Governance diagnosis in the mining sector, and design of a concept for capacity building program in mining for selected authorities and civil society organizations
Guatemala's mining sector operates in a complex environment characterised by significant geological potential alongside persistent governance deficits, social conflict, and an outdated regulatory framework dating from 1997. The sector contributed an average of 0.83% of GDP between 2013 and 2023, with production of metallic minerals such as gold, nickel, and antimony alongside a range of non-metallic commodities. Key projects including Escobal, Era Dorada (formerly Cerro Blanco), and Fénix illustrate both the development potential of the sector and the governance challenges it faces—among them disputes over indigenous consultation rights, corruption allegations, and contested licensing processes. Against this backdrop, Sweden's development cooperation agency Sida identified an opportunity to strengthen mining governance structures in Guatemala, support multi-stakeholder dialogue, and build the technical capacities of public authorities and civil society organisations engaged in the sector.
The project Governance Diagnosis in the Mining Sector, and Designing a Concept for Capacity Building Programme in Mining for Selected Authorities and Civil Society Organizations in Guatemala. The assignment is structured in two complementary working packages. The first comprises a comprehensive governance diagnosis of Guatemala's metallic mining sector, examining regulatory and institutional frameworks, inter-institutional coordination, ESG challenges, stakeholder dynamics, and mechanisms for citizen participation and free, prior, and informed consultation (FPIC). The second working package builds directly on the findings of the diagnostic to design a conceptual, modular capacity building programme tailored to the needs of selected ministries—including Energy and Mines, Environment and Natural Resources, Public Health, and Culture and Sports—as well as subnational authorities and civil society organisations. The assignment incorporates a cross-cutting perspective encompassing democracy, human rights, rule of law, and gender considerations, in line with Swedish cooperation's mandate. Its outputs are intended to inform Sida's future cooperation approach and provide the foundation for a potential subsequent capacity building implementation phase in Guatemala.
Key activities are:
- Lead the methodological design and overall coordination of the assignment, integrating international and local expertise across both working packages.
- Conduct a comprehensive desk review of Guatemala's mining sector, covering the legal and regulatory framework, existing governance studies, ongoing cooperation initiatives, and university training capacities relevant to the sector.
- Carry out stakeholder mapping across government, private sector, civil society, multilateral institutions, and cooperation programmes, identifying motivations, relationships, and opportunities for Swedish cooperation.
- Develop and apply a semi-structured interview methodology for consultations with selected stakeholders to identify interests, concerns, and training needs.
- Analyse mining governance frameworks (IGF and World Bank) and select and adapt the most appropriate model for the Guatemalan context.
- Conduct one multidisciplinary field mission to Guatemala, including visits to selected mine sites, stakeholder interviews, and a multi-stakeholder validation workshop.
- Produce an institutional diagnosis and governance assessment covering regulatory gaps, inter-institutional coordination, ESG challenges, consultation mechanisms, and the legal and financial implications of potential mine closures.
- Design a conceptual, modular capacity building programme for public officers of the Ministries of Energy and Mines, Environment and Natural Resources, Public Health and Social Assistance, and Culture and Sports, as well as subnational authorities.
- Design a complementary conceptual training programme for civil society organisations to strengthen technical capacities and support informed public debate on mining.
- Define trainee and trainer profiles, control mechanisms for knowledge acquisition, and technical requirements for online and/or in-person training delivery.
- Develop a risk matrix and propose mitigation measures to enhance participation conditions for government officials and civil society representatives in the capacity building programmes.
- Prepare all project deliverables, including the governance diagnostic report and the capacity building concept report, and present findings to the Swedish Embassy and Sida.
