Articulating Stakeholders for Cooperative Development in Guatemala

Mr. Emilio de León, President of the Board of Directors of the San Marcos Cooperative Network, addressing the participants of the Second Meeting of the Network.

Cooperation among cooperatives is one of the cooperative principles that is most difficult to implement. Coordination challenges seem to be greater among primary cooperatives (i.e., first-tier co-ops, whose members are individuals) than among second-tier cooperatives (i.e., co-ops whose members are primary co-ops, such as co-op groups, unions, or federations). When primary co-ops are not integrated into a second-tier co-op, they have difficulties in their articulation both in their economic sector and territory, which also reduces their access to advocacy and development opportunities (via projects, programs, strategies, and/or policies). All this, in turn, increases their vulnerability to shocks and diminishes their ability to overcome their development challenges.

The Cooperative Ecosystem and Social Inclusion (CESI) Project, funded by USAID's Cooperative Development Program (CDP), is focusing on supporting second-tier co-ops as one of the key co-op ecosystem actors. Strengthening local and national co-op ecosystems in four core countries (Guatemala, Kenya, Madagascar, and Peru) is one of CESI´s transversal strategies for sustained impact.

In Guatemala, CDP/CESI has been supporting a network that integrates 42 cooperatives of various types in the Department of San Marcos, which are interested in forming a second-tier cooperative organization. The San Marcos Cooperative Network was formed in February 2023, with NCBA CLUSA support during the previous phase of the CDP Program. With CDP/CESI support, the San Marcos Cooperative Network developed its Strategic Agenda. This strategic plan, which has four key objectives (organizational and economic strengthening; technical assistance and access to finance; management and production linkages; service provision for efficient and competitive performance), is keen on identifying the need for articulation of political, institutional and economic mechanisms at the territorial level to facilitate progress towards those objectives.

Members of the Board of Directors of San Marcos Cooperative Network, Guatemala, accompanied by San Marcos Governor, Municipal Mayors, and representatives from the National Institute of Cooperatives, Ministries of Agriculture and Economy and NCBA CLUSA.

To address this identified gap and support the San Marcos Co-op Network's strategic objectives, CESI has facilitated the establishment of a "Regional Table for Cooperative Development" ("Mesa Departamental de Desarrollo Cooperativo" in Spanish) in the Department of San Marcos, Guatemala. On June 6, this local planning space for cooperative development in San Marcos was inaugurated, with the participation of four groups of key actors: 1) local authorities, 2) government institutions and regional offices, 3) civil society and international cooperation, and 4) co-op networks.

Local Authorities:

The event witnessed the active participation of the Departmental Governor Mr. Rolando López Crisóstomo, the Presidential Commissioner for Migration Affairs Mr. Aldo Waykán, and 6 Municipal Mayors. whom we seek to improve the impact of the cooperative sector in the Departmental Development Council, as well as access resources and support from the Municipal Offices of Local Economic Development (OMDEL's). Governor López, one of the 6 Governors of Guatemala coming from a native people's community stated that "cooperative" in Mam, a main Mayan language, is "Onb'il", which can be translated as "Let's help each other" or self-help.

Government Institutions:

Starting with the participation of the Departmental Delegations of the Ministries of Agriculture and Economy, efforts are made to improve access to the different technical assistance programs, business development services, and State trusts. The integration of the National Institute of Cooperatives (INACOP) stands out, who have the role of Secretariat in the Board. It is envisioned to integrate the Ministries of Social Development and Environment and Natural Resources in the medium term.

Civil Society Organizations and International Cooperation Projects:

CSOs related to the development of indigenous peoples, gender, and youth are involved. CDP/CESI is supporting this initiative. Efforts will be made to integrate actions with different USAID projects and other donors present in the San Marcos Department.

Network of Cooperatives:

As the main actor of the Table, the San Marcos Co-op Network is the one who leads the participation of the cooperative sector through its Board of Directors, and based on the priorities of its Strategic Agenda and Economic Reactivation Plan, it articulates and follows up on the agreements that are reached. Emilio De León, President of the San Marcos Co-op Network Board, expressed that formalizing towards a second-tier co-op would allow the members co-ops to "… improve our business, access services and resources, and improve our sectoral incidence in San Marcos, thus benefiting our communities and towns".

It is worth mentioning that the same exercise is being carried out, with the leadership of the Network of Cooperatives of the South of Petén, in the South of the Peten Department. In this other local planning space for cooperative development, the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the South of Petén (Manmunisurp) will participate, with the support of the Intersectoral Table of Land and Environment and Association Balam. Both experiences will be strongly supported by the CESI Project, as pilot initiatives that might be considered for implementation in other departments of Guatemala.

Mr. Alexandre Serrano, Senior Vice President of NCBA CLUSA, addressing the participants during the Second Meeting of the San Marcos Cooperative Network, accompanied at the main table by Ms. Camila Piñeiro of NCBA CLUSA and Mr. Rolando López Crisóstomo, Governor of San Marcos, Guatemala.Mr. Fielfer Hernández, from "Migrantes Tacanecos" Cooperative and member of the Board of Directors of the San Marcos Cooperative Network, addressing the participants during the Second Meeting of the Network.

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