Sida's work in Guatemala
Guatemala is characterised by economic and social inequalities. Sida works for the right of all people to a decent livelihood. Aid must promote democracy, human rights, a rule of law that treats people equally before the law and gender equality. We support economic development for people living in poverty, climate and environmental adaptations, and provide humanitarian support to alleviate people's urgent needs.
Why does Sida work in Guatemala?
Lack of respect for human rights
The situation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Guatemala is serious. The country does not meet international human rights standards. The judiciary is not independent but is controlled by certain groups of politicians, private actors and organised crime. Lethal violence against women and girls is at a very high level, as are other forms of gender-based violence. Teenage pregnancies are common.
Widespread poverty and inequality
More than half of Guatemala’s population lives in poverty. Those living in rural and indigenous areas are poorer than the rest of the population. Indigenous girls and women are particularly vulnerable. They often have less education and limited opportunities to work outside the home. They face discrimination both as women and as indigenous people.
Protracted humanitarian crisis
People’s humanitarian situation is further exacerbated by natural disasters linked to climate change, violence and migration. Around one in four people will be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2024. Half of the children in Guatemala are affected by chronic malnutrition, and in some rural municipalities, 80% of children are affected.
Examples of what Sida has contributed to
Strengthening democracy and human rights
Sida supports democracy and human rights defenders who fight to protect and strengthen people’s rights and freedoms. Most support goes to civil society organisations working for democracy, human rights, respect for the rule of law and freedom of expression.
Strengthening sexual and reproductive rights and preventing sexual violence against girls are important areas. Through civil society, Sida also supports legal processes to investigate human rights violations committed by the military and police during the armed conflict.
Economic development for people living in poverty
Sida’s support increases the ability of people, especially women, to earn a living with dignity. This includes education as a route out of poverty, and access to credit for small-scale farmers and small businesses who otherwise find it difficult to access the small loans they need for investment.
Support for the most vulnerable
Sida works with UN organisations, government agencies and civil society to combat widespread malnutrition in Guatemala. We support the most vulnerable people with food, cash assistance, clean water, health care, and protecting people from violence and abuse.
Sida's development cooperation in Guatemala
Sida’s work in Guatemala aims to contribute to inclusive economic development. Here are the areas in which Sida works and examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports in each area.
After a period of decline in democracy and human rights in Guatemala and Sida’s suspension of cooperation with state actors, the country is now seeing more positive developments. During the 2023 election year, Sida was able to support organisations working with election observation and against disinformation.
Through Sida, Sweden contributes to increasing respect for human rights and supporting democratic development. Here are some examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
Almost three decades after the peace agreements, much work remains to be done to heal the wounds of the 1960-1996 civil war and create the conditions for truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition.
A step in the right direction was the conviction in January 2022 of five former paramilitaries for systematically abusing Mayan Achí women in the 1980s. The judgement came about thanks to the cooperation and joint efforts of a number of actors, with support from Sida and others.
The women’s legal representatives from the Asociación Bufete Jurídico Popular de Rabinal (ABJP) had been working on the case for over ten years, providing legal, moral and psychosocial support. Sida has supported the work through the organisation Support Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples, Oxlajuj Tz’ikin, implemented by Oxfam.
In Guatemala, work on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is sensitive, and is opposed by influential actors who openly question SRHR. Civil society has a crucial role in promoting the rights of the population.
Through Hivos, Oxfam and Swisscontact, Sida helped an estimated 40,000 women, girls, boys and LGBTI people in 2023 to access care, information and counselling on SRHR, contraception and how to prevent violence and sexual violence against girls. Sida’s support has also enabled UN agencies to work on SRHR in Guatemala.
Women and indigenous peoples are discriminated against and have little influence in the country’s politics. Organisations and individuals fighting for human rights risk threats and violence.
Sida provides broad support to civil society, including to strengthen the participation of women, young people and indigenous peoples in politics. For example, both Diakonia and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) have worked to increase youth participation through training in democracy issues, support to youth organisations and by promoting dialogue between government institutions, political parties and young people.
The programmes have a particular focus on rural and indigenous youth, young women and LGBTI youth.
Sida supports programmes and projects that increase people’s opportunities for work with decent conditions and fair terms, education as a way out of poverty and women’s opportunities to earn a living.
Here are some examples of projects and programmes that Sida supports:
Swisscontact works to create employment for young people and indigenous women. This includes mobile training programmes in rural villages and the promotion of small businesses. The project has also launched career counselling and a digital platform to guide job seekers. In addition, women have been given access to financial education to improve their personal finances.
In 2023, around 2,200 young people, including 1,300 women, moved from unemployment to an average monthly income at the minimum wage level thanks to the intervention.
Guatemala is severely affected by climate change and is one of the countries in the world most affected by extreme weather and natural disasters.
Sida contributes to a more sustainable use of natural resources and supports programmes and projects that increase the resilience of people and communities to climate change.
Here are examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
Through the IARNA research institute at the Rafael Landívar University, Sida has supported a partnership with 700 small-scale farmers to increase their resilience to the effects of climate change and limit their crop losses.
Farmers have adapted their agriculture and increased production, by up to 50 per cent. The use of drought-resistant maize and bean varieties and increased use of organic fertilisers have also contributed to the good results. Better managing risks related to climate change is also part of the equation.
Through the organisation Conexion, Sida supports the PASOS project, which works on sustainable forest management and sustainable forestry. The work contributes to strengthening the protection of natural resources and preventing climate change.
The project targets women and young people who earn their income from agroforestry. They also develop local development plans for sustainable forestry and sustainable tourism, of which forest protection is an important part.
Sida is participating in the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) focusing on green transition in the Petén region of northern Guatemala. Together with civil society, authorities, business and the UN, the initiative will contribute to sustainable economic development, improved protection of water resources, forest areas and biodiversity conservation. Sida emphasises the gender perspective and increases civil society participation in the processes.
About Team Europe Initiative’s (TEI) work in Guatemala on the TEI website.
Millions of people in Guatemala are in need of humanitarian assistance due to two humanitarian crises: food shortages and migration through and from the country. The situation has improved in 2024 but remains difficult. Sida’s humanitarian support provides people with access to shelter and food, for example. Support to UNICEF aims to tackle the increasing malnutrition of children.
Sida works with international humanitarian and civil society organisations, prioritising the people most in need of support.
Sida’s humanitarian support in Guatemala saves lives and alleviates suffering.
- UN Children’s Fund UNICEF’s website
- Norwegian Refugee Council NRC’s website
- International Rescue Committee IRC’s website
Learn more about Sida’s analysis of the humanitarian crisis, Sida’s support and how much money is distributed to each organisation in Sida’s crisis analysis.
The budget for Sida’s work in Guatemala has decreased in recent years and the annual amount for 2024 is 40 per cent of the original average annual amount at the beginning of the strategy period. As a result, Sida has discontinued several programmes and projects and is focusing more on human rights, democracy, rule of law and gender equality.
Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with Guatemala 2021–2025 on the Government’s website.
Updated: July 7, 2025