Power to the People: Empowering Communities to Build Social Cohesion in Guatemala's Western Highlands
The Peacebuilding Project, known as Proyecto Tejiendo Paz in Spanish, is a 6.5-year (May 2018 – November 2024) United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cooperative agreement implemented by Creative Associates International, Inc. (Creative) in partnership with approved subrecipient ProPaz. The project is designed to reduce social conflict and violence and strengthen social cohesion, with a specific focus on the Western Highlands. The project addresses the underlying causes of social conflict by focusing on four general categories: 1) youth, gender, and families; 2) governance; 3) land; and 4) natural resources.
Key strategies under the CLA framework, such as Relationships & Networks, and Decision Making, have been integral to the project’s success. These approaches fostered community empowerment and sustainable outcomes. The project employed a community implementation cycle that involved six structured steps to identify, strengthen, and include women and youth in several strategic networks as Youth Voices for Peace (Voceros Juveniles), Conflict Mediators (Mediadores), Women Peace Promoters (Asesoras de Cambio), Ancestral Authorities, and the Indigenous Advisory Group (Comité Asesor de Pueblos Indígenas, IAG). This ensured that community members could independently manage and sustain peacebuilding initiatives.
The project built strong relationships and networks, promoting trust and collaboration among various stakeholders. An inclusive decision-making culture encouraged staff and community members to contribute to strategic planning, aligning efforts with stakeholder needs. Consequently, the project positively impacted five departments, 15 municipalities, and 133 communities in the Western Highlands, empowering them to handle conflicts and foster social cohesion autonomously.
Enabling conditions such as available resources, strengthening organizational culture, and efficient business processes significantly influenced the project’s success. As a result, a well-structured and geographically diverse team ensured operational efficiency and the documentation of best practices. The decision-making culture bolstered strategic relationships, enhancing local implementation. For future initiatives, engaging local leaders, promoting ongoing learning, cultivating robust networks, ensuring inclusivity, and documenting best practices will be vital for success.
The Peacebuilding Project’s emphasis on community empowerment, relationship-building, and inclusive decision-making, establishing a strong foundation for long-term peace and resilience in Guatemala's Western Highlands.