The most populous country in Central America, Guatemala is home to 14.6 million people, proud of their shared Mayan heritage but also broadly diverse, with over 24 linguistic groups. Most of the people live in rural areas, although more and more are migrating to the urban centers for work. Almost 50% of Guatemalans live on less than $2 (US) a day.
According to the most recent Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) Report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, 96% of Guatemalans have access to improved water sources and 84% have improved sanitation facilities. At first glance, these numbers seem impressive—but they do not provide a complete picture of water and sanitation access in the country, as many of the improved systems do not meet government standards and are in partial or complete failure.
Water For People has been in Guatemala since 1997. In the years following its first project, more than 100 water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives were implemented throughout the country. In 2007, Water For People–Guatemala developed a strategic plan to work exclusively in the department of Quiché, where it could maximize existing partnerships and staff time. Quiché was also selected because of its great need: the department has the highest level of poverty in the country and very low levels of water and sanitation coverage. In 2007, World Water Corps® volunteers completed a baseline assessment of 150 communities in Quiché and found that only 23% had access to adequate water supply, with only 15% having improved sanitation facilities.
Water For People–Guatemala is working toward achieving total water and sanitation coverage in the municipalities of San Pedro Jocopilas, San Bartolome Jocotenango, San Andres Sajcajaba, San Antonio Ilotenango, and Santa Cruz del Quiché, located in the Salinas Watershed in the country’s central highlands. The majority of the people here farm subsistence crops. Most children attend community schools until they learn to read and write, then quit to work full-time on the family farm. Overwhelmingly Mayan, the people speak the indigenous Kiché language, although many also speak Spanish, the official language taught in schools.
Water and sanitation coverage in these municipalities varies widely: of the 28,000 people in San Pedro Jocopilas, 58% have access to safe water and 41% have access to improved sanitation facilities. San Bartolome Jocotenango has 8,600 people, 80% of whom have access to safe water, but only 50% of whom have improved sanitation facilities. San Andres Sajcajaba is home to 19,000 people, 98.5% of whom have improved water systems (only 4.6%of these systems meet government standards, however), and 12% of whom have improved sanitation facilities. San Antonio Ilotenango has 19,000 people; 75% of them have access to safe water, and 40% have access to improved sanitation. The largest, Santa Cruz del Quiché, has a population of 62,000, 50% of whom have access to safe water and 59% of whom have access to improved sanitation.
Water For People believes long-lasting water and sanitation solutions can only be achieved when key local role-players—the private sector, civil society and local governments—are supported and encouraged to understand and act upon their areas of responsibility in support of community water supply and sanitation development. Our Guatemalan partners, besides the municipalities themselves, include the country’s Ministries of Health and Education; the Municipal Promoting Institute, local nongovernmental organizations and universities.
In 2011, Water For People–Guatemala continues to work toward total water and sanitation coverage in its five target regions. Together with local partners, Water For People–Guatemala is implementing integrated community and school programs focused on watershed management. Gravity-fed water systems with individual and public taps, school hand-washing stations, rainwater catchment systems, and household and school toilets are included in the program. In 2011, Water For People–Guatemala will complete SWASH+ programming in
65 schools and their surrounding communities. In addition, a total of 27 communities will receive access to improved water and/or sanitation infrastructure this year. As with all Water For People–Guatemala programs, however, construction of infrastructure is only one component. Significant time will be devoted to hygiene education as well as training residents to operate, maintain, finance, and repair their new systems.
