Through the USAID/Guatemala Safe Cities Project, IBI partners with the Government of Guatemala and other stakeholders to strengthen effective and accountable governance to improve quality of life and reduce irregular migration under the USAID/Guatemala Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for 2020-2025.

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The goal of the Safe Cities Project is to build more resilient communities and optimize city functions that reduce crime and violence by improving collective efficacy of key stakeholders and their ability to analyze, plan, engage, perform, respond, and interact with each other. The project strengthens the capacity of municipal governments and communities in Guatemala to prevent and address crime and violence more effectively. By fostering trust between local authorities and citizens, it creates a sustainable impact on crime reduction and mitigate irregular migration.

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Key components include:

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1. Capacity Building: Strengthening local government capabilities to implement effective crime prevention strategies.

2. Community Engagement: Involving citizens in collaborative efforts to build trust and support safety initiatives.

3. Evidence-Based Approaches: Promoting replicable, youth-targeted interventions that disrupt gang recruitment and reduce violence escalation.

4. Inclusivity: Developing innovative strategies to engage girls, women, and marginalized populations in prevention efforts.

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The project focuses its efforts in five target municipalities: Guatemala City, Escuintla, Puerto Barrios, Quetzaltenango and Antigua.