1. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. Successes and Setbacks: Mediating Land Conflicts in Rural Guatemala

2. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. OUR TWO-PRONGED APPROACH PREVENTING CONFLICT Increasing social cohesion and building relationships Addressing underlying causes of conflict MANAGING CONFLICT Strengthening effectiveness of local peacebuilding institutions Enhancing the capacity of trained mediators to resolve disputes 2015 World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty

3. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. GUATEMALA LAND CONFLICT CONTEXT 2015 World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty Violence in rural Guatemala often results from disputes over land, which is central to people’s livelihoods and identity Land registry title errors, competing ownership claims, and land legislation rarely favor isolated and disenfranchised indigenous communities despite historical ties to the land Mercy Corps has partnered with local organizations since 2003 to promote peaceful solutions to agrarian conflict Land mediation is core part of larger effort that also aims to boost agricultural productivity and economic development

4. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. Violent land conflict LAND CONFLICT AS PART OF A LARGER SYSTEM Governance Ecological Socio-cultural Economic Figure 1 Rugged terrain, flooding, and limited productive land Weak governmental capacity to resolve competing claims and issue land titles; legal process slow, expensive, and inaccessible Marginalization of indigenous communities, historical use of violence to resolve land issues Lack of secure landholdings and scarce technical assistance hamper productivity and livelihoods

5. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. LAND CONFLICT RESOLUTION CHAIN OF IMPACT Underlying causes of conflict addressed / grievances reduced Land conflicts mediated Improved relationships and reduced violence 2015 World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty

6. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. MEDIATION SUCCESS WOULD RECOMMEND THE MEDIATION PROCESS TO OTHERS 95% SAY BOTH PARTIES COMPLIED WITH AGREEMENT TERMS SAY THEY WERE “VERY SATISFIED” WITH THE MEDIATION PROCESS 92%86% % of mediation participants who… Based on interviews conducted in October 2014 by Mercy Corps and local partner organizations with families involved in 42 land mediation cases (as a representative sample of 700 successful mediation efforts) in Alta Verapaz and El Quiché Figure 3

7. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. BIGGEST COMMUNITY IMPACT: LIVING PEACEFULLY What general impact, if any, has your community experienced between the start of the mediation process and now, as a result of the mediation? We can now use land (e.g., grow crops) No impact Access to the land, construction of a school, etc. Legal documentation of land possession We live in peace, we’re happy, etc. 52% 17% 14% 10% 7% Based on interviews conducted in October 2014 by Mercy Corps and local partner organizations with families involved in 42 land mediation cases (as a representative sample of 700 successful mediation efforts) in Alta Verapaz and El Quiché Figure 4

8. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. REDUCED VIOLENCE AND INCREASED TRUST More trust now Less violence now What impact, if any, has the mediation process had on the levels of trust and violence between your community and the other party? Based on interviews conducted in October 2014 by Mercy Corps and local partner organizations with families involved in 42 land mediation cases (as a representative sample of 700 successful mediation efforts) in Alta Verapaz and El Quiché Figure 5 88% 97%

9. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. SOME EXPANDED CULTIVATION (12%) Are there crops you can plant currently as a result of this process that you couldn’t plant previously? Which ones? No / not applicable Cardamom 5% Other Do you sell crops that you didn’t sell before? Which crops? Cardamom Fruits Basic grains Based on interviews conducted in October 2014 by Mercy Corps and local partner organizations with families involved in 42 land mediation cases (as a representative sample of 700 successful mediation efforts) in Alta Verapaz and El Quiché Figure 6 Other 19% 36% No / not applicable 76% 12% Fruits Basic grains 64%

10. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. LIMITED AGRICULTURAL BENEFITS FARMING AREA IS LARGER THAN BEFORE 29% GREATER PRODUCTIVITY THAN BEFORE 26% % of participants who say their family or community has realized agricultural benefits from Mercy Corps’ efforts Based on interviews conducted in October 2014 by Mercy Corps and local partner organizations with families involved in 42 land mediation cases (as a representative sample of 700 successful mediation efforts) in Alta Verapaz and El Quiché Figure 7

11. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. LIMITED ACCESS TO NEW SERVICES Access to credit only Access to technical assistance only No “ Do you have access to other services like credit or technical assistance that you didn’t have previously?” Based on interviews conducted in October 2014 by Mercy Corps and local partner organizations with families involved in 42 land mediation cases (as a representative sample of 700 successful mediation efforts) in Alta Verapaz and El Quiché Figure 8

12. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. ONGOING CHALLENGES Other / no response Legal certification of land Technical assistance / help with agriculture projects “ What are the biggest challenges your community faces today?” Based on interviews conducted in October 2014 by Mercy Corps and local partner organizations with families involved in 42 land mediation cases (as a representative sample of 700 successful mediation efforts) in Alta Verapaz and El Quiché Figure 9 Need more land

13. Saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE LAND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT WORK 2015 World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty Strengthen governmental capacity to resolve competing land claims and issue titles to promote economic growth through land tenure Augment farmers’ productivity with technical assistance Enhance and expand mediation approach in agrarian municipal offices (OMAs) and community development councils (COCODES) Replicate integrated approach to land conflict mediation beyond Guatemala