International Development Grant
Institutional Support to the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala - Phase III
Project Number: CA-3-D000134001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $2,500,000.00
Start Date: January 22, 2014
End Date: September 16, 2016
Duration: 2.7 years
Project Description
This grant is Canada’s long-term institutional support to the United Nations Development Programme in support of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). CICIG uses these funds and those from other donors to fulfill its mandate. The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala seeks to help increase the rule of law in Guatemala thereby reducing impunity and homicide rates. To do this CICIG aims to strengthen the Government of Guatemala’s capacity to investigate and prosecute organized crime conduct criminal investigations act as a complementary prosecutor in criminal proceedings and propose improvements to the legislative framework to better fight organized crime. CICIG also seeks to inform all sectors of Guatemalan society about its mandate and successes by developing and distributing communication material as well as by holding regular meetings and public events.
Expected Results
The expected results as expressed by CICIG include the following: (1) the strengthening of the justice sector through the use of new capacities to investigate and prosecute organized crime including gender-based crime in Guatemala; (2) increased state and public support for the findings of investigations technical proposals and recommendations from CICIG to eradicate organized crime in Guatemala.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of March 2016 include: Criminal investigations and prosecutions: (1) The Commission’s work has produced game changing results for the country in 2015-2016. Years of previous investigative research as well as new investigations coordinated with the Public Ministry culminated in arrests of government officials members of Congress judges mayors and business people in major cases of corruption fraud money laundering and influence peddling. The most famous of these cases was the “la Linea” a customs fraud and corruption case that resulted in the resignation of Vice President Roxana Baldetti on May 8 2015 and President Otto Pérez Molina on September 3 2015 as well as other numerous high level government officials. This sparked peaceful citizen mobilization against government corruption; and (2) other major criminal cases included a network to falsify passports for human trafficking irregular and fraudulent contracting of a company providing fraudulent medical services and the arrests of 32 people related to the creation of non-existent positions in Congress where salaries were paid to non-existent employees. Strengthening national capacities and CICIG’s mandate: (1) 82% of public prosecutors working in the Public Ministry’s investigation unit against impunity with CICIG accompaniment believe they have strengthened their capacities in criminal analysis preparation of investigation plans analysis and interpretation of data use of special investigation methods (wiretapping and video evidence) processing and presentation of evidence and others; (2) CICIG and the Public Ministry jointly presented a system for the measurement of impunity to improve national monitoring creating a reliable baseline and tool to evaluate future results; (3) specific technical assistance and training was also provided to public prosecutors on human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation; and (4) CICIG also helped the Public Ministry and Interior Mi
Key Information
Executing Agency:
CICIG - International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
NGM Americas
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Core support to NGOs other private bodies PPPs and research institutes
Collaboration: Bilateral core contributions to NGOs and other private bodies / PPPs
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Institutional Support