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Guatemala
The NIMD programme in Guatemala supports multiparty efforts to improve the functioning of political parties and institutions.
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Programme news
Programme information
The NIMD programme in Guatemala supports multiparty efforts to improve the functioning of political institutions nationally and on the local level. In 2008, the programme has contributed to a new Law of Congress that enables a better management of the parliament, and initiated a programme in 27 municipalities that engages local politicians and citizens groups in an effort to
devise a joint agenda for the development of their municipality.
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 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 form the outgoing to the new administration successfully and peacefully.
Lessons learned
• Legislation is extremely important for bringing about change. Reform of the electoral law on decentralization of voting centres increased the importance of the rural areas and induced the political parties to take their campaign to the local constituencies. It also stimulated the decentralization of party structures.
• Multiparty and multi-sectoral dialogue opens the way to change in political practice. Dialogue brings about understanding and a shared vision, doing away with preconceived ideas that disrupt communication.
• Party programme development reflects a more mature role of political parties in Guatemala. The development of individual party programmes ensured more effective communication between political parties and voters.
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)
