Country Strategy

Guatemalans face widespread poverty, food insecurity, corruption, and violent crime. These issues, together with high rates of unemployment and the falling price of income-generating crops like coffee, drive unprecedented rates of irregular migration. Our grantees address these challenges by enhancing peace and security and improving democratic governance. They also expand economic opportunity, and reduce the motivation to migrate at the local level. They work with underserved populations, including women, youth, and Indigenous groups, in migrant-sending communities to create sustainable livelihoods in 18 of the country’s 22 departments.

We awarded our first grant in Guatemala in 1972. Since then, we have provided $47.6 million through 261 grants to local organizations.