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Last year’s devastating drought hit Guatemala hard, with considerable losses in agricultural production leaving 2.5 million people facing food insecurity across 21 provinces. The drought – the worst to hit Guatemala in 30 years – nevertheless reinforced the long-standing determination of Guatemala’s Government to position UNCCD implementation as a national and subregional political priority. Guatemala has identified sustainable land management (SLM) as a key tool to effectively meet broad development challenges, which include not only food security but also climate change and poverty reduction.
The Government of Guatemala has already undertaken commendable work to tackle land degradation and drought through effective measures which promote and implement the National Action Programme (NAP) in the country’s ‘dry corridor’, where some 1.3 million people live in poverty. Moreover, Guatemala was the first country in the region to adopt the Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) and is one of the most advanced countries in its implementation. The IFS is a process developed by the GM, which leads to the identification and mobilization of financial resources for SLM. The IFS has now been endorsed at the highest political level and government financial resources have been dedicated as a result of the IFS both at the institutional level and for on the ground SLM related activities.
At the official request of Guatemala during COP 9, both the UNCCD Executive Secretary and the GM Managing Director will visit the country from 23-26 March 2010 to exchange views on how to further step-up efforts in UNCCD implementation in Guatemala. It is noticed with the highest appreciation that the President of Guatemala has made himself personally available for the visit, which will undoubtedly increase the spotlight on land rehabilitation as vital to national and regional development objectives.
During the visit the Executive Secretary and the GM Managing Director will engage in discussions with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development, the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) – currently chaired by Guatemala – and experience first-hand the considerable progress made in UNCCD implementation by way of a field visit to the Petén Basin region.
Finance, as ever, will be a critical issue up for discussion during the three days of meetings. Following the successful implementation of the country’s IFS, the Government – with the support of the GM – is now in the process of implementing the Integrated Investment Framework (IIF), a package containing bankable SLM projects and programmes.
The considerable progress made in Guatemala is a shining example for other countries of the Mesoamerican region to build on and promote increased visibility of the UNCCD in the wider region. Guatemala has been an active player in subregional efforts to support UNCCD implementation through the Agro-Environment Help Strategy and the Investment Platform for SLM (PIMAST).
Guatemala’s spearheading role in positioning the UNCCD at the highest political level in Mesoamerica is absolutely crucial, since it is only with political momentum that investments for SLM will be up-scaled, thereby contributing to vital regional development objectives.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Guatemala takes lead in positioning UNCCD as political priority
25 February, 2010
The Government of Guatemala has already undertaken commendable work to tackle land degradation and drought through effective measures which promote and implement the National Action Programme (NAP) in the country’s ‘dry corridor’, where some 1.3 million people live in poverty. Moreover, Guatemala was the first country in the region to adopt the Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) and is one of the most advanced countries in its implementation. The IFS is a process developed by the GM, which leads to the identification and mobilization of financial resources for SLM. The IFS has now been endorsed at the highest political level and government financial resources have been dedicated as a result of the IFS both at the institutional level and for on the ground SLM related activities.
At the official request of Guatemala during COP 9, both the UNCCD Executive Secretary and the GM Managing Director will visit the country from 23-26 March 2010 to exchange views on how to further step-up efforts in UNCCD implementation in Guatemala. It is noticed with the highest appreciation that the President of Guatemala has made himself personally available for the visit, which will undoubtedly increase the spotlight on land rehabilitation as vital to national and regional development objectives.
During the visit the Executive Secretary and the GM Managing Director will engage in discussions with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development, the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) – currently chaired by Guatemala – and experience first-hand the considerable progress made in UNCCD implementation by way of a field visit to the Petén Basin region.
Finance, as ever, will be a critical issue up for discussion during the three days of meetings. Following the successful implementation of the country’s IFS, the Government – with the support of the GM – is now in the process of implementing the Integrated Investment Framework (IIF), a package containing bankable SLM projects and programmes.
The considerable progress made in Guatemala is a shining example for other countries of the Mesoamerican region to build on and promote increased visibility of the UNCCD in the wider region. Guatemala has been an active player in subregional efforts to support UNCCD implementation through the Agro-Environment Help Strategy and the Investment Platform for SLM (PIMAST).
Guatemala’s spearheading role in positioning the UNCCD at the highest political level in Mesoamerica is absolutely crucial, since it is only with political momentum that investments for SLM will be up-scaled, thereby contributing to vital regional development objectives.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org