Programme description

Title: Developing of a Common Concept for Decentralisation
Commissioned by: European Union
Country: Guatemala
Lead executing agency: Coordination Secretariat of the Presidency
Overall term: August 2006 to July 2008

Context

Ever since the democratic transformation process began in 1985, Guatemala has found itself in a period of reform of its political and administrative structures. After the signing of the peace agreements in 1996, the process intensified; however the country continues to feel the repercussions of its history of political, social and ethno-cultural problems.
The country's relative institutional weakness, a result of its historical problems, exacerbates its present situation in many cases as well. A high poverty rate among a huge proportion of the population – those most affected being indigenous peoples and women – and social tensions of various kinds are some negative structural factors.
New developments, such as the decentralisation process already initiated, and the strengthening of local authorities are welcome and should be supported. Progress can also be seen in the greater participation of women in the political decision-making process since the establishment of the Presidential Secretariat for Women, the National Women's Forum and the Agency for the Defense of the Indigenous Woman. These steps show the willingness of the Guatemalan state to create a new organisational framework.

Objective

The programme aims to contribute to the democratisation process and the creation of a political community within a multicultural and multiethnic nation, which has been initiated by the Guatemalan government and society. This objective is to be reached mainly by strengthening and modernising institutions in order to bring about territorial decentralisation.

Approach

The programme focuses on state organisation and strengthening and modernising state institutions.
The following steps will be undertaken to realise these aims:

• Reach a consistent and coordinated approach among the various institutional, political and public stakeholders, in order to foster/develop:
• A coordinated decentralisation process with a special focus on the decentralisation of district administrations
• An appropriate financing model for this process
• A platform for dialogue, discussion and negotiation among the various political, public, social and private stakeholders
• Capacity development to improve coordination between the different levels of public administration
• Revise the existing legal framework to eliminate weaknesses, inconsistencies and superfluous regulations
• Push forward a local legislative agenda as an instrument for discussion, exchange and negotiation between local and national stakeholders in order to spur major reforms
• Provide capacity development for local administration staff
• Implement an information and communication system.