Equipment in communities of the Petén, Guatemala

BlogMarket Ready Model Equipment ' Equipment in communities of the Petén, Guatemala

Written by: Karla Alejandra Rivera Del Aguila, Project Coordinator at La Mano del Mono.

Within the framework of the project called Regional Fund for Triangular Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean, in which Germany, Mexico and Guatemala participate: "Strengthening the resilience of communities that depend on nature tourism in the face of the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic", La Mano del Mono is in charge of Line of Action Four, which consists of strengthening the remote communication infrastructure and digital tools that allow the consolidation of the network alliance at the regional level.

Objective:

Strengthen equipment and capacities to promote digital communication adapted to the new post-pandemic market trends of the communities of the Petén of Guatemala, as well as strengthen their connection with value chains for a responsible reactivation of nature tourism.

Scope:

The expected impact is that at least 10 community groups in Guatemala, belonging to the ACOFOP and ASODESTY networks, will have the appropriate infrastructure and digital tools to participate in remote and efficient communication events with other members of the alliance of community tourism networks (July to January 2023).

The expected impact is that at least 10 community groups in Guatemala, belonging to the ACOFOP and ASODESTY networks, will have the appropriate infrastructure and digital tools to participate in remote and efficient communication events with other members of the alliance of community tourism networks (July to January 2023).

Expected result:

Contribute to the construction of post-pandemic recovery strategies and plans for community tourism, including the identification of needs, as well as the reactivation of the sale of tourism services and experiences.
And that the 10 community enterprises are in a position to insert themselves into the tourism value chain by: (a) Increasing their business preparedness in a digital environment, so that they can strengthen alliances and networks between businesses; (b) Improving their business management skills to position their tourism products or services in a digital environment on the internet; (c) Identifying scenarios for equipping and strengthening capacities so that they manage to connect with online market niches (attract visitors directly or connect with their business partners); and (d) Strengthening their capacities so that they have the necessary economic resources to be resilient and innovate.

What was achieved?

Four organizations benefiting 10 nature tourism enterprises in the Guatemalan Petén were equipped (April to July 2022). All of them located within the Mayan Biosphere Reserve (MBR), Department of Petén, Guatemala.

The beneficiary organizations are:

Árbol Verde, Cooperativa La Técnica and Turismo Comunitario, Organización, Manejo y Conservación (OMYC) - Uaxactún, belonging to the ACOFOP Network.

The history of this network, which was created in 1997, is linked to the process of creating the MBR because it emerged to support communities that were organizing around the creation of a protected area in order to defend their rights to access, manage and use their natural resources, especially forest resources. According to 2020 data, the forestry model implemented by ACOFOP has been internationally recognized for its socio-environmental achievements: deforestation rate of 0.4%, much lower than the 30% recorded in adjacent national parks; a record of less than 1% of fires in the forests concessioned to local communities; protection of biodiversity, archeological and cultural heritage of the MBR; generation of employment, social cohesion, and improvement in subnational human development indexes.

Asociación Comunitaria para el Desarrollo Integral de la región de Yaxhá, Asociación de Mujeres para el Desarrollo Frutícola de Yaxhá (AMFRUTY), Asociación Comunitaria para el Desarrollo Integral Los Tulipanes de Yaxhá, Asociación de Desarrollo Integral Comunitaria La Máquina de Yaxhá - Artesanos, Asociación de Gastronomía Seis Cielo, Asociación de Jóvenes Emprendedores, and Asociación de Guías Comunitarios de Turismo Yaxhá. Belonging to the ASODESTY Network.

This network was created in 2015 to support the conservation efforts of Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park (declared in 1990), whose natural, cultural and archaeological heritage has been managed under a sustainable and inclusive territorial development approach, as it involves local communities in conservation strategies. It has consolidated an effective mechanism to take advantage of, conserve and enhance the natural, social and cultural capital that favors regional development. In particular through sustainable agricultural, artisanal and tourism activities.

In the first phase (July to September 2021), a diagnosis was developed to identify the main needs of 10 communities in the Petén-Guatemala, in order to overcome digital gaps in terms of equipment and technical capabilities, as well as the opportunities and main barriers to market access.

The main purpose of this phase was to strengthen the resilience of 10 community enterprises in Guatemala that depend on nature-based tourism in the face of the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic, through improved capacities and tools for online communication in accordance with post-pandemic requirements. The specific objectives were: 1) Coordinate the application of the Market Ready self-assessment to determine the state of preparedness for integration into tourism value chains; 2) Identify equipment and training needs for online communication (via the Internet), to strengthen management and participate in the project's virtual training; and 3) Have various equipment feasibility scenarios, considering types of communication equipment and costs.

The approach of probable scenarios for implementing the equipment and training the participating communities, in order to achieve optimal use and exploitation, allowed the selection of four community sites (10 beneficiary organizations) to carry out the equipment logistics. The result is the result of a joint effort with local stakeholders, project consultants and support institutions.

What actors were involved in the process?

  • Asociación de Comunidades Forestales del Petén, (ACOFOP).
  • Association for the Sustainable Development of the Territory of Yaxhá, (ASODESTY).
  • Supporting agencies: Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo (INGUAT), Comisión Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (CONAP), and GIZ Guatemala.
  • Technical liaison with the communities through tourism consultant Azucena Luna and communications consultant Aldo Moro. They generated synergy, communication and follow-up of the work with the communities and support agencies.
  • Leaders of each participating venture.
  • La Mano del Mono as executing institution.
  • German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), Mexico and Guatemala.