police to participate in upcoming trainings. If the police continue to not be able to participate in CONVIVIMOS trainings, this could impact project indicators related to increasing community and police trust.

● The upcoming 2019 elections present another challenge for CONVIVIMOS project implementation. While CONVIVIMOS’ support has always been for the institutions that the project partners with rather than any specific individual, this close coordination has the potential to be misinterpreted as an endorsement of that individual’s candidacy. Additionally, several CONVIVIMOS consortium members have raised concerns about increased pressure from municipal officials to utilize CONVIVIMOS activities to promote their candidacy for elected office. To address these issues, CONVIVIMOS will maintain clear lines of communication with our beneficiaries and ensure that project messaging reiterates support for the institutions that the project partners with, rather than specific individuals. Additionally, the project’s Communications Team held trainings this quarter with all CONVIVIMOS partners, including the project’s municipal partners, to familiarize them with the new Branding Strategy and Marking Plan (BSMP) and to reiterate the importance of maintaining appropriate branding and marking in all project activities.

● The confrontation between President Morales and the CICIG is an ongoing concern for project implementation. This confrontation presents a potential challenge for CONVIVIMOS both because it could spark civil unrest and it may also undermine trust in government institutions. Civil unrest would present a challenge for the project not only because of the potential to generate violence, but also because civil unrest would draw away PNC officers and resources from carrying out the community policing efforts that have helped to improve the relationship between police and community members in CONVIVIMOS’ target communities. In addition, continued confrontation between the different branches of the government could undermine public trust in public institutions, many of whom are critical partners for achieving CONVIVIMOS’ objectives.

Lessons Learned ● Efforts to identify at-risk with youth need to be linked to robust referral protocols. While in recent months CONVIVIMOS has made significant progress in adapting a tool for identifying at-risk youth in communities, this process has reinforced the 8

importance of not only having the tool, but ensuring that the results of the tool help young people access the services they need. During year 3, CONVIVIMOS piloted the tool with small groups of participants in activities that offered those participants access to secondary prevention services, resulting in the identification of a total of 275 at-risk youth. Given concerns raised by community members during the development of the tool about the sensitive nature of the information it addresses, CONVIVIMOS has recognized the importance of ensuring that the tool not only identifies at-risk youth, it also links them with the resources they need to address issues that come up during the application of the tool. While in Year 4 the at-risk youth identification tool will be scaled up, during this quarter the team focused on dedicating additional resources to ensuring that the individuals who will be applying the tool are well informed about secondary prevention services available and can make an appropriate referrals as necessary.

Update on News and Context Relevant to Program Implementation

One of the principal issues Guatemala faced during this past quarter was the continued confrontation between the CICIG (International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala) and Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales. In August, the CICIG, in coordination with the Guatemalan Attorney General’s office, issued a request to the Congress to lift presidential immunity from prosecution so they could begin an investigation looking into alleged illicit campaign financing. This request was eventually voted down, and in late August, President Morales announced that he would not renew the mandate of the CICIG, which is set to expire in September 2019. This situation continued to escalate in December 2018, when President Morales ordered his foreign minister to not renew the visas of 11 investigators working for the CICIG, forcing the investigators to leave the country. Guatemala’s Constitutional Court intervened, halting the President’s order, while also setting up a major political showdown between the court and the presidency.

The rapidly approaching kickoff of the 2019 election campaign season has generated tensions in the Congress arising from their attempts to change the electoral law to benefit the interests of currently elected representatives and their ability to participate for reelection. The political maneuvering around these reforms is also affecting negotiations over the FY19 general budget, which may affect the Government of Guatemala’s investment in violence prevention. At the local level, the signs of electoral processes are beginning to become evident as some mayoral candidates informally kick off their campaigns. This has an important influence on the municipal spaces (See the Challenges and Lessons Learned section below for more details), which will only increase when the electoral process officially begins in January 2019.

Finally, on October 12, a group of about 160 Hondurans set forth from the city of San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras with the intention of presenting themselves for asylum in Mexico or the United States. By the time the caravan arrived at the Guatemalan border on October 15, the Associated Press estimated that approximately 1,600 Hondurans had joined the caravan. The Government of Guatemala initially attempted to close the Guatemalan-Honduran border to the caravan, however, after a standoff of several hours, Guatemalan officials allowed the caravan to enter Guatemala. The caravan continued to increase in size as it crossed Guatemala, and had 9

grown to approximately 3,000 strong by the time it reached the Mexico-Guatemala border on October 19. After being driven back by Mexican riot police, the majority of group eventually was able to enter Mexico and proceed to the US-Mexico border. While migration has always been a significant issue in the communities where CONVIVIMOS works, these large-scale caravans introduce a new dynamic into the context by raising the international profile of the migration process as well as by increasing the pressure to ensure that project activities are addressing push factors for migration.

Analysis of Project Implementation and Partnerships

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Implementation Challenges

One of the main challenges CONVIMOS faces continues to be the project’s work with the PNC. As mentioned in previous reports, CONVIVIMOS supports MINGOB’s focus on prevention through the Vice-Ministry for Violence and Crime Prevention. The PNC are part of MINGOB and the Prevention Unit reports directly to the Vice-Ministry for Violence and Crime Prevention. While coordinating with the Vice-Ministry for Violence and Crime Prevention in regards to the problem-oriented policing and crime analysis trainings that Mercy Corps is planning, the Vice-Minister for Violence and Crime Prevention indicated that the PNC were already receiving similar trainings from other projects and agencies. He also stated that his office must approve all curricula before the police (including operations, which report to a different vice-ministry) could participate, so that training duplication is avoided. As such, no police will be participating in the trainings planned for next quarter. Per the Vice-Minister’s request, Mercy Corps has shared outlines of training curricula. However, at this time, the project does not anticipate approval for the police to participate in upcoming trainings. If the police continue to not be able to participate in CONVIVIMOS trainings, this could impact project indicators related to increasing community and police trust.

The upcoming 2019 elections present another challenge for CONVIVIMOS project implementation. During the course of program implementation, CONVIVIMOS has coordinated closely with mayors and other high-level municipal officials who have been critical partners for many of the project’s successes. While CONVIVIMOS’ support has always been for the institutions that the project partners with rather than any specific individual, this close coordination has the potential to be misinterpreted as an endorsement of that individual’s candidacy. Additionally, several CONVIVIMOS consortium members have raised concerns about increased pressure from municipal officials to utilize CONVIVIMOS activities to promote their candidacy for elected office. While working with municipal officials who may also be political candidates is unavoidable, the project is taking steps to mitigate the effect of this challenge on program implementation. To address these issues, CONVIVIMOS will maintain clear lines of communication with our beneficiaries and ensure that project messaging reiterates support for the institutions that the project partners with, rather than specific individuals. Additionally, the project’s Communications Team held trainings this quarter with all CONVIVIMOS partners, including the project’s municipal partners, to 10

familiarize them with the new Branding Strategy and Marking Plan (BSMP) and to reiterate the importance of maintaining appropriate branding and marking in all project activities. Finally, in the upcoming quarter, the project will develop a specific plan to anticipate a number of election-related changes that may arise and to identify appropriate responses to those challenges. As part of the process, the team will also review and update the project’s security protocols to ensure that they provide appropriate guidance to staff if election-related violence arises.

Finally, the confrontation between President Morales and the CICIG is an ongoing concern for project implementation. In addition to questions about the legitimacy of the actions, the President’s actions towards the CICIG (see Update on News and Context) may create challenges for CONVIVIMOS implementation in our target communities. This confrontation presents a potential challenge for CONVIVIMOS both because it could spark civil unrest and it may also undermine trust in government institutions. Civil unrest would present a challenge for the project not only because of the potential to generate violence, but also because civil unrest would draw away PNC officers and resources from carrying out the community policing efforts that have helped to improve the relationship between police and community members in CONVIVIMOS’ target communities. In addition, continued confrontation between the different branches of the government could undermine public trust in public institutions, many of whom are critical partners for achieving CONVIVIMOS’ objectives.

Lessons learned

Efforts to identify at-risk with youth need to be linked to robust referral protocols. While in recent months CONVIVIMOS has made significant progress in adapting a tool for identifying at-risk youth in communities, this process has reinforced the importance of not only having the tool, but ensuring that the results of the tool help young people access the services they need. During year 3, CONVIVIMOS piloted the tool with small groups of participants in activities that offered those participants access to secondary prevention services, resulting in the identification of a total of 275 at-risk youth. Given concerns raised by community members during the development of the tool about the sensitive nature of the information it addresses, CONVIVIMOS has recognized the importance of ensuring that the tool not only identifies at- risk youth, it also links them with the resources they need to address issues that come up during the application of the tool. While in Year 4 the at-risk youth identification tool will be scaled up, during this quarter the team focused on dedicating additional resources to ensuring that the individuals who will be applying the tool are well informed about secondary prevention services available and can make an appropriate referrals as necessary.

Integration of Gender, Vulnerable Groups, and Compliance with USAID Disability Policy

Activities that empower individuals and groups in vulnerable or disadvantaged situations have continued this quarter; particularly activities focused on strengthening teenagers, youth and women's participation in decision making spaces and in activities that promote their well-being and provide them with access to opportunities.

Empowering Women and Girls 11

One key example of these activities has been the incorporation of the collecting and saving groups from Amatitlán and San Miguel Petapa into the “Comisiones Municipales de la Mujer” (Municipal Women Commissions) and the active participation of these groups in the formulation of “Políticas para la Promoción de Desarrollo Integral de Mujeres” (Policies for the Promotion and Comprehensive Development of Women).

In the same collecting and saving groups, women have received training through a certification in Advocacy and Prevention of Violence Against Women, and through this space they have participated in group healing sessions designed to recover self-esteem and reduce the participants’ feelings of guilt, a challenge given their desensitization to violence and insecurity.

Addressing Gender-Based Violence In November, Foundation for Effort and Prosperity (Fundación Esfuerzo y Prosperidad, FUNDAESPRO) participated in the “16 days against gender-based violence” campaign by holding different activities in five municipalities including film festivals, self-care fairs, and a series of dialogues about the situations of women with the Municipal Women’s Offices (Direccion Municipal de la Mujer, DMM), the Procurador de Derechos Humanos (PDH) Office, Ministry of Culture and Sport (Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte, MICUDE), and other local actors in Guatemala, Villa Nueva, Villa Canales, Mixco and Amatitlán.

Institutional Capacity Building

During this quarter, Mercy Corps’ Subgrants Team held a full day workshop with each of the CONVIVIMOS consortium members (four workshops in total) to review the Consortium’s progress in building their institutional capacity. To facilitate this process, CONVIVIMOS utilized Mercy Corps’ Organization Capacity Index (OCI) toolkit. The OCI applies an inclusive and holistic approach to assess organizational capacity. Using a combination of individual self-reflection and facilitated group sessions, the OCI fosters co-ownership of the assessment of organizational strengths and weaknesses. The OCI centers on six thematic areas: leadership, programs, external relations, finance, administration and logistics. As part of the workshop process, each of the four partners produced an updated plan to identify the areas where they will focus their capacity building efforts in FY19. In November, the Subgrants Team also held a training for CONVIVIMOS’ current short-term partners (CICAM, EDUCAGUATE, FUNDACIÓN TORUÑO, FUNDACIÓN SOBREVIVIENTES Y FUNDACIÓN PAIZ) to increase their understanding of the different procurement strategies for the goods and services they may require during the implementation of their activities. The purpose of this training was to increase the capacity of these local organizations to provide sufficient financial management of USAID-funded activities.

Additionally, in this quarter the CONVIVIMOS Operations Team also worked to build the capacity of Guatemala City’s municipal staff to support their efforts to procure open air gym equipment utilizing the Government of Guatemala’s procurement systems. The Operations Team held coordination meetings with municipal officials to explain how CONVIVIMOS had managed its procurement process for the open air gym equipment it has purchased, and helped the municipal officials to develop procurement documents that would ensure high quality proposals for the services and equipment that the municipality was interested in procuring. 12

Short-term Projects and Strategic Activity Funds

Short-term projects are funded through the Annual Program Statement (APS), Request for Applications (RFAs) and the Strategic Activity Fund (SAF) (formerly Rapid Response Fund/RFF), mechanisms and are reported by result under Progress on Activity Implementation. Please see Annex B for a list of active short-term projects during FY19Q1, listed by objective and result.

Under the civic APS mechanism, there were four general areas in which CONVIVIMOS accepted proposals: 1. Basic education 2. Employability and entrepreneurship; 3. Youth and adolescent participation in civic, artistic, cultural, sport and recreation activities; and 4. Public campaigns

Under the research APS mechanism, there were three general areas in which CONVIVIMOS accepted proposals: 1. Vulnerable children, adolescents and youth and violence prevention; 2. Gender inequality, power and violence; and 3. Approaches and alternative methodologies for preventing urban violence.

In year 3, in addition to the transition to the SAF, the RRF mechanism was also restructured into Municipal and Central Government Strengthening Funds. The Municipal and Central Government Strengthening Funds were designated for in-kind services for each of the six municipalities and the Ministry of the Interior. These in-kind services are designed to complement activities being implemented under Objective 2. They respond to government needs identified while implementing violence prevention activities and initiatives.

Progress on Activity Implementation

Objective 1: Support community commissions to institutionalize proven, integrated violence prevention initiatives in targeted areas

Result 1.1 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Treatment communities have developed and are implementing violence prevention plans. Advancing the ToC: The process of developing violence prevention plans strengthens collective action and social capital, contributing to community resilience in the form of resident inclusiveness, community leadership, and public participation.

Community Prevention and Coexistence Commissions and Plans:

Operationalization of Community Prevention and Coexistence work plans: During this quarter, CONVIVIMOS partner FUNDAESPRO held a total of 34 coordination meetings with CCPCs 13

to update and operationalize the annual work plans derived from the Community Prevention and Coexistence Plans that were developed during the first two years of the project and then subsequently updated last year.

Work plans implemented by youth: During this quarter, FUNDAESPRO and the FUNDAESPRO youth networks in two municipalities implemented activities identified in their annual work plans: ● Mixco – In Mixco, CONVIVIMOS supported vacation schools for youth in the Brigada, San Ignacio, and Belén communities. This vacation school was three weeks long and included academic support for reading, English, and mathematics, as well as activities focused on artistic expression, theater, music, and arts & crafts. ● Guatemala City – In Guatemala City, CONVIVIMOS supported vacation schools in the communities of Granizos, Verbena, and Zone 3 to engage students in learning activities during school breaks. This vacation school lasted for four weeks, and included activities on topics including: violence prevention, respect for LGBT rights, sexual and reproductive health, and arts & crafts.

Mercy Corps Consultancies: “Technical Assistance for the Elaboration of Assessments and Integrated Violence Prevention Plans in San Miguel Petapa”: This consultancy continued work started in Year 3 to complete the community diagnostics in order to identify the needs and challenges in each of the communities where the project operates. Once these assessments are completed, they will be incorporated into the Community Prevention and Coexistence Plans developed by the communities. These assessments mirror the assessment process carried out by the CPCCs in the first two years of project implementation, however, since San Miguel Petapa was not included in the original project design, the assessment process is still ongoing.

Result 1.2 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Strengthen communication and interaction between treatment communities and government officials, i.e. municipal authorities, COCODEs, police. Advancing the ToC: The enhanced collaboration between communities and government officials improves resource governance and social capital, contributing to community resilience in the form of increased public participation, community leadership, and accessible and responsive services.

Supporting the development of community projects: Through this activity, FUNDAESPRO reinforces the sustainability of community plans by working with the CCPCs to develop project proposals and to identify potential funding sources for the project proposals. During the past quarter, the following projects were developed:

● Mixco: In Mixco, the proposal for a “Community Youth Office” was developed in coordination with the community service office of the Communication Sciences Department. This project proposal was presented to the Municipal Youth Office in Mixco.

● Guatemala City: In Guatemala City, a proposal for a “Network of Women Violence Prevention Promoters” was developed and presented by communities in Bethania, La Verbena, and Zone 3. ● Villa Nueva: In Villa Nueva, the “Community Youth Office” project proposal was developed presented to the Youth for Life Association (Asociación Jóvenes por la Vida, JOVI), the National Youth Council (Consejo Nacional de la Juventud, CONJUVE), the Municipal Youth Commission, the Municipal Youth Coordination and COCODE members from: El Éxodo, Tres Banderas, Monte de los Olivos and El Búcaro ● Amatitlán: In Amatitlan, a project proposal and funding strategy for a “Production and Commercialization of Baked Goods” project was developed by the communities of Amistad I, Anexos Prados, Tacatón, Cerro Corado, Raquel Blandón de Cerezo, La Capillita, La Ladrillera, Valle Verde, Colonia La Lupita.

Certificate Course on Advocacy for Gender-Based Violence Prevention: During the first quarter of year 4, IEPADES developed and implemented the first two modules of this certificate course for a total of 34 participants in the women’s community savings groups in Amatitlan and San Miguel Petapa. The topics covered in the trainings were: Module 1 “Leadership and Organizing Networks” (29 participants), and Module 2 “Analysis and Identification of Priorities” (27 participants).

Table 1: Women participants in the certificate course for the prevention of violence against women, by age: 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-49 50-99 Undefined Municipality Women Total Amatitlan 4 10 8 9 3 -- 34

Total 4 10 8 9 3 -- 34

Result 1.3 (Governance of the Security Sector and Basic Education) – Increased civic engagement in treatment communities. Advancing the ToC: Our increased civic engagement activities strengthen human capital and collective action, leading to community resilience in the form of increased public participation and resident inclusiveness.

Community Activities: During the first quarter of year 4, FUNDAESPRO carried out five community activities focused on promoting civic engagement and collective action, including a 15

celebration of International Girl’s Day, a kite festival, a health fair, and activities advocating against gender-based violence. FUNDAESPRO also held five community film festivals as part of the “16 days against gender-based violence” campaign.

Table 2: Participants in the Community Activities disaggregated by age and sex 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-49 50-99 Undefined Total Total Municipality F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M Total Guatemala -- -- 9 -- 7 -- 8 -- 14 1 13 2 -- -- 51 3 54 Mixco 1 2 4 5 -- 2 3 1 1 -- 2 1 4 -- 15 11 26

Villa 1 3 5 -- 4 -- 13 1 9 -- 6 -- 17 13 55 17 72 Canales Villa Nueva 28 39 2 -- 1 1 2 -- 5 -- 14 1 34 12 86 53 139

Total 30 44 20 5 12 3 26 2 29 1 35 4 55 25 207 84 291

Table 3: Participants in the Community Coexistence Activities, by municipality and age 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-49 50-99 Undefined Total Total Municipality F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M Total Guatemala -- -- 9 -- 7 -- 8 -- 14 1 13 2 -- -- 51 3 54 Mixco 1 2 4 5 -- 2 3 1 1 -- 2 1 4 -- 15 11 26 Villa Nueva 11 23 1 ------18 20 30 43 73

Total 12 25 14 5 7 2 11 1 15 1 15 3 22 20 96 57 153

Table 4: Participants in the Community Movie Activity, disaggregated by sex and community Participantes en la actividad de cine comunitario, desagregado por sexo y comunidad 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-49 50-99 Undefined Total Total Municipality F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M Total Villa 1 2 5 -- 4 -- 13 1 9 -- 6 -- 17 14 55 17 72 Canales Villa Nueva 1 1 -- 1 1 2 5 -- 14 1 32 8 56 10 66

Total 2 2 6 -- 5 1 15 1 14 -- 20 1 49 22 111 27 138

In addition to the community activities, FUNDAESPRO also carried out entrepreneurship workshops in Guatemala City in coordination with the municipality and in Mixco in coordination with representatives from “Distribuidora Caribe”, a local business.

Table 5: Participants in the technical capacity workshops, disaggregated by sex, age and municipality Participantes de los talleres de capacitación técnica, distribuidos por sexo, edad y municipio. 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-49 50-99 Undefined Total Total Municipality F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M Total Amatitlan -- -- 2 4 2 -- 1 2 -- 1 1 ------6 7 13 Guatemala ------53 -- 53 -- 53 Mixco 2 ------1 -- 4 -- 7 -- 13 -- 3 -- 30 -- 30

Total 2 -- 2 4 3 -- 5 2 7 1 14 -- 56 -- 89 7 96

Infrastructure projects:

Infrastructure projects serve as a method for improving physical spaces in order to create opportunities that will generate positive social interactions, build social cohesion and augment factors that reduce violence.

Infrastructure Project Implementation:

Guatemala City ● Expansion of Dirección Municipal de la Mujer, Zone 7, Guatemala: In November the procurement documents for the expansion of the Municipal Women’s Office were published. The deadline for receiving offers was extended until January 2019, and when the offers are received, they will be evaluated and a work order will be awarded. ● Street Lighting in the communities of La Verbena and Bethania, Zone 7: This project, an expansion and improvement of the public lighting network in six communities of La Bethania Peninsula and La Verbena, in Zone 7 of Guatemala City, was completed in the first quarter of FY19. The project included the installation of 194 light poles and 296 luminaires, benefiting a population of 53,000 residents. The process for transferring ownership of the infrastructure to the municipal government of Guatemala City was also initiated in this quarter. ● Outdoor Gyms and Playground Equipment: In October, the purchase order was signed with supplier for the gym and playground equipment. The purchase included 22 outdoor gym kits containing 12 exercise machines each and 20 packages of playground equipment containing two pieces of equipment each. Delivery of the playground equipment will begin in January 2019. ● Los Aguilares Park in Zone 3: The work order for the construction of this park was signed and construction initiated in October. This project consists of the renovation of a public space, including the installation of outdoor games for children, a giant slide, chess boards, an open air gym area, a small plaza and the rehabilitation of pathways with perimeter protection for the street security. The access ramps and the sidewalks will be also recovered and refurbished. Through the end of the first quarter of FY19 approximately 50% of the construction work on the park had been completed.

● Linear Park in La Verbena: The work order for the construction of this park was signed and construction initiated in October. The project uses an existing street lane, which currently has little vehicular transit, to recover the space for recreation and coexistence for the local population. When finished the park will include games and sports areas, a multi-purpose court (basketball and Five-a-side football), a giant chess game, local stage, outdoor furniture, installation of equipment for outdoor gyms, sidewalk recovery, access ramp and repainting of the perimeter wall. During this quarter approximately 50% of the construction work on the project was completed.

Amatitlán ● In Amatitlán the contracting process for the design and planning services has been completed for three community parks in the communities of Blandón de Cerezo, Colonias Unidas y Villas del Río. The work order was signed in December and the topographic of the project sites is currently underway.

San Miguel Petapa ● Linear Park in Villa Hermosa I: In the previous quarter the design and planning for this linear park was awarded, and in January the work order was issued to begin work on the design of the park and associated planning processes. ● Community Center in Caserío “El Cerro”: In December, the procurement notice was published for the design and planning contract for the community center. In January, the interested firms will present their proposals for the contract.

Villa Nueva ● In December, CONVIVIMOS’ Infrastructure Team began the process of selecting and awarding a design and planning contract for three projects: renovation of public spaces in the “Las Margaritas” community, renovation of public spaces in the “El Esfuerzo” community, and the construction of a playground in the “Villa Lobos I” community.

Mixco: ● In Mixco, the procurement documents have been prepared for the design and planning contracts for two community centers which will be located in Zones 4 and 6 of Mixco. The procurement process will begin in January 2019.

Community Projects: This quarter, Mercy Corps continued the planning processes for the implementation of community projects identified in the community and school prevention plans, which will be implemented in the six target municipalities. A committee with representatives from Mercy Corps, FUNDAESPRO and Fe y Alegria was responsible for managing the selection process. Selected projects’ areas of focus were validated by the communities and schools and then approved by the municipalities. Please see the Short-Term Projects and Strategic Activity Funds section for a list of community projects that were published through RFAs this quarter. Once the projects are adjudicated, the specific activities will be reported under the corresponding objective and result.

Short-term partner civic projects

Foundation Jorge Toruño: In October, Fundación Jorge Toruño wrapped up its “With a confident step forward, I secure my future” project by holding a final enrichment workshop for a select group of 32 participants (17 female participants and 15 male participants). The project is a comprehensive youth development course that focuses on addressing five topic areas: 1) Knowledge transfer; 2) Reinforcing emotional resilience and mental health; 3) Peace coexistence among students; 4) Productive scholarships (internships); and 5) Strategic alliances.

Center for Research, Training and Support for Women (CICAM): In this quarter CICAM began coordination meetings with the municipality of Villa Canales, including launching its initial assessment of the municipality. In addition, CICIAM also presented its methodology to youth in Guatemala City in order to build community buy-in for the activities.

Mesa de la Niña (Interinstitutional Working Group on Girls): In commemoration of the International Day of the Girl, the Mesa de la Niña held a press conference and a day of activities to raise awareness in favor of Girls and Adolescents. The group stated in a press conference that girls and adolescents continue to be an invisible and excluded population that faces sexual violence, pregnancies that put their lives at risk, lack of access to formal education, limited comprehensive education in sexuality, and, in addition, cases of underaged marriages. This, among other harsh circumstances that violate their rights, slows down girls’ and young women’s life plans and makes their full development impossible. In addition to the press conference, CONVIVIMOS coordinated an educational fair with representatives from the Municipality of Guatemala City. During the fair CONVIVIMOS partner, IEPADES participated with the board game "Emociones Chispudas" and youth from the Verbena neighborhood participated with a dance routine by the "Manicomio Crew".

Additionally in December the Mesa de la Niña, led by CONVIVIMOS, launched the campaign #NadieDecidePorMí (#NoOneDecidesForMe), which aims to inform and raise awareness among the population in general about Guatemalan Decree 13-2017 which prohibits child marriage.

Vice-Ministry for Violence and Crime Prevention: During the previous quarter, CONVIVIMOS continued supporting consultancies for the following activities carried out by the office of the Vice-Minister for Violence and Crime Prevention: ● “Liga Jóven por la Concordia” (Youth League for Concordance): In December, the Office of the Vice-Minister presented its methodology and workplan for this project, which focuses on organizing at-risk youth and increasing their participation through a multidisciplinary approach that builds individual capacities for violence prevention. ● “Ruta Jóven 2032” (Youth Ro ● admap 2032): This project will focus on activities that support the basic rights of young people, including the right to health, recreation, education, sports, and civic participation. During this quarter, the Office of the Vice-Minister presented the roadmap for implementing the project and also defined the strategy for providing a differentiated intervention. 19

● “Mi Comunidad Participa, Convive y Previene” (My community coexists, prevents, and participates): In December this project completed its analysis of the municipalities when the activity is being implemented. The purpose of the assessment was to analyze the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and crime & violence. In addition to community data about socioeconomic status, the assessment also analyzes data from the PNC and the Attorney General’s Office.

Result 1.4 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Reduction of citizen insecurity in treatment communities. Advancing the ToC: The use of data mapping contributes to improved resource governance and security by enabling community representatives and local government to allocate resources appropriately to hotspot areas.

Maps developed under Result 1.1 with CCPCs have been used to support the planning of the infrastructure projects supported under Result 1.3. Each community plan includes a map developed by community members that identifies specific needs related to violence reduction in their neighborhoods. These maps were then used by the Mercy Corps Infrastructure Technical team in their planning process and as supporting documentation for the selected projects. The maps have been particularly useful in identifying lighting projects in areas prone to crime and violence. Since all CONVIVIMOS infrastructure projects are currently in the design, procurement, or construction phase, the project is not currently undertaking any new mapping activities, however the previous maps continue to serve as a valuable resource.

Result 1.5 (Governance of the Security Sector and Basic Education) – Increased provision of prevention programming/services in treatment communities. Advancing the ToC: Increased provision of prevention services contributes to accessible and responsive services and enhances human capital, leading to community resilience in the form of increased resident inclusiveness and social cohesion.

Friendly Spaces: The “Friendly Spaces” intervention creates dedicated spaces within schools where students can participate in educational games and other entertaining learning activities. The purpose of these interventions is to increase student’s access to educational enrichment activities that will improve their academic performance. During the first quarter of FY19, CONVIVIMOS carried out nine introductory workshops on robotics in the friendly spaces created through this intervention.

Table 6: Number of school participants Registered participants

Number of Municipality school Women Men Total

Amatitlán 1 11 9 20 Guatemala 1 8 9 17 20

Mixco 2 20 20 40 Villa Nueva 1 7 13 20

Total 5 46 51 97

Violence Prevention Fairs: During the previous quarter, CONVIVIMOS partner FUNDAESPRO carried out two violence prevention fairs as part of the organization's participation in the “16 days of activism against gender-based violence” campaign. The violence prevention fairs took place in the municipalities of Mixco and Amatitán.

Short-term partner interventions

AMG International: This quarter AMG International received a no-cost extension of their grant to continue implementing the “School for Parents” program, the campaign on preventing sexual violence against minors, and the attention provided to survivors of violence. AMG is also collecting anthropological data about the community of La Verbana which may potentially help inform future CONVIVIMOS activities in the community.

This quarter, CONVIVIMOS partner AMG International launched an education campaign called "Taking Care of Myself with Ramón and Vivi." The campaign focuses on preventing sexual violence and providing information on reproductive health issues in partner schools. As part of the implementation of this educational process, workshops are also held with teachers, parents and municipal authorities. The campaign includes four workshops that are given to two groups, one group of younger children and one group of older adolescents, and are adapted for their ages, which range from 10 to 19 years-old. Approximately 600 children were provided violence prevention information through the campaign.

Result 1.6 (Basic Education and Governance of the Security Sector) – Strengthen the role of primary schools in primary prevention. Advancing the ToC: Strengthening primary schools increases human capital, laying the foundation for greater public participation and social cohesion.

While the school year in most primary schools ended in early October, CONVIVIMOS continued to focus on strengthening the role of education in violence prevention by providing educational activities that bridge the gap between school years and by taking advantage of the winter break to continue to train educators in violence prevention methodologies.

Teacher Trainings: During the first quarter of FY19, Fe y Alegria concluded its training activities on the PLENITUD methodology in the municipalities of Amatitlán and Guatemala City.

Table 7: Participants in Fe y Alegria teacher trainings

Municipality Women Men Total

Guatemala 6 4 10 City

Total 6 4 10

During this quarter a total of 10 teachers (6 women and 4 men) participated in a final training workshop on the PLENITUD methodology. The focus of the workshop was to provide feedback and verify that the teachers are fully prepared to implement the PLENITUD methodology in their classrooms during the 2019 school year. The PLENITUD methodology emphasizes teaching styles that encourage students, through a process of self-reflection, to take ownership of their own academic performance. The result is that this methodology fosters growth in emotional intelligence as well as cognitive development for its participants.

Vacation Schools: From October to December, CONVIVIMOS’ partner Fe y Alegria held vacation schools in the municipalities of Amatitlán, Guatemala, Mixco, Villa Canales, and Villa Nueva. These “schools” respond to a need to provide a safe, supervised environment for children and adolescents when the school year ends, as well as to provide academic support to reduce the possibility of students experiencing “vacation learning loss” over the holiday break. The vacation schools covered both academic topics, including English and Music, and recreational activities such as sports and arts & crafts. During this quarter 1,011 students (471 girls and 540 boys) participated in the vacation schools.

Table 8: Vacation School Participants FY19Q1

< 10 10-14 15-19 Undefined Total Total Municipality F M F M F M F M Female Male Total Amatitlan 7 11 22 22 7 11 1 37 44 81 Guatemala 29 19 27 13 18 34 1 2 75 68 143 Mixco 26 39 60 46 1 -- 5 7 92 92 184 Villa Canales 76 120 107 143 21 20 -- -- 204 283 487 Villa Nueva 4 6 46 35 13 12 -- -- 63 53 116

Total 142 195 262 259 60 77 7 9 471 540 1011

Short-term partner interventions

Fundacion Paiz-Educaguate: During the previous quarter, Fundación Paiz coordinated with Fe y Alegría to present the “Through Homework, I Play and Learn” activity that will be implemented during the 2019 school year. Prior to implementing the activity, Fundacion Paiz has begun collecting baseline data about the factors associated with school dropouts, including 22

conducting focus groups with students. As part of this data collection process, Fundacion Paiz also tested 5th and 6th grade students` performance in math, language arts, and technology in a school managed by Fe y Alegria.

Objective 2: Strengthen and mobilize municipal and national stakeholders and resources to develop and implement municipal level prevention plans through a multi-stakeholder, interinstitutional process.

CONVIVIMOS supports MINGOB’s focus on prevention through the Vice-Ministry for Violence and Crime Prevention. CONVIVIMOS works with the Unit for Community Violence Prevention (Unidad para la Prevención Comunitaria de Violencia, UPCV), which is the implementing unit of the Vice-Ministry, and the PNC as key project counterparts. The Vice- Ministry’s and the PNC’s national-level initiatives have a direct impact on the six municipalities supported through CONVIVIMOS, particularly since those municipalities have some of the highest levels of crime and violence in the country. As such, Mercy Corps has supported the Vice-Ministry through in-kind support (described below).

Central Government Strengthening Plan: CONVIVIMOS continues to support the second Central Government Strengthening Plan agreed upon by CONVIVIMOS and MINGOB in Year 3. This plan is composed of priority violence prevention projects identified by MINGOB for CONVIVIMOS support. A consolidated list of projects implemented through this plan during Year 4 will be presented with the FY19 annual report.

Result 2.1 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Establishment of inter-institutional crime and violence prevention commissions to manage prevention resources strategically in target municipalities. Advancing the ToC: Strengthening municipal crime and violence prevention commissions contributes to effective local institutions and stronger resource governance, which leads to community resilience in the form of greater political legitimacy.

During the first quarter of Year 4, CONVIVIMOS partner IEPADES continued supporting the COMUPREs in the five project municipalities that have established COMUPREs (Guatemala City, because of its unique organization, doesn’t have a COMUPRE) to develop and carry out activities in their annual workplans for 2019, as well as to present updates on activities carried out during 2018. Specific activities carried out with the COMPUPREs in this quarter include: ● Villa Canales: CONVIVIMOS worked the COMUPRE’s technical subcommittees to oversee two activities – a theater-forum implemented in conjunction with the working group on youth and children, and recreational activities implemented as part of the “Steps and Wheels” community fairs. ● Mixco: CONVIVIMOS provided support to the technical subcommittees planning processes for 2019. ● Villa Nueva: CONVIVIMOS provided support to the technical subcommittees planning processes for 2019.

Result 2.2 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Development and implementation of municipal crime and violence prevention strategies and plans. Advancing the ToC: The development and implementation of the COMUPRE plans contributes to accessible and responsive services and effective local institutions, which leads to community resilience in the form of political legitimacy.

Promoting municipal policies to reduce crime and violence: Mixco: In December, the municipal council in Mixco approved the Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Protection Municipal Policy. In addition, the proposed Comprehensive Municipal Policy for Women’s Development and Advancement was validated by community leaders and municipal authorities. San Miguel Petapa: The municipal council approved the Youth Policy. In addition, the proposed Comprehensive Municipal Policy for Women’s Development and Advancement was validated by community leaders and municipal authorities. Guatemala City: In Guatemala City, the Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Protection Municipal Policy is under review by municipal authorities and is expected to be approved soon. Amatitlán: Both the Youth Policy and Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Protection Policy are still awaiting review. In addition, the proposed Comprehensive Municipal Policy for Women’s Development and Advancement was validated by community leaders and municipal authorities. Villa Canales: The proposed Comprehensive Municipal Policy for Women’s Development and Advancement was validated by community leaders and municipal authorities.

Short-term partners, consultants and technical assistance to develop and implement violence prevention systems and policies

Mercy Corps Consultancies: ● “Formulating Comprehensive Municipal Policies for Women’s Development and Advancement”: During Year 3, this consultancy carried out a series of participatory assessments to identify the situation, standing, and condition of women in the municipalities. This activity was undertaken in response to the identified need to provide tools that allowed municipal-level Women’s Offices and Women’s Commissions to push for the inclusion of a gender-sensitive approach to the implementation of plans, programs, and projects within their municipality.

● “Formulating Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Protection Municipal Policies”: During the first quarter of year 4, this consultancy wrapped up and four policy proposals were produced, including identifying the key priorities that each municipality would focus its resources on. The consultancy also provided an update on the legal framework that guides the policies and presented the results from the assessments that were carried out about levels of protection in the different municipalities.

● “Formulating Youth Policies” The primary results of this consultancy were the development of three situational assessments and three proposed youth policies for 24

Amatitlán, Mixco, and San Miguel Petapa. The municipal Youth Policy in San Miguel Petapa was approved by the Municipal Development Councils (Consejos Municipales de Desarrollo, COMUDE) in November while in Mixco the COMUDE approved the Youth Policy in December.

Short-term partner interventions

Foundation for the Network of Survivors of Domestic Violence, Fundación Sobrevivientes: During the first quarter of year 4 Fundación Sobrevivientes’ activities focused on catalyzing the creation of municipal systems for protecting children and adolescents in Mixco, Guatemala, and San Miguel Petapa. In Mixco, Sobrevivientes supported the newly created Municipal Office for Children and Adolescents with trainings, technical assistance, and the development of various policy manuals. In Guatemala City, the organization strengthened the capacity for the Social Outreach Office and the Auxiliary Mayors. In San Miguel Petapa, Sobrevivientes carried out 11 focus groups as part of an assessment of the lack of coverage of protective services for children and adolescents. Finally, in November, Fundación Sobrevivientes held a learning exchange for authorities from each of the project’s six municipalities.

Table 9: Participants in capacity-building workshops on Protection Systems for Children and Adolescents (disaggregated by municipality and sex)

Municipality Women Men Total Guatemala 61 7 68 Mixco 14 12 26 Total 75 19 94

Result 2.3 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Promote inclusive urban planning processes. Advancing the ToC: Consultative and inclusive planning processes contribute to collective action and effective local institutions, leading to community resilience in the form of social cohesion and public participation.

As described in Result 1.3, Mercy Corps implements infrastructure projects validated by both the community and municipality. Many of these infrastructure projects take into consideration Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles (natural surveillance, natural access control, territorial reinforcement, maintenance and management)1. CPTED principles help ensure that the infrastructure projects support the reduction of incidences, as well as perceptions and fear, of crime and violence in target communities and municipalities. All infrastructure, municipal, and community projects are identified through an inclusive, participatory process that takes into consideration the needs and interests of diverse groups.

1 Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior through environmental design. CPTED strategies rely upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal acts. https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/article/320548 25

Result 2.4 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Promote and strengthen community-based policing. Advancing the ToC: Effective community-based policing contributes to collective action and security, which strengthens social cohesion, public participation, and resident inclusiveness.

Strengthening PNC capacity in best practices in social planning: During the first quarter of year 4, IEPADES has begun preparing a certificate course for officials involved across different levels of the PNC’s strategic planning process. In November CONVIVIMOS also received vetting approval for 158 PNC officials to participate in the certificate course.

Mercy Corps community-based policing initiatives: As noted in the last quarterly report, the contracts with the international consultants who have been hired by Mercy Corps to implement community-based policing and crime analysis initiatives have been put on hold while Mercy Corps clarifies expectations with the Vice-Minister for Violence and Crime Prevention. As mentioned in the Challenges and Lessons Learned section, there are still challenges around the relationship with the Vice-Minister and limitations to the extent that the project can currently work with the PNC.

Result 2.5 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Establishment and functioning of municipal crime and violence data collection systems. Advancing the ToC: Stronger data collection systems contribute to improved resource governance and security by enabling community representatives and local government to allocate resources appropriately to hotspot areas.

Mercy Corps crime analysis initiatives: In October, international criminology expert and crime analysis instructor traveled to Guatemala for a week-long follow up training session with members of the Crime Analysis Units. The purpose of this trip was to provide individualized crime analysis training to the municipalities of Villa Nueva, Mixco, San Miguel Petapa, Villa Canales and representatives from IEPADES. This training was a follow-up to the three-day training provided in July to each of the above groups to address equipment (computers and mapping software licenses) and training issues as well as expectations on the problem solving solutions and concepts that will achieve actual crime and violence prevention actions in these municipalities. These mentoring sessions were held with each municipality using the computers and ArcGIS licenses provided by Mercy Corps (provided though the Municipal Strengthening Plans).

Objective 3: Support secondary prevention projects in close coordination with municipal authorities

Result 3.1 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Strengthened secondary prevention service providers in target communities. Advancing the ToC: Stronger secondary prevention services contribute to accessible and responsive services, which result in increased community resilience in the form of social cohesion and resident inclusiveness.

Mapping secondary prevention service providers in San Miguel Petapa: This activity seeks to identify the relevant actors and resources, within the municipalities, who work with violence prevention - especially with youth. These mapping exercises were carried out in coordination with CONVIVIMOS Technical Support Unit and the CONVIVIMOS community focal points in the municipality of San Miguel Petapa. The product resulting from this mapping exercises serves as a valuable guide for both municipal officials and community leaders who are working with youth.

Result 3.2 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Increased participation in cultural, community, educational, employment, and sports activities by targeted at-risk youth. Advancing the ToC: Participation in public activities by targeted at-risk youth, including economic opportunities, strengthens their human capital, leading to greater social cohesion and resident inclusiveness.

During the first two years of the project, CONVIVIMOS explored the possibility of implementing the City of Los Angeles Youth Service Eligibility Tool (YSET) model, but decided that the tool was not the right fit for the project. Other regional approaches were also considered, including an adaptation and field roll-out in Year 2 of the Pan American Health Organization methodology, which was considered to be too focused on health and sexual violence incidents for the needs of this project. In its place, the Mercy Corps Technical Support Unit ultimately decided to adapt and customize a tool used by the Peruvian Ministry of Education. The tool takes into account conditions and situations of psychological risk that affect youth at the individual, household, school and community levels and is designed as an “initial screen” that can be applied broadly in a community and will allow CONVIVIMOS to significantly extend the reach of the project’s efforts to identify at-risk youth.

One of the primary challenges in utilizing an at-risk identification tool is ensuring that individuals identified as at-risk are then connected to appropriate services. Recognizing this challenge, during the past quarter Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit has been reviewing the available secondary violence prevention services to strengthen the referral protocols associated with the at-risk youth identification tool.

Short-term partner interventions

Fundación Paiz: During this quarter, CONVIVIMOS short-term partner Fundación Paiz wrapped up its “Youth Action for Employment” project. This workforce readiness project was designed to prepare at-risk youth to join the labor force. The project provided the students with a variety of trainings including how to search for jobs, how to prepare a CV and soft skills capacity building, and provided them with opportunities to participate in job fairs, as well as workshop provided by the Ministry of Work. 20 project participants from Villa Nueva and Guatemala received a total of 128 hours of training. Since this is an ongoing activity, participants have been counted towards project indicators in previous progress reports.

Table 10: Fundacion Paiz participants FY19Q1, by municipality Municipality Women Men Total

Guatemala 9 1 10 Villa Nueva 5 5 10 Total 14 6 20

Result 3.3 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Reduction of citizen insecurity in treatment communities. Advancing the ToC: Implementation of projects by young women and men contributes to security and social capital, resulting in greater social cohesion.

Under this result, CONVIVIMOS partner IDEO.org worked closely with the CONVIVIMOS consortium to explore how to inspire at-risk youth to become agents of change in both their schools and communities. IDEO’s subaward concluded in Year 3 of project implementation, as such there are no new activities to report this quarter.

Objective 4: Promote and integrate evidence-based policy making among prevention actors

Result 4.1 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Promote evidence-based crime and violence prevention policy-making processes by supporting local research on citizen security issues and violence prevention models. Advancing the ToC: Evidence-based policy-making contributes to the effectiveness of local institutions, resulting in greater political legitimacy.

Table 11: APS research topics and organizations active in FY19Q1 Partner Topic Status Fieldwork is being coordinated with the Municipality of Guatemala. The “Youth in Guatemala City: municipality will provide both FLACSO Employment, Participation and surveyors as well as support in Perceptions of Citizen Security” identifying youth who belong to the target population.

Table 12: Partner research topics and organizations active in FY19Q1 Partner Topic Status FLACSO has incorporated feedback Workplace Violence against from a first round of revisions into the FLACSO LGBTI populations in Guatemala research design and produced a new City. design for review by the research committee. Mental Health Assessment of in- The technical proposal has been FLACSO school children and youth, and approved for this research. Currently effects of the “schools for FLACSO is conducting a literature

parents” review and preparing the conceptual framework for the fieldwork, which will begin in the upcoming quarter.

Table 13: Progress on upcoming CONVIVIMOS research awards pending award in FY19Q1 Topic Status The Influence of Open Air Gyms Proposals were received and have been reviewed by the evaluation on Violence Prevention, Citizen committee. The evaluation committee sent follow-up questions and Security, and Wellbeing in requested adjustments to applicants and the final award will be made Communities in Guatemala and in the upcoming quarter. Villa Nueva. Study of the Community Project Proposals were received and have been reviewed by the evaluation for Psychological Care in committee. The evaluation committee sent follow-up questions and Communities in Guatemala, Villa requested adjustments to applicants and the final award will be made Nueva, Amatitlán, San Miguel in the upcoming quarter. Petapa, Villa Canales and Mixco

Result 4.2 (Governance of the Security Sector) – Build research capacity on citizen security issues among Guatemalan stakeholders. Advancing the ToC: Increased research capacity on citizen security issues strengthens effective local institutions and resource governance, resulting in greater political legitimacy.

This quarter, FLACSO implemented one course to build local capacity to conduct research and analysis about citizen security and violence prevention:

Data Visualization: The purpose of the course was to increase participant capacity in using software for data management and visualization for violence prevention. Topics covered during the 25 hours of course instruction included open-source data analysis and data visualization tools, as well as training on online platforms for editing websites and creating infographics. The course was implemented in December with eight representatives (four women and four men) from various offices of the municipal government of Guatemala City, including the Social Development office, the Quality Control office, and the Department of Geographic Information.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Indicator Results

Please see Annex C for FY19Q1 indicator data. 29

Cross-cutting Indicators Indicator 1: Percent of women that report meaningful participation in program-related decision-making bodies at community level: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Indicator 2: Number of people from target communities benefiting from community activities (ie cultural, educational, employment, sports, religious, etc): This quarter, 1,673 people (972 women and 701 men) from target communities benefited from community activities.

Indicator 3: Number of crime and violence prevention projects implemented through CONVIVIMOS: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Indicator 4: Percentage of USG-funded NGO or other international organization projects that include activities or services designed to reduce specific risks or harm to vulnerable populations.

This quarter, CONVIVIMOS provided technical and financial support to 6 projects, which are implemented by civil society organizations and government institutions and include activities or services designed to reduce specific risks or harm to vulnerable populations.

Objective 1

Indicator 1.1: Number of community prevention plans operationalized with USAID support: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Indicator 1.2: Number of community prevention and coexistence plans presented by CCPC members to COCODEs/CUBS or COMUPREs: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Indicator 1.6.1: Number of PTAs or similar school governance structures supported: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Indicator 1.6.2: Number of learners enrolled in secondary schools or equivalent non-school based settings with USG support: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Indicator 1.6.3: Proportion of students, who, by the end of two grades of primary schooling, demonstrate that they can read and understand the meaning of grade level text: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Objective 2

Indicator 2.1: Number of municipalities with Municipal Crime Prevention Committees: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Indicator 2.4: Number of national civil police agents who attend workshops on community policing methodologies: CONVIVIMOS will report the number of national civil police agents who attended workshops on community policing methodologies in the FY2019 annual report.

Objective 3

Indicator 3.1.1: Number of vulnerable people benefitting from USG-supported social services: No results to report this quarter.

Indicator 3.1.1 Number of secondary prevention service providers strengthened by the project: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Indicator 3.2: Number of at-risk youth identified using secondary prevention pilot tool: No results to report this quarter.

Objective 4

Indicator 4.1: Number of local organizations/universities/think tanks receiving support for research on citizen security issues and violence prevention models: This is an annual indicator and as such will be reported on in the FY2019 annual report.

Coordination, Communication, Compliance, and Future Activities

Collaboration with USAID Partners and Other USG Agencies

CONVIVIMOS promotes coordination and cooperation among the growing number of USAID violence and crime prevention implementing partners as well as with other USG agencies. The US Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)-supported projects in country and CONVIVIMOS share key objectives related to citizen security and governance. As part of the projects’ place-based approach, CONVIVIMOS coordinates field activities with the INL, particularly in the communities of El Mezquital and El Exodo in Villa Nueva. In year 3, CONVIVIMOS outfitted a computer lab in a community center built by INL in El Exodo. This cooperation has facilitated the establishment of a place-based strategy aimed at coordinating the implementation of activities and communication structures that leverage the unique attributes of key safety and security institutions.

Social Communication

During the first quarter of Year 4, CONVIVIMOS received approval from USAID for its updated Branding Strategy and Marking Plan which was then shared with all CONVIVIMOS

partners. This quarter the Social Communications team also produced a video highlighting the impact of CONVIVIMOS’ public lighting projects.

EMMP Compliance

Environmental Procedures: The Cooperative Agreement (CA), section A.11.9, is the basis for USAID environmental compliance on this project. It references the applicable codes and regulations. The referenced CA section includes “Guidelines for Implementing Partners on the USAID/LAC EMMP (Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan),” which is on file for access within CONVIVIMOS and outlines the procedures in detail. An Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for CONVIVIMOS has been approved for this CA, covering anticipated activities, including small-scale construction. The conclusion of the IEE was a Negative Determination with Conditions, meaning that the general scope of the program is not expected to have a significant impact on the environment. However, since details on specific activities were not fully defined at the time the CA was signed, additional review/approval is required to ensure that activities align with the IEE assumptions and that mitigation measures are planned for and implemented in a manner that complies with the regulations. As needed, CONVIVIMOS has also prepared specific EMMPs corresponding to the activities carried out in each of the project’s six target municipalities.

During this quarter, CONVIVIMOS submitted EMMPs to USAID covering support provided to the municipalities of Amatitlán, Mixco, and Guatemala City, and received approval for the EMMP covering Amatitlán.

Activities Next Quarter

Objective 1: ● Continue holding CCPC meetings to present their methodology and objectives to representatives from public and private organizations in the areas of intervention; ● Community meetings to discuss the CCPC plans and their progress as well as receive feedback from the community; ● Provide support to School Prevention and Coexistence Commissions (Comisiones Escolares de Prevención y Convivencia, CEPC) with students, parents and teachers to elaborate school violence prevention plans; ● Review and update existing school violence prevention plans as well as conduct training workshops for their implementation; ● Meetings with government officials, NGOs, municipalities, and health, education and private institutions to present, coordinate and implement the community plans; ● Continuing support to the women's savings groups; ● Support to the CCPCs in implementing and evaluating their community plans; ● Implementation and inauguration of infrastructure projects; ● Implementation of schools for parents; ● Workshop with the CCPCs to strengthen their capacity for community action; ● Inter-community events; ● Organization and implementation of friendly spaces schools; ● Organization of literacy groups for out-of-school young adults; 32

● Continue implementing happy circle activities for at-risk students; ● Provide training and technical support to school governments in the development of their projects; ● Continue implementing PLENITUD workshops; and

Objective 2: ● Implement training activities with each of the five COMUPREs; ● Support the regular COMUDE and COMUPRE meetings; ● Graduation of the COMUPRE diploma course; ● Support the COMUPRE working groups in executing their annual plans; ● Provide complementary financial support for the activities selected from the COMUPRE annual plans; ● Support the Vice-Minister for Violence and Crime Prevention in implementing the National Strategy and Logical Model; ● Support the implementation of PNC citizen consultations; ● Identify next steps for supporting crime analysis units

Objective 3: ● Mercy Corps will scale up the application of the at-risk youth identification tool and ensure that identified youth receive secondary attention; ● Mercy Corps will adjudicate additional awards to short-term partners to continue to implement secondary prevention projects

Objective 4: ● Conduct qualitative research on CONVIVIMOS interventions; ● Continue to review the CONVIVIMOS research approach and present an evidence generation strategy, which will include evaluation of ongoing and future interventions as well as higher level research; ● Continue promoting processes to create crime and violence prevention policies based on evidence and support local research on citizen security and violence prevention; ● Publication of the “Faces of Violence” research; and ● Continued implementation of certificate courses.

Annexes a. Basic Education Earmark Report b. CONVIVIMOS Short-term partners c. CONVIVIMOS M&E Indicator Data for FY19Q1 d. CONVIVIMOS Success Story - English e. CONVIVIMOS Success Story - Spanish