Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Guatemala

The NIMD programme in Guatemala supports multiparty efforts to improve the functioning of political parties and institutions.

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Programme news

Guatemalan Congress approves the creation of the Social Economic Council

News Article - 26 January 2012

The Guatemalan Congress approved with 128 votes in favour, the creation of the Social Economic Council (decree 2-2012). The Council will have a permanent status and will act in a consulting role towards the state on economic, social and environmental matters. Also, the Council can propose and suppor

Emerging security challenges in the Andean region

News Article - 05 December 2011

On 1 and 2 December 2011, the international seminar 'Dimensions of Security' took place in Quito, Ecuador. The seminar was organised by NIMD's partner in Ecuador, Agora Democrática (NIMD-IDEA) in cooperation with International IDEA. The seminar, in which around 40 experts participated, was a follow

Political youth initiates a ‘call to vote’ for the second round of elections in Guatemala

News Article - 16 November 2011

On Wednesday 2 November the youngsters of the Permanent Forum of Political Parties (Foro Permanente de Partidos Políticos) and the leaders of the Supreme Electoral Tribune (Tribunal Supremo Electoral) organized an event together to stimulate voting and political participation amongst Guatemalan you

Regional conference Latin America in Puembo, Quito

News Article - 15 November 2011

On 24 October the Latin American partners of NIMD gathered for a three day conference in the small village of Puembo, under the shadows of Ecuador’s capital Quito. A six member delegation of NIMD from The Hague was also present. The main focus of the conference was on exchanging information on pol

The Guatemalan 2011 elections and the role of the NIMD

News Article - 30 September 2011

The presidential and parliamentary elections in Guatemala of 11 September 2011 have created the context for improvement of the political situation in the violence-ridden Central American country. This room for improvement is essential in order for Guatemala to grow towards a stable institutionalized

People with proposals: supporting local democracy in San Pedro, Guatemala

Video - 2010

Video clip about the NIMD programme in Guatemala with the local government and citizens of San Pedro, and featuring Guatemala's president Álvaro Colom.

People with proposals: supporting local democracy in Sololá, Guatemala

Video - 2010

Video clip about the NIMD programme in Guatemala with the local government and citizens of Sololá, and featuring Guatemala's president Álvaro Colom.

Is it time to reinvent Latin American democracy support?

News Article - 14 July 2010

NIMD’s Latin America Regional Conference, held in Guatemala in May, focussed on recent changes in Latin American politics, and the challenges to democracy in the region. Is it time to reinvent Latin American democracy support?

Collective Learning on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

News Article - 16 February 2010

On 25 and 26 January, delegations from KID Indonesia, CMD Malawi and the NIMD Field Office in Guatemala came together with colleagues from NIMD in The Hague to kick-start the 'Collective Learning on Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (PME)' project.

Guatemala: Shared Municipal Agendas make local governments more accountable

Case Study - 2009

Only in a democracy, can leaders be held accountable for the way they use their power through a system of both formal (e.g. legislation) and informal (e.g. publicity) checks and balances.

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At a glance ...

Political parties in parliament

• Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE)
• Gran Alianza Nacional (GANA)
• Partido Patriota (PP)
• Frente Republicano Guatemalteco (FRG)
• Partido Unionista (PU)
• Centro de Acción Social (CASA)
• Unión del Cambio Nacional (UCN)
• Encuentro por Guatemala (EG)
• Partido de Avanzada Nacional (PAN)
• Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG)
• Unión Democrática (UD)

Key achievements in 2009

• In Guatemala NIMD supports the Congress in changing its rules and regulations, separating the political and administrative functions and establishing a technical support Unit. NIMD also supports the Permanent Forum of Political Parties (FPPP) that develops thematic proposals as input for policy making in Congress, such as the adoption of the National Security Framework and the law against femicide. The FPPP has become a nursery for upcoming politicians, thus contributing to the renovation of parties and a change in political culture. Another element of the programme, initiated in 27 municipalities, engages local politicians and citizen’s groups in an effort to devise a joint agenda for the development of their municipality.

Key achievements in 2008

• The election year showed that programmatic development has become a common practice for many political parties. Nine parties developed party programs, presenting voters with a choice based on policy proposals.
• Decentralization of political party organizations and voting centres. The organization of political parties in rural areas was realized during the 2007 elections. Voting centres were placed closer to the voters, and the participation of rural voters increased.
• After the elections NIMD coordinated the transition from the outgoing to the new administration successfully and peacefully.

Key national partners

• Political parties (see annex)
• Permanent Forum of Political Parties (FPPP)
• Multiparty Institute for Political Studies (IMEP), within FPPP
• Congress
• National Electoral Council
• Acción Ciudadana (civic action NGO)
• Network of Organizations of Indigenous People (ENPI)
• Rafael Landívar University
• Asociación de Investigación y Estudios Sociales (ASIES, Research Institute and Social Studies)
• Instituto de Gestión Políticas (INGEP, Institute of Political Policy)
• Fortalecimiento de Organizaciones Sociales en Tema de Seguridad (FOSS, civil society group on security)
• Asociación para el Desarollo Legislativo y la Democracia (LEGIS, Association for Legislation and Democracy)
• Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLASCO)
• Fundación Mirna Mack (human rights organisation)
• Asociación Instituto de Promoção de Paz (PROPAZ, peace building organisation)
• Employers’ organizations
• Trade unions

Key international partners

• Royal Netherlands Embassy
• Radio Netherlands World Service (RNW)
• Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG)
• Embassy of Spain
• Embassy of Sweden
• Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
• Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), Italy
• National Democratic Institute (NDI), United States of America
• Organization of American States (OAS)
• United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
• United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO)
• United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)