2024 Agenda

Want to beat the morning rush and grab your badge or printed program early? Do you need help activating Whova, this year’s networking app? Are you interested in joining a site visit or one of this year’s early morning sessions?

Stop by our registration desk the day before CADF 2024 kicks off and chat with our friendly staff for answers to all of your questions.

Join Seattle International Foundation at the Casa Santo Domingo Hotel for drinks to unwind after a long day of travel. A perfect way to meet and catch up with other participants before CADF 2024 begins. Pick up your CADF badge first from the registration table to grab a free drink!

Welcome to CADF 2024! Let your first stop be at our registration desk, where you can pick up your badge and printed program. Do you need help activating Whova, this year’s networking app? Are you interested in joining a site visit or one of this year’s early morning sessions? Stop by our registration desk and let our friendly staff help you prepare for a productive three days at #CADF2024.

Guatemala is currently experiencing a period of transformation and has garnered significant international support following the successful establishment of democracy. Prevailing global trends emphasize the urgent need to address climate change through a variety of approaches, which in turn can create an environment for Guatemala to serve as a regional model for sustainable projects. These efforts are supported by international financial institutions, including the collaboration of the private sector, the public sector and indigenous communities, with the aim of establishing lasting solutions for environmental development. A main challenge includes the implementation of a strategy for international carbon markets, forestry incentives, co-investment projects and more. This session will open a conversation among private enterprise in search of defining key actions to achieve sustainable development.

Note: Coffee and light snacks will be available at this morning session.

This session will discuss the vision of sustainable economic development of key private sector actors such as Cargill Inc., PepsiCo, Mastercard and Citi Foundation together with international development organizations such as CARE and civil society partners. Speakers will address issues facing vulnerable populations in Central America, particularly among women, youth, indigenous and rural communities, and pathways to access basic services, achieve food and nutrition security, find decent employment and participate in financial inclusion.

This session will address key questions, including: What are the main challenges that the private sector sees for sustainable economic development, with special emphasis on women, youth, and indigenous and rural communities in Central America? How does the private sector support sustainable development?; What opportunities for job creation and transformative economic opportunities exist for women and youth in Central America?

Note: Coffee and light snacks will be available at this morning session.

Prensa Comunitaria’s network of correspondents documented, minute-by-minute, the citizen mobilization that rejected the installation of a dictatorship in Guatemala. Throughout 2023, indigenous peoples and their authorities established a new wave of protests to defend their votes, a situation that brought people into public squares and across roadblocks throughout the country.

Agencia Ocote explores, through photography in dialogue with art , journalism and other narrative mechanisms, the exile experienced by human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and activists who, in recent years, have been forced to leave Guatemala due to criminalization and persecution by the State and the Justice apparatus itself.

Guatemalan-Mexican visual artist Óscar Farfán portrayed some of the people in exile and reflects on his own history as a child of exile from the Internal Armed Conflict in the 1980s.

This exhibition proposes a ritual of presence and evocation. Of listening, observing, and reflecting. This work deals with exiles and the insistence that the media can be artifacts to narrate the present, but also to invoke memory. It is part of the journalistic special “In Exile.”

Join Adriana Beltrán, Executive Director of Seattle International Foundation, as she welcomes our audience to the 14th annual Central America Donors Forum. As we gather in Guatemala for the first time since 2016, Adriana will open CADF 2024 and invite you to take your seat at the table during three days of discussion on development, justice and equity in Central America.

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

President Bernardo Arévalo will provide the inaugural address to the audience of the 2024 Central America Donors Forum

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

The 2023 general elections in Guatemala have revealed the fragility of its democracy and the need for multiple sectors, including indigenous movements and the international community, to mobilize to defend and protect it.

In this session, representatives of the Guatemalan government, indigenous leaders, and representatives from the international community will discuss how the will of the Guatemalan people was preserved and democracy defended in the aftermath of the 2023 election, bringing new hope for strengthening the rule of law and justice, repairing institutions and strengthening democracy in Guatemala.

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

Network and exchange session takeaways with fellow CADF attendees while enjoying refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres.

Latin America’s trans masculine activism boasts a rich, feminist past, often overshadowed by its “new” image. “Archivos de la Memoria Trans Masculina en Latinoamérica” proves this with its oral histories, featuring seasoned activists over 40. “Familias Transformadoras,” a film following a Guatemalan mother’s love for her trans son, shatters myths of family rejection. These projects document a legacy of resistance, emphasizing bodily autonomy and self-determination within a feminist framework. They dismantle the misconception that feminism and trans rights clash, revealing their fight against a common foe: rigid gender roles. This session will showcase the historical roots and feminist ties of this activism, highlighting the power of narrative change despite limited funding and urging donors for increased support for this movement’s continued impact.

This session will highlight innovative and successful philanthropy-driven rural development projects in Central America, with a special focus on the experiences of the Focus Central America Foundation. Examples of initiatives that have improved the quality of life in rural communities through inclusive and sustainable approaches will be presented. In addition, speakers will discuss how decentralization of resources can amplify the impact of these initiatives and explore the role of philanthropy in promoting sustainable rural development initiatives.

This session will explore transformative alliances to strengthen justice, equity, and sustainability in the region. The private sector, civil society, governments, and donors have a unique opportunity to harness the economic potential of the region. Public and private investment in education, health, infrastructure, and employment can boost economies and reduce migration pressures. This panel will examine how collaborative partnerships create better jobs, increase access to quality education, improve healthcare systems, and empower youth, women, and indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, leading to inclusive economic growth and prosperity in Central America.

Panelists will discuss Jóvenes con Propósito, a youth volunteer service initiative implemented with a wide range of local, national, and international actors that promote youth-centered action. Youth will participate in a one-year experience designed to increase their sense of belonging, resilience, and capacity to contribute to their communities.

Confront authoritarianism with information. Confront democratic backsliding with journalism. Confront silence and censorship with transformative alliances in independent media. Discover how independent journalism in Guatemala challenges corruption and authoritarianism to protect democracy. How do journalists cover moments of political crisis? How do they demonstrate a defense of democracy via journalism? How does independent media face these challenges while navigating dangerous situations? In this session, speakers will discuss how to investigate and create content that not only informs but also motivates actions and mobilizes citizens to protect the fundamental pillars of democracy. Speakers will explore how journalism becomes a transformative force in the defense of freedom and justice.

“Somos Territorio” is a documentary about the unequal impacts of socio-environmental disasters and their deep roots in development policies based on the extractive practices of communities and their lands. The film also presents solutions from these communities, their practices, and their people. The climate crisis does not affect everyone equally, which is why this journey in “Somos Territorio” is an invitation to listen to how climate justice and migration justice are vital experiences perceived and lived in different ways. It is an invitation to understand and seek joint and harmonious solutions.

Note: This session will be held in Spanish and will not have simultaneous interpretation available in English.

Pull up a seat at any lunch table and network with new connections. Find a table card featuring a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that interests you to meet potential allies for your work.

Young Indigenous leaders face exclusion due to their age, Indigenous identity, rural backgrounds and gender. It is crucial that peace-building processes in Indigenous communities begin by recognizing the role of young people as agents of social change. From this recognition, along with respect for their worldview, social cohesion and the defense of human rights can be strengthened. This session, focused on understanding the perspectives of Indigenous youth, will explore how to achieve empowerment and social change.

Note: A buffet lunch will be provided to the first 40 participants attending this session. Additional seating is available without food.

The rise of authoritarianism, corporate power & their inequities is confronted with people’s mobilization against growing accumulation and extraction of natural and human resources. Green capitalism is leading the world from one climate trade-off to another (i.e. land grabs, mining and deforestation) that threaten Indigenous & rural people’s lands. While movements work to create solutions, they lack resources to meet their visions, receiving less than 13% of global giving, of which less than 2% goes to climate change, and of that only 1% to Indigenous & local communities that protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity. Together with regional & global intermediaries and funders, this session will cover the “tricks of the trade” to fund grassroots movements and movement-led solutions. Frontline communities’ members, funders & fundraisers will discuss strategies to move beyond legal, financial, social and racial barriers and further lift up resources for environmental justice and climate justice in the region.

Note: Lunch will not be available in the session room for this session.

How might governments draw on the experience and evidence of civil society to shape more effective policy and build sustainable partnerships? How might civil society most effectively engage with receptive governments? Over the last seven months, nine Guatemalan CSOs focused on equitable education have united to share their insights with the Ministry of Education as it builds a new vision for the country’s education system. This effort, called “Voces para la Educación”, offers a model for how civil society and government can advance shared priorities on any topic. Through a dynamic discussion, speakers will narrate the story of Voces and share key findings from the process so far. Audience members will learn about tractable opportunities to advance more equitable education in Guatemala, from the perspectives of both civil society and government. Panelists will also offer candid reflections on the Voces process itself, how it differs from typical CSO-government interactions, and how it can be applied in other contexts.

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

Network and exchange session takeaways with fellow CADF attendees while enjoying refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres.

Transformational partnerships are essential to addressing the greatest challenges facing Central America. To explore the private sector’s role in partnership with government and civil society, the Pan American Development Foundation will host a panel with private sector leaders from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador that are implementing business solutions to promote sustainable development. This panel will focus on private sector practices that build alliances for the implementation of innovative and sustainable actions to address social issues and improve the quality of work and life in Central America.

One of the primary drivers of migration in Central America is poverty, which affects more than half of the population. To enable alternatives, We Effect supports inclusive and sustainable rural development, with a particular focus on: the right to food; the right to adequate housing; inclusive economic development for women and youth, as well as the promotion of shared responsibility for care work; and development of member-driven and environmentally sustainable businesses.

In this panel, female and male members of cooperatives and smallholder farmer enterprises from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala will share their experiences. They will discuss the effectiveness of current development models, potential improvements, and the challenges and opportunities in their contexts. Speakers will particularly highlight the relevance of the social economy and multi-stakeholder alliances. Join this session to learn from people working for a sustainable future without hunger in Central America.

This interactive workshop will explore approaches and tactics to increase civil society’s resiliency and ability to mitigate risks in their daily work. Strategies under consideration for the session include risk mitigation planning from an organizational perspective, organizational approaches to holistic security and well-being, mitigating criminalization of civil society, building resilient networks, and collective protection practices. Participants in this session will walk away with a framework in which to think about organizational strategies to enhance their resiliency and will have an opportunity both to learn from experts and peers and to share their own successes and challenges. Participants will also improve their understanding of the ecosystem of protection support for at-risk HRDs and CSOs and available resources.

Note: Three versions of this workshop will be held at CADF 2024 for distinct audiences. This workshop is available to all civil society organizations, human rights defenders and donors. Please review the agenda for the other options available on day two and day three of CADF 2024.

Registration: This workshop requires advanced registration and spaces are limited. Please fill out this form to register and contact Matthew Hale at [email protected] with questions.

This session will present perspectives from Central American women organizing against the rise of authoritarianism in the region. Speakers will discuss the impact of authoritarianism on women and strategies to counteract it.

This session will be collaboratively led by leaders from Peronia Adolescente, a Guatemalan grassroots youth association that has pioneered creative strategies for social change using art, games and performance since the 1990s, along with members of an allied documentary film team, Comparsa, who have spent the last five years capturing the story of youth-led social change in Ciudad Peronia.

This panel presentation will explore the history, methods and outcomes of Peronia Adolescente’s visionary model of creative youth organizing and will feature fragments of the film ‘Comparsa’ to spark discussion on youth-led art and storytelling as viable strategies for challenging harmful narratives and building a more just and humane community. The session will open with a creative performance, followed by Peronia youth participants sharing their perspectives on the individual, collective and community-wide impact of their creative work.

Note: This session will be held in Spanish and will not have simultaneous interpretation available in English.

On the first evening of CADF 2024, join a networking dinner at Cervecería 14, a local brewery and beer garden located on an active coffee farm with majestic views of three volcanoes. Listen to live music and grab a craft beer and dinner from the menu of Annie and Felix.

Complimentary transportation on Cervecería 14’s trolley and Antigua’s colorful local school buses will depart on a rolling basis at the “Site Visit Meeting Point” beginning at 6:00pm for the first 200 attendees. Alternatively, grab a taxi or Uber for 60 quetzales ($8) to join the festivities at any time.

Estimated food/drink cost: 135 quetzales ($18)

Estimated to arrive: 20-30 minutes

Address: Cervecería 14, Km. 51.5 RN10, camino a San Miguel Dueñas, Ciudad Vieja, Guatemala (Google Maps)

The struggles for socio-environmental and climate justice are a weave of intersectionalities, connected like rhizomes and mycelium, and at their roots is the defense of all forms of life. In the face of environmental and climate crises affecting Mesoamerican territories, speakers in this session will offer a space to share reflections, learnings and transformations around financing LGBTIQ+ movements supporting the defense of land, territory and all forms of life. As a strategic roundtable featuring key actors, this session will represent a space to continue planting and nourishing the work in important intersections, collectively starting a weave of agreements and actions for the future.

Note: Coffee and light snacks will be available at this morning session.

For decades, Central American communities have faced extractive agricultural policies that have increased dependence on external inputs and distant value chains leading to: environmental degradation, climate change, poverty, food aid dependence and migration.

Rural communities and organizations in the region create solutions that regenerate food production and land, build on traditional knowledge, develop rural innovation, strengthen the social fabric and restore local economies. Agroecology and local food systems are effective and scalable solutions to address climate change, poverty and malnutrition in Central America. Speakers from Guatemala and Honduras will share perspectives of rural communities, indigenous peoples and women, and will also share videos produced by youth to disseminate effective strategies. In addition, panelists will share practical strategies and facilitate dialogue on how audience members can collaborate to scale solutions.

Note: Coffee and light snacks will be available at this morning session.

Prensa Comunitaria’s network of correspondents documented, minute-by-minute, the citizen mobilization that rejected the installation of a dictatorship in Guatemala. Throughout 2023, indigenous peoples and their authorities established a new wave of protests to defend their votes, a situation that brought people into public squares and across roadblocks throughout the country.

Agencia Ocote explores, through photography in dialogue with art , journalism and other narrative mechanisms, the exile experienced by human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and activists who, in recent years, have been forced to leave Guatemala due to criminalization and persecution by the State and the Justice apparatus itself.

Guatemalan-Mexican visual artist Óscar Farfán portrayed some of the people in exile and reflects on his own history as a child of exile from the Internal Armed Conflict in the 1980s.

This exhibition proposes a ritual of presence and evocation. Of listening, observing, and reflecting. This work deals with exiles and the insistence that the media can be artifacts to narrate the present, but also to invoke memory. It is part of the journalistic special “In Exile.”

Located in San Juan del Obispo, La Alianza’s residence for boys is the first of its kind in Guatemala and the region. Join this site visit and meet the dedicated staff providing trauma-informed care, as well as the boys and young men who participate in these programs. Attendees will learn about these transformational, multidisciplinary services and the importance of providing male survivors with the services they need to heal, grow, transform their lives and progressively gain autonomy.

Duration: 3 hours
Departure time: 9:00am
Departure location: Site Visit Meeting Point at Casa Santo Domingo
Time on bus: 20-30 minutes
Language: Spanish
Food/drinks: Fruit, bottled drinks, coffee/tea and local bread
Maximum capacity: 15 people
Is there still space in this site visit? Yes

Register: To participate in this site visit, attendees must sign up directly via La Alianza. Please register to participate via this form and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Registration is only available to CADF 2024 attendees.

Following multiple early morning sessions, join us in the Main Room as we kick off the second day of CADF 2024.

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

Feliciana Herrera will speak to the CADF 2024 audience about Indigenous peoples and their role in defending democracy.

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

Join this session for an insightful fireside chat featuring Seattle International Foundation’s Executive Director, Adriana Beltrán, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jacobstein. This discussion will explore U.S. perspectives on the evolving challenges and opportunities in Central America. The conversation will delve into key areas of progress and the primary obstacles faced by the Biden administration in its efforts to promote economic development, uphold the rule of law, strengthen democracy in the region and address the drivers of irregular migration.

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

Despite their different nature, experiences and purposes, Central American social movements, grassroots organizations and civil society organizations face common challenges in times of shrinking civic space, polarization and the rise of authoritarianism. Is it possible for them to find effective ways of articulation? What differentiated roles should they play in the current context? How can they balance their specific agendas with the common goal of protecting or rebuilding democracy? What kind of innovative strategies can they explore to achieve lasting social change?

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

Network and exchange session takeaways with fellow CADF attendees while enjoying refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres.

Guatemala has the largest youth population in Central America, with 61% of the population under the age of 30; yet many young people face high levels of social and economic marginalization, insecurity and poor access to essential services. Each year, 140,000 Guatemalan youth enter the labor market; however, only about 25,000 of those youth gain access to formal employment. With the patriarchal structure of society, women are especially disadvantaged in joining and staying in the formal job market. Only 37% of women participate in the formal labor market, compared to 85% of men. This panel will focus on a cross-sector approach to helping young women overcome barriers to obtaining sustainable jobs and moving out of poverty. Featuring a diverse group of speakers from Children International, Novex and Porta Hotel Antigua, this discussion aims to inspire a unified effort across sectors to foster equity and economic inclusion for women.

Civil society seeking to advance democracy and protect human rights face numerous challenges: from misinformation campaigns to targeted attacks. Are you one of them? Undemocratic actors have successfully deployed narratives creating false dilemmas and stoking fears to legitimize autocratic measures. Proposing a binary choice between feeling safe and having the liberty to express an opinion is an example.

On the flipside, positive pro-democratic narratives can be a powerful social and behavioral change element because they impact what people believe and influence how they activate on issues. Participants will share their experience as part of a multistakeholder effort to advance a pro-democratic narrative rooted on people’s values to reach, engage and activate new audiences to protect democracy and human rights. Freedom and safety doesn’t have to be an “either or” proposition. Governments should be open and honest while looking out for everyone.
If you agree, join the panelists in their journey!

This session will highlight the work of three innovative organizations (Asociación Bayán, Na’leb’ak, and SERniña) that use gender transformative approaches to shift social norms in conservative settings. The organizations work on engaging young people, parents and community leadership, transforming policies and bolstering civic engagement, improving pedagogy and the curriculum within and outside the school environment, and evaluating and improving methodology. Their work connects efforts to address gender inequality within and alongside the education system and with broader movements for social justice. Speakers will describe how their transformative partnerships with and among youth, families, schools, communities, donors and governments have allowed them to tackle “taboo” issues in the region, including machismo, sexual and domestic violence, early unions and pregnancy, sexuality education and gender roles. Session participants also will engage directly in small groups.

Local grassroots organizations are best positioned to help their communities rebuild and restart local economies after a disaster. In remote areas, these entities may be the only organizations with the geographic proximity, experience, and community trust to address immediate and long-term needs. Grassroots organizations are also adept at integrating disaster response and mitigation strategies into all of their activities, making them—and their communities—more resilient to future shocks.

Join this discussion between community-led organizations, along with public and private sector donors, all working in partnership to build a more resilient future in the face of climate and other related disasters.

Pull up a seat at any lunch table and network with new connections. Find a table card featuring a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that interests you to meet potential allies for your work.

Guatemala has one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in all of Latin America. According to the National Survey on Maternal Health, one in five adolescents between 15-19 years old already has given birth or is currently pregnant. With limited access to sex education and numerous barriers to access services, young people are assuming the responsibility to inform their peers about important information that can increase knowledge about sexual and reproductive health and contraception, and ultimately reduce adolescent pregnancy. Young people who have faced challenges accessing sexual health information and services have created innovative proposals in order to overcome these barriers. Their answers include a range of support, from the use of popular education to promote youth empowerment to tapping into digital platforms and instant messaging to reach youth online. Speakers will share how young people have converted these ideas to concrete actions that are transforming the panorama of sexual and reproductive health for future generations in Guatemala.

Note: A buffet lunch will be provided to the first 40 participants attending this session. Additional seating is available without food.

This panel will explore the importance of empowering indigenous women for the sustainable development of Guatemala. To illustrate good practices, successful examples of innovative models where collaboration between the government, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, municipal authorities, and indigenous communities will be presented. These good practices will demonstrate how partnerships drive the empowerment of indigenous women and promote their participation in decision-making processes at the local and national levels. Additionally, the importance of mental health and emotional well-being in this process will be addressed, highlighting the integration of the community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) approach with entrepreneurship and economic development initiatives. This linkage is essential for a comprehensive approach that fosters resilience and sustainable growth.

Note: A buffet lunch will be provided to the first 40 participants attending this session. Additional seating is available without food.

Why does composting matter? Composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions and enriches the soil. Half of the public landfill serving Antigua Guatemala comprises food and yard waste. This landfill will have to close within two years at the present fill rate. Diverting the organic waste will extend the landfill’s life and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the city. The compost produced by this organic material will nourish our soils, improve the quality of food grown in them and make the people who eat that food healthier. Green Mama Compost began operations in Alotenango, Sacatepéquez in August 2023. In the first 10 months, the organization diverted and processed 92,652 lbs of waste, yielding 15,442 lbs of compost, mulch, and worm castings. At the current rate, they divert and process around 4,000 lbs of food waste per week. Visitors on this site visit will follow a delivery of the day’s waste collection from the time it enters the gates until it is transformed into finished compost.

Duration: 2.5 hours
Departure time: 12:30pm
Departure location: Site Visit Meeting Point at Casa Santo Domingo
Time on bus: 30 minutes each way
Language: English & Spanish
Food/drinks: None
Maximum capacity: 20 people
Is there still space in this site visit? Yes

Register: To participate in this site visit, attendees must sign up directly via Green Mama Compost. Please register to participate via this form and reach out to Eleanor Lawrence at [email protected] with any questions.

Registration is only available to CADF 2024 attendees.

Journalists and social leaders from Guatemalan society will come together to discuss Hidrocracy, a project carried out by Quorum in 2022 that used a participatory approach for citizens to investigate issues related to water access in Guatemala City. This panel will demonstrate how horizontal journalism has helped communities establish the first neighborhood association advocating for the right to water, and how this organization engaged with the Congress of the Republic and held meetings with mayoral candidates during the 2023 elections.

Note: Lunch will not be available in the session room for this session.

In 2024, Seattle International Foundation’s CAMY Fund celebrated 10 years of supporting youth changemakers in Central America and Mexico. This is a moment to pause and express gratitude for the courage, inspiration, and creativity that organized youth bring to their work, as well as for the opportunity to support them. In this session, speakers will explore how they have built bridges without blueprints, adapting with flexibility and confidence to support youth in their struggles. Panelists will discuss how philanthropy can and must evolve to be a true ally in creating deep social change, moving away from rigid structures and responding to the complex realities of the region.

This session will celebrate the work of diverse and courageous youth who propose creative strategies to create a more dignified society. Join this dialogue to learn how to construct pathways and open new avenues between philanthropy and youth changemakers in Central America.

Despite significant funding allocated to food insecurity and economic development, structural factors limiting access to land, water and other resources have been a primary barrier to growth for smallholder farmers in Central America. Climate change and export-oriented conventional agriculture continue to thwart the sustainable development of rural communities. Local organizations from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala will describe methodologies, technologies and policies that are advancing climate-resilient regenerative agriculture which foster food security, economic development and conservation. Speakers will provide context about the core principles (soil health, seed banking, water conservation, etc.) which boost productivity and income for communities and opportunities to scale these to a regional level. Break out groups will provide an opportunity for all participants to discuss and share their experiences and best practices, focusing on topics such as knowledge transfer, community markets, ecotourism and alternative financing.

This interactive workshop will explore approaches and tactics to increase civil society’s resiliency and ability to mitigate risks in their daily work. Strategies under consideration for the session include risk mitigation planning from an organizational perspective, organizational approaches to holistic security and well-being, mitigating criminalization of civil society, building resilient networks, and collective protection practices. Participants in this session will walk away with a framework in which to think about organizational strategies to enhance their resiliency and will have an opportunity both to learn from experts and peers and to share their own successes and challenges. Participants will also improve their understanding of the ecosystem of protection support for at-risk HRDs and CSOs and available resources. A particular emphasis will be on strategies related to the resiliency of women human rights defenders and women’s rights organizations.

Note: Three versions of this workshop will be held at CADF 2024. This workshop is available to all women human rights defenders and women’s rights organizations. Please review the agenda for the other options available on day one and day three of CADF 2024.

Registration: This workshop requires advanced registration and spaces are limited. Please fill out this form to register and contact Matthew Hale at [email protected] with questions.

More than half of the Central American population is currently under 30 years old, and about 49% of the Central American population will be under 30 in 2030. However, the participation of young people in public matters decreases every year. Our societies face great vulnerabilities such as inequality, climate change and authoritarian regressions. In this context, collaborative governance stands out as a way to promote the construction of diverse and consensual solutions to today’s big challenges. Cooperation between the public sector, the private sector, and civil society can drive sustainable and inclusive growth; but for this, it is first necessary to generate trust between them. The panel will address strategies to achieve active participation of all sectors in generating solutions that promote sustainable development for the next 25 years, so that the demographic dividend can be leveraged.

This session will explore how cinema can be a powerful tool for social change and the defense of human rights in Central America. Through screening excerpts from the film “Rita,” directed by Jayro Bustamante, followed by a panel discussion, speakers will explore the impact of cinema on social awareness and mobilization. They will also underscore successful partnerships and innovative strategies to address social and environmental challenges by creating new narratives, fostering dialogue and active audience participation. Join this session to discover how cinema can inspire meaningful and lasting changes in the region.

Network and exchange session takeaways with fellow CADF attendees while enjoying refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres.

USAID’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, Michael Camilleri, will provide plenary remarks highlighting opportunities for partnerships that center communities, protect the environment, drive economic growth and defend civic space in Central America.

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

Central America is highly vulnerable due to the effects of climate change, environmental degradation and social exclusion caused by unsustainable development models. The region also faces a drastic democratic regression, evidenced by the closure of civic spaces, attacks, harassment and criminalization of civil society, particularly against leaders of indigenous, Afro-descendant and local community organizations and movements that build socio-environmental resilience in the territories and fight for climate justice. This panel will discuss how resilience, the defense of democracy and human rights are intertwined and demonstrate that transformative alliances and strategic collaborations between various sectors are required to support organizations and social movements that build socio-environmental resilience and maintain democratic values ​​and practices.

Note: If the Main Room Ballroom reaches the maximum capacity of participants, we invite attendees to view a live broadcast of the main stage from the Theater Room in the Convention Center.

This discussion will provide an expert analysis of the state of rule of law in Guatemala from the perspective of a former attorney general, a former judge, a former prosecutor and a human rights defender.

Prensa Comunitaria will hold a discussion that begins with the presentation of the documentary ‘Kawil Ch’oolej: The Q’eqchi’ Resistance in El Estor,’ set in Izabal, Guatemala. Following this audiovisual presentation, the filmmakers and community journalists will come together to explore the dynamics of dispossession in Guatemala as they relate to mining, the State, communities and human rights.

Note: This session will be held in Spanish and will not have simultaneous interpretation available in English.

In this off-site session, attendees will hear from representatives from both philanthropic and nonprofit sectors as they candidly share stories of mistakes from their professional, and sometimes merging into personal, realms. This session will focus on creating a safe space where vulnerability is not only embraced but encouraged as a way for participants to move genuinely towards building trust-based relationships within and across sectors. Building upon the concept of industry ‘Fuck Up Nights’ and local NGO ‘Noches de Fracasos’, led by El Directorio Guatemala and Association SERES since 2022, this session will begin by delving into the (mis)perceptions about vulnerability and the case for bringing it into our everyday lives, including into the workplace. Facilitators will then welcome speakers to put vulnerability into practice through telling their stories, some of which will be highly relatable. To close the session, facilitators will open the floor to participants who wish to share their thoughts and takeaways.

Note: This session requires advanced registration to participate. Up to 50 participants may register. Please register for this session here and reach out to Katie Brickwood at [email protected] with any questions.

Join the Impact Hub for a memorable evening at the Antigua Brewing Co.!

Impact Hub Antigua invites all CADF 2024 attendees to a networking event at their stunning new event space at the renowned Antigua Brewing Co. Following a session hosted by El Directorio on the first floor, join other attendees on the rooftop terrace for an evening of local craft beers, food and fantastic company. This space will provide a relaxed atmosphere with drinks, appetizers and mingling alongside fellow CADF 2024 attendees, where you can take in the 360 degree views of Antigua and the surrounding volcanoes.

With a lively, fun atmosphere that’s perfect for unwinding and making new connections. Entertainment for the evening includes DJs spinning from 5:00-9:00pm on the terrace, followed by live music on the first floor starting at 9:00pm. This event is the perfect opportunity to unwind, network, and enjoy the vibrant ambiance and spectacular views of Antigua.

Note: Impact Hub Guatemala is approximately a 10-minute walk from the Casa Santo Domingo. Transportation will not be arranged for CADF attendees.

Following the second day of CADF, we encourage attendees to meet up at Hector’s Bistro, a culinary gem located in the heart of Antigua Guatemala. Located 15 minutes walking distance from the Casa Santo Domingo Hotel, Hector’s Bistro offers a fun atmosphere, live music and a tasty selection of incredible food, as well as one of Antigua’s best artisanal taprooms.

Reservations: Phone +502 7832 9867
Menu: Click here to view menu
Estimated Cost: 230 quetzales ($30)
Time to Arrive: 15 minutes walking or 5 minutes by car
Location: Hector’s Bistro Guatemala, 6a Calle Poniente 24, Antigua, Guatemala 03001, Guatemala (Google Maps)

This session will present an original initiative for the democratization of Nicaragua, created by and for exiled Nicaraguans. Twenty exiled Nicaraguans, participants in this scholarship program, were selected for their ability to do advocacy work, diverse backgrounds and their political voices. Scholarship recipients generate unpublished analysis and undertake academic, journalistic and political actions aligned with their specific issue areas. In turn, this initiative continues to strengthen the civic fabric that has been damaged by authoritarianism, revitalizing Nicaraguan voices and talents in exile.

These scholarship recipients of the program will present the model and achievements of this initiative. Furthermore, they will share results and outcomes from the program and how they result to the role of university students, LGBTIQ+ activists, professionals in the justice system and young politicians working towards the democratization of Nicaragua. The ideas and voices of these scholarship recipients, who are now living lives of freedom, are needed more than ever before.

Note: Coffee and light snacks will be available at this morning session.

This session will offer a space to reflect and discuss the importance of the facilitating role of CSOs in both project management and the application of methodologies promoting systemic change. These approaches have an impact on the equitable and inclusive participation of disadvantaged groups, ultimately reducing economic inequality in rural areas. Speakers will share experiences of the role played by the principal actors in this system (including CSOs, public/private sector, etc.) and methodological approaches developed with women, youth and MSMEs to boost the economy and reduce migratory pressures. Additionally, considering the experience of municipalities in the promotion of Municipal Employment One-Stop Shops (VUME) as a space to provide services which develop skills for employability and labor reinsertion of young people, women and returned migrants, panelists will demonstrate how to create conditions that achieve systemic change promoting increased income and improved conditions for employment and self-employment.

Note: Coffee and light snacks will be available at this morning session.

Prensa Comunitaria’s network of correspondents documented, minute-by-minute, the citizen mobilization that rejected the installation of a dictatorship in Guatemala. Throughout 2023, indigenous peoples and their authorities established a new wave of protests to defend their votes, a situation that brought people into public squares and across roadblocks throughout the country.

Agencia Ocote explores, through photography in dialogue with art , journalism and other narrative mechanisms, the exile experienced by human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and activists who, in recent years, have been forced to leave Guatemala due to criminalization and persecution by the State and the Justice apparatus itself.

Guatemalan-Mexican visual artist Óscar Farfán portrayed some of the people in exile and reflects on his own history as a child of exile from the Internal Armed Conflict in the 1980s.

This exhibition proposes a ritual of presence and evocation. Of listening, observing, and reflecting. This work deals with exiles and the insistence that the media can be artifacts to narrate the present, but also to invoke memory. It is part of the journalistic special “In Exile.”

Radio Ixchel is an Indigenous Kaqchikel community radio station founded in Sumpango, Sacatepéquez, in 2003. It remains on the air despite numerous raids and instances of criminalization it has faced over the years. The radio station was established due to the lack of media representation for the Kaqchikel people, their languages, culture and needs. Currently, Radio Ixchel is a key reference in the Guatemalan Indigenous radio movement, prioritizing the inclusion of voices from women, youth, children and other Indigenous sectors historically marginalized from the media. This approach has made Radio Ixchel a space that promotes community and collective participation.

CADF attendees are invited to visit Radio Ixchel not only because of its impactful history, but also because it is one of the four radio stations that testified before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the case “Pueblos Indígenas Maya Kaqchikel de Sumpango vs. Guatemala,” where the Court ruled in favor of the four Indigenous community radios.

Duration: 3.5 hours
Departure time: 8:30am
Departure location: Site Visit Meeting Point at Casa Santo Domingo
Time on bus: 25 minutes
Language: Spanish
Food/drinks: Not provided
Maximum capacity: 40 people
Is there still space in this site visit? Yes

Register: To participate in this site visit, attendees must sign up directly via Cultural Survival. Please register to participate via this form and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Registration is only available to CADF 2024 attendees.

Welcome to the final day of CADF 2024! Following multiple early morning sessions, join us in the Main Room as we gather for the final exciting sessions of the year.

Executive Director of Women’s Link Worldwide and SIF Board Member, Jovana Rios Cisnero, will spotlight the critical issues surrounding gender rights in Central America, the progress being made, the persistent barriers that remain, and the urgent need for continued advocacy and support to achieve true gender equality and human rights in Central America.

U.S. Representative Norma Torres, of Guatemalan heritage, discusses the urgency for joining together to build a better Central America and her work supporting women and youth in the region.

Ambassador Bradley will discuss the historic opportunities for strategic partnership between Guatemala and the United States.

In this session, representatives from donor nations will discuss how they plan to invest in Guatemala in the context of the country’s political changes.

KAQLA is an association that utilizes methodologies developed from the Mayan worldview, tailored to contemporary contexts. Its focus is on healing individual and collective traumas and enhancing the capacities of women, men, youth, and children to fulfill their life missions. The Rub’eyal Qakaslemal methodology, created by KAQLA over 28 years of experience, is central to this work. This methodology is implemented at the KAN Healing and Training Center for the Fullness of Life in Santa María Cauqué, Sacatepéquez, a space dedicated to fostering life’s potential.
This visit will begin with a welcome ritual rooted in the Mayan worldview. Facilitators will then provide a space for dialogue about their work and offer a tour of the facilities where this methodology is practiced, including the energetic ceremonial center, steam bath, therapeutic center, lodging and water reserve.

Duration: 4 hours
Departure time: 10:00am
Departure location: Site Visit Meeting Point at Casa Santo Domingo
Time on bus: 30-45 minutes
Language: Spanish
Food / drinks: Lunch provided
Maximum capacity: 45 people
Is there still space in this site visit? Yes

Register: To participate in this site visit, attendees must sign up directly via KAQLA. Please register to participate via this form and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Registration is only available to CADF 2024 attendees.

Network and exchange session takeaways with fellow CADF attendees while enjoying refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres.

This panel will feature civil society, environmental defenders, the Guatemalan government and donors sharing the Escazu Agreement implementation, its progress, relevance, challenges and opportunities in Guatemala and Central America. It is important to understand the context of human rights in environmental matters via examples such as the Central American Escazu Network and the Escazú Alliance for Guatemala, which bring relevant actors creating spaces for dialogue and advocacy to promote favorable environments for environmental justice, environment public participation and the protection for environment and human rights defenders.

Additionally, this session will be an opportunity to learn about the importance of the environment in ensuring human rights. Unique perspectives from the current government of Guatemala will demonstrate a commitment to the defense of nature and human rights. This proactive conversation will discuss how to advance democracy and environmental governance in the region within a binding international framework that will strengthen national and local capacities, as well as create better mechanisms for environmental democracy.

As civic space closes and rhetoric against human rights gains traction in El Salvador, marginalized activists and social movements must collaborate to strengthen themselves and their efforts to enact positive social change. On this panel, Counterpart International and their local civil society organization partners will share collaborative social movement strengthening mechanisms, such as Communities of Practice and an LGBTQI+ Collaborative Advocacy Space. This diverse panel representing LGBTQI+ persons, Afro-descendants and people with disabilities will discuss how these mechanisms have bolstered social movements and generated safe and collaborative spaces to identify solutions to defend the human rights of people in situations of vulnerability.

Central America’s vulnerable communities face high levels of unemployment and/or participation in the informal economy. This panel will highlight essential components for effective youth workforce training programs that lead to employment. Attendees will gain valuable insights from speakers’ challenges and learnings, resulting in program participants’ improved gainful employment. Experts will validate growing regional labor market demands and strategies to align training programs and employers’ needs. The panelists will discuss comprehensive strategies, including labor market intelligence, interview preparation, job readiness, soft skills, socio-emotional skills and networking opportunities, leading to attendees’ ability to enhance their own organization’s initiatives.

In the fight against corruption and the promotion of transparency, civil society organizations experience many challenges and factors which endanger their independence, such as sources of financing and threats from antidemocratic governments, but also pressure from ally governments that expect organizations to remain complacent with their processes. In addition to maintaining their objectivity and overcoming these challenges, civil society organizations must strengthen existing alliances and create conditions for the construction of new alliances in the fight against corruption.

Pull up a seat at any lunch table and network with new connections. Find a table card featuring a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that interests you to meet potential allies for your work.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is deeply involved in the region of Central America through economic policy surveillance and advice, lending and capacity development. This session will seek to empower NGOs to effectively engage with the IMF on behalf of their communities. Participants will gain insights into the IMF’s current macroeconomic analysis of Central America, its role in the region, and learn strategies for impactful advocacy. This private breakfast will feature IMF members and include a discussion on experiences of successful engagement. Speakers will seek to foster communication and collaboration between civil society organizations and international financial institutions, focusing on sustainable and inclusive economic policies.

Note: This is a private lunch session. To request to attend, please contact Johan Romero at [email protected] for more information.

Note: A buffet lunch will be provided to the first 40 participants attending this session. Additional seating is available without food.

Undemocratic governments severely affect sexual and reproductive health services, endangering women’s health and lives. However, sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) advocates, particularly those who support and accompany abortion access, including through digital channels, are being criminalized, creating a risky environment for their vital work.

This session will address the interconnection between democracy and SRHR and examine how the persecution of abortion ‘acompañantes’ undermines democracies and reproductive autonomy. Speakers will aim to shed light on the critical role that ‘acompañantes’ play in defending democracy. Through a diverse range of perspectives, an acompañante, a democracy organization, a lawyer, a donor and a transnational feminist organization, this session will explore how to improve democracy advocacy through support for abortion advocates in the region.

Note: A buffet lunch will be provided to the first 40 participants attending this session. Additional seating is available without food.

Media leaders and organizations will join to discuss regressive narratives and disinformation in Guatemala. They will share how alliances and collaborative projects are a powerful response for greater reach and greater security.

Ocote, a digital media outlet coordinated mostly by women, leads three alliances: La Luciérnaga: a project for fact-checking and combating disinformation in Mayan languages; La linterna: the first collaborative electoral fact-checking project in Guatemala; and Liga Linterna: a citizen alliance between media, universities and social organizations to promote citizenship and democracy. This conversation will discuss the challenges these initiatives have overcome in recent years related to freedom of expression and criminalization. Learn how these new objectives confront disinformation and the closure of spaces, and how collaboration is an vital way to strengthen democracy and social cohesion.

A focus on the root causes of migration, including poverty and inequality, has increased the complexity with which we describe and respond to migration. Discussions of “rootedness” and “freedom to stay” have also emerged to refer to the multi-faceted conditions that allow members of a community to sustain themselves, so that they are not forced to migrate. A corollary, the “right to go” or the right to migrate addresses the need for sufficient legal pathways for human mobility. This session will continue the debate on the utility and challenges of these and other alternative narratives about migration by engaging multiple stakeholders–with sometimes differing opinions–from the Central America Research Alliance (CARA) and beyond. The session will also explore how rootedness and freedom to stay may help inform philanthropy, programs, and policy given the historical nature of human mobility and current migration trends.

Members of the Lifeline Embattled CSOs Assistance Fund consortium, including Freedom House, People in Need, and International Center for Not-For-Profit-Law, along with front-line CSOs from the Central American region, UDEFEGUA and CALDH, will facilitate an interactive workshop that explores approaches and tactics to increase civil society’s resiliency and ability to mitigate risks in their daily work. Strategies under consideration for the session include risk mitigation planning from an organizational perspective, organizational approaches to holistic security and well-being, mitigating criminalization of civil society, building resilient networks, and collective protection practices. Participants in this session will walk away with a framework in which to think about organizational strategies to enhance their resiliency and will have an opportunity both to learn from experts and peers and to share their own successes and challenges. Participants will also improve their understanding of the ecosystem of protection support for at-risk HRDs and CSOs and available resources. A particular emphasis will be on strategies related to the resiliency of women human rights defenders and women’s rights organizations. A particular emphasis will be on strategies related to journalists and media organizations.

Note: Three versions of this workshop will be held at CADF 2024. This workshop is available to all journalists and media organizations. Please review the agenda for the other options available on day one and two of CADF 2024.

Registration: This workshop requires advanced registration and spaces are limited. Please fill out this form to register and contact Matthew Hale at [email protected] with questions.

Foundations are required to distribute 5% of their value on an annual basis, but the remaining 95% is often placed in the S&P index, sometimes working against the very mission of the foundation. Foundations have the opportunity to have a bigger impact in Central America beyond their mission by making impact investments that yield bond or market rates. In this session we will feature an investor from the U.S., two impact funds working in Central America, and representatives from the projects and businesses that the funds have invested in to give participants a view into the positive impact they can have by investing their money in the region.

Network and exchange session takeaways with fellow CADF attendees while enjoying refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres.

U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Labor Thea Lee will discuss the importance of creating good jobs as the cornerstone for building a more prosperous and stable future in Central America. Good jobs built on the right to organize are essential to addressing the root causes of migration and fostering the practice of democracy at work and beyond.

Well-functioning, independent unions and worker organizations are essential for healthy, inclusive democracies. They empower workers to have a collective voice in the policies that affect their lives and society. Authentic worker voice uplifts the voices of marginalized groups, including women, indigenous, Afro-descendent and informal workers. Their collective strength enables them to advocate for better terms and conditions of work with employers and government while also addressing systemic forms of economic and political discrimination. This session will explore how promoting worker organizing and worker voice contributes to reducing labor exploitation and advancing democracy and social inclusion at all levels.

As the 2024 Central America Donors Forum winds down to its conclusion, join Adriana Beltrán, Executive Director of Seattle International Foundation, as she reflects on the conversations held and connections made over the past three days, and where we go together next in our efforts to advance development, equity and justice in the region.

Sara Curruchich is returning to CADF with an extraordinary concert after closing out an international tour that brought her to over 150 venues around the world. Accompanied by four Central American women, Sara will lead a journey of sound in which voices, marimbas, guitars, bass and drums intertwine to tell stories of resistance, love and hope.

Sara has conquered iconic stages at SXSW Austin, Bric Celebrate Brooklyn and the Café de la Danse in Paris, among many others. Throughout this tour, Sara performed emblematic songs in Kaqchikel and Spanish such as “Pueblos”, which reflects the struggles of indigenous peoples globally, and “La Siguanaba”, a cry against patriarchal violence.

Sara and her band will offer an unforgettable night to celebrate the alliances forged throughout a productive CADF 2024. This closing event will take place in Santo Domingo del Cerro, a cultural park nestled within gardens offering spectacular views of Antigua Guatemala. Drinks and snacks will be served.

Ongoing shuttles to Santo Domingo del Cerro will begin departing at 5:30pm. The trip takes approximately 8 minutes.

Thank you for making CADF 2024 a success!

Following the final day of CADF, Ocote will offer an immersive experience in its editorial office and in the historic center of Guatemala City. Casa Ocote is the headquarters of the editorial office of Ocote, a digital media outlet led mostly by women and noted for its in-depth, innovative and transmedia coverage. This visit will be guided by Alejandra Gutiérrez, director and co-founder of Ocote, and will address the challenges of doing journalism, the management of the outlet and its efforts to become a meeting point for conversation. The visit will also include the tour through a photographic exhibition on Guatemalan social movements.

Later, visitors will take a tour on foot through four locations where events occurred during the internal conflict in Guatemala: the kidnapping of the writer Luis de Lión in 1984, the murder of Monsignor Juan José Gerardi in 1998, the raid on the National Workers’ Central in 1980 and the monument to the victims of the internal armed conflict. The tour is part of the series “Aquí pasó algo,” an exercise in the recovery of historical memory, and will be guided by journalist María Olga Domínguez.

Duration: 5 hours
Departure time: 8:00am
Departure location: Casa Santo Domingo
Time on bus: 120 minutes
Language: Spanish and English
Food / drinks: snacks and water
Maximum capacity: 15 people
Is there still space in this site visit? No

Register: To participate in this site visit, attendees must sign up directly via Ocote. Please register to participate via this form and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Registration is only available to CADF 2024 attendees.

The day after CADF 2024, attendees will be able to visit the Artisanal Market in Guatemala City to meet textile, coffee and chocolate cooperatives working hand-in-hand with impoverished and marginalized communities in Guatemala. These cooperatives empower young people, women, indigenous people and Afro-descendants by creating jobs with fair wages, while discouraging irregular migration and preserving Guatemalan, Mayan, Garifuna and Xinca cultures. As attendees sip Guatemalan coffee, nibble on chocolate and wander through the market, visitors will hear about the cooperatives’ efforts to protect the environment and natural resources, as well as learn about the machines used by at-risk youth to make textiles.

Duration: 4 hours
Departure time: 8:30am
Departure location: Site Visit Meeting Point at Casa Santo Domingo
Time on bus: 120 minutes
Language: This visit will be conducted in Spanish, but facilitators are able to speak English.
Food / drinks: Refreshments and snacks provided
Maximum capacity: 500 people
Is there still space in this site visit? Yes

Register: To participate in this site visit, attendees must sign up directly with Cámara Rural Campesina. Please register to participate via this form and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Registration is only available to CADF 2024 attendees.