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Alleviating Poverty: Land Conflict in Guatemala. Laura Cash David Lefebvre Jason Liu Shelina Merchant Julie Vaeth. Be the change. Agenda. Root cause of Guatemalan poverty: Land Mercy Corps overview Integrated approach to resolving land conflict Financing and efficiency
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Alleviating Poverty: Land Conflict in Guatemala Laura Cash David Lefebvre Jason Liu Shelina Merchant Julie Vaeth Be the change
Agenda • Root cause of Guatemalan poverty: Land • Mercy Corps overview • Integrated approach to resolving land conflict • Financing and efficiency • Key conclusions
Unequal Land Distribution • Unequal Wealth Distribution • Lack of Health and Education • Poverty
Hernando De Soto’s Thesis • Developing countries lack a formal property system • It’s impossible for the poor to leverage informal land ownership into capital • As a result, farmers remain trapped in subsistence agriculture
Does Guatemala Fit Into This Thesis? • Guatemala is currently the only country in Central America that lacks a national property registry • Over 50% of Guatemalan landholdings are not currently registered • 77% of rural farmers engage in subsistence agriculture
Mercy Corps “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Mercy Corps: A Broad Overview • Founded in 1979 • Provided $1.3 billion in assistance to people in 100 nations • Focus on transitioning countries • 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Candidate
Mission & Strategy Mission Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Strategic Approach Enable community-led and market-driven recovery Discover social innovations 3. Inspire others to engage in global challenges
Projects in Guatemala • TIERRAS - Integrated Land Conflict Mediation • Improving health systems in rural areas • Engaging youth in HIV/AIDS awareness • Investing in local capacity
Strategy in Action in Guatemala ENABLE community-driven recovery INSPIRE DISCOVER social innovations
Situation with Mercy Corps “The process was just because it defended our dignity as a people.” MercyCorps
“Rather than viewing the poor primarily as consumers, an alternative approach is to focus on the poor as producers and to emphasize buying from the poor. The only way to alleviate poverty is to raise the real income of the poor.” -AneelKarnani
Relationship Between Farmers and Markets Little knowledge sharing and low returns on goods middlemen Low value added products
Relationship With Mercy Corps Greater knowledge sharing Access to new, larger markets Mercy Corps NGOs Corporations Governments High value added products that are in demand Sustainable income for generations
The Social Enterprise Spectrum Purely Commercial Purely Philanthropic Mercy Corps
For every 4 cents spent on fundraising, Mercy Corps receives $1 in funds. Every $1 raised can provide $20.89 in food and other critical supplies
Questions? Be the change