Guatemala

Swisscontact is an independent foundation for international cooperation which promotes economic, social and environmental development and has been operating in Guatemala since 1972. We facilitate the implementation of projects that support a sustainable business environment. 
guatemala

facts and figures

  • Area: 108,889 km²
  • Population: 17,250,000
  • Capital: Guatemala City

Swisscontact in Guatemala

  • since 1972

Projects

Guatemala
Sustainable tourism, Labour market insertion
Economic Empowerment of Indigenous Youth and Women 

The Project will improve the living conditions of indigenous men and women between the ages of 15 and 35 years, so that they can increase their income and improve their capabilities as well as improving the current conditions for autonomous decision-making; gaining access to professional technical education and market insertion opportunities; it...
El Salvador, Guatemala
Labour market insertion, Migration
Nuevas Oportunidades: productive reintegration of returned migrants
The project seeks the economic reintegration of returned migrants. It enables returned migrants to certify the skills they have acquired in the United States or Mexico. After certification, they are supported in finding a job or starting their own business.
Guatemala
Labour market insertion
Innova
Disadvantaged young adults will be able to successfully enter professional life through solid, high-quality training. In this way they will generate income for themselves and their families, freeing themselves from poverty on their own initiative.Young men and women are learning important technical skills in vocational training. Since the project...
Guatemala
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Expert Consulting Services, SEC Guatemala
Although small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Guatemala account for 85% of the total job market, they only represent 35% of the GDP. There are many factors that prevent SMEs from being more productive: low levels of education, lack of access to financing and information on markets, insufficient capabilities in business management and a lack of support for entrepreneurs. Improving entrepreneur’s performance and increasing their participation in local and global markets could have very positive results for the entire economy. 

News

Uganda, Guatemala, Cambodia
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
20.12.2022
Two approaches confirming the value of small initiatives within ecosystem building 
Swisscontact tested a non-traditional approach to Ecosystem Mapping and conducted Give A Day events to build entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Guatemala
Continuing Vocational Education and Training
30.11.2022
Working with academic institutions and the private sector to create training courses for software developers in Guatemala
Through the project Innova, Swisscontact in Guatemala promotes work-based training, which strives to improve and update employees' skills so they are better equipped for their jobs. The project focuses on strengthening human talent in the technological and food and beverage sectors by collaborating with businesses and training institutes.
Guatemala
Entrepreneurial ecosystems, Initial vocational education and training, Labour market insertion
24.11.2022
Multiply the empowerment: promoting gender equality through grassroots leadership 
In Guatemala, Swisscontact implements Empodera — Economic Empowerment of Indigenous Youth and Women project — to improve the living conditions of indigenous young people and women by helping to increase their incomes through employment and entrepreneurship.
Country Director Guatemala
Carlos Morales

Interventions

In Guatemala, Swisscontact has implemented projects in different areas such as vocational education and training, retraining and reskilling, labour market insertion, development of "Guatemalan Entrepreneurial Ecosystems" and recently on issues related to Green Cities, such as solid waste management. We partner with the public and private sector, universities and academia, cooperatives, rural and farmers associations. We facilitate access to financial services such as seed capital. We strengthen relationships with institutions (business incubators, startup accelerators) for entrepreneurship and new ventures, targeting the most vulnerable minority groups such as indigenous communities, women, youth and returned migrants.

Latin America Regional Report 2021
In 2021, Swisscontact Latin America continued to strengthen synergies with the private and public sectors with the aim of achieving more equal, inclusive and resilient societies that are able to meet the challenges and difficulties facing the region.

Contact

Swisscontact Guatemala
Calle 20-66, Zona 15
Vista Hermosa II
Guatemala City