The first two weeks felt slow. I focused on reading and understanding the work Trickle Up does in Latin America and the dynamics of municipalities in Guatemala. I know this is probably the most important part of the process to a correct diagnosis of the context and to suggest a strategy to scale up the organization´s work.
During this week, I had a call with my bosses to understand more about their work and the challenges the organization faces in Guatemala. Trickle Up is working successfully in four municipalities, Ixcan, Senahu, Nebaj, and Chahal. Their plan is to reach 15 municipalities, but the conflicts of the local political power have prevented them from achieving this goal. There have also been attempts to scale up at the national level. Still, there are very few resources at the central level for social public policy, and there is no clear political interest.
After a quick review, I realized that the Guatemalan system is complex. Guatemala is the 66th largest economy in the world and has a population of 18 million people. The levels of inequality and poverty that affect most of the population are structurally entrenched. Indigenous women and girls experience poverty, discrimination, and exclusion at very high rates. In addition, corruption in public institutions is a major structural problem, affecting the quality and legitimacy of public services.
