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Strengthening Systems to Combat Corruption and Impunity in Central America

Project completed
The program contributes to the reduction of corruption and impunity in the Northern Triangle of Central America, strengthens the anticorruption investigative and criminal prosecution capacities of the specialized units of the Public Prosecutors and reinforces the political lobbying of civil society organizations to promote institutional reforms.

Country/region	Topic	Period	Budget
Central America	Governance Anti-corruption organisations Legal and judicial development	01.12.2020 - 31.07.2024	CHF 3’870’000

The project in brief

Background	The States of the Northern Triangle of Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras) are characterized by fragile institutions, with scenarios of permanent political conflict, high levels of violence, social inequality and corruption. This situation is aggravated by the effects of the COVID19 pandemic. The cancelation of the agreements with the international missions (IMs) against corruption and impunity (CICIG, MACCIH) by the governments of Guatemala and Honduras, based on the argument that they damage sovereignty and disrupt procedural guarantees, represents a setback in the fight against corruption. Political and economic power groups now seek to weaken existing institutions and regulations in order to avoid facing justice. Despite the cancelation of CICIG and MACCIH Switzerland will continue to support the rule of law in accordance with its international strategy 2021 - 2024 and therefore will continue to provide support to the Special Prosecutor Against Impunity (FECI) in Guatemala and the Special Fiscal Unit Against Corruption (UFERCO) in Honduras.
Objectives	To contribute to strengthening the capacities of national public institutions and civil society for combating corruption and impunity in the Northern Triangle of Central America.
Target groups	Direct beneficiaries: 140 prosecutors, investigators and anticorruption specialists, and 500 officials of the Public Prosecutors. 160 professional staff of civil society organizations and networks. Indirect beneficiaries: The population of the Northern Triangle through the application of justice and human.
Medium-term outcomes	Effect 1: The capacities of the Public Prosecutors to carry out investigation and criminal prosecution of corruption are strengthened, along with the lobbying influence of civil society. Effect 2: The capacities and alliances of civil society organizations, including women’s organizations for oversight and political lobbying in Guatemala and Honduras are strengthened in order to improve the justice system in the fight against corruption and impunity.
Results	Expected results: 1. Corruption investigation and prosecution bodies have tools, protocols and guides that facilitate criminal prosecution of corruption, with a gender perspective, cultural relevance and human rights; 2. Strengthening of the operational and knowledge management capacity of Anticorruption Public Prosecutors in investigation, analysis, case preparation and case presentation, in accordance with their mandates; 3. Anticorruption public prosecutors in the Northern Triangle have mechanisms for experience exchange, communication and coordination for effective and timely investigation of corruption cases; 4. Capacity strengthening of civil society organizations in oversight, social auditing and lobbying processes; 5. Civil society organizations and alliances that include women’s organization, implement political lobbying actions in defense of anticorruption institutions and promote changes and reforms in justice systems. Results from previous phases: Through its work with MACCIH and CICIG the program has contributed to: - Approval of various legal reforms by the National Congresses of Honduras and Guatemala in the areas of anticorruption, impunity, and electoral transparency; - Improved capacities of entities prosecuting the crime of corruption with the creation of the Special Prosecutor Against Impunity (FECI) in Guatemala and the Special Fiscal Unit Against Corruption (UFERCO) in Honduras; - Improved capacities of the justice system with the creation of a circuit of anticorruption courts in Honduras and High Risk Courts in Guatemala; - Creation of Criminal Justice Observatories with the participation of civil society organizations of Honduras and Guatemala; - Dismantling of structures and networks of corruption.
Directorate/federal office responsible	SDC
Project partners	Contract partner Other International Organization United Nations Organization (UNO) Other OI United Nations Development Programme Other partners Public Prosecutor / Special Fiscal Unit Against Corruption (UFERCO) and National Anticorruption Council (CNA) in Honduras; Public Prosecutor / Special Prosecutor against Impunity (FECI)-UNDP and the NGO Foundation Myrna Mack in Guatemala.
Coordination with other projects and actors	Interamerican System of Human Rights, USAID, USA Embassy, European Union, Swedish Embassy in Guatemala.
Budget	Current phase Swiss budget CHF 3’870’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 2’906’377
Project phases	Phase 2 01.12.2020 - 31.07.2024 (Completed) Phase 1 01.07.2017 - 31.08.2020 (Completed)

Further technical details

Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	Anti-corruption organisations and institutions Legal and judicial development
Cross-cutting topics	Conflict reduction
Aid Type	Basketpooled multi-donor fund Mandate without fiduciary fund Project and programme contribution
Project number	7F09778