Domestic agendas are including more and more transboundary issues of common interest to different countries. In our globalised world, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and the UK share international views and commitments promoting full sustainable development. Economic development, the environment, human rights and democracy are pillars of development and all four countries have shown firm commitment and leadership on these issues.

Here are some examples of the work that we do on these and other matters:

UK contributions to Guatemala

UKAid currently runs projects in Guatemala via local NGOs (approximately U$1,60m per annum) to:

• Promote government budget transparency and accountable budgeting practices. (Implementing organisation: The International Budget Project at the Centre on Budget and Policy Priorities)
• Promote the rights and capacity of poor women to engage effectively in governance at all levels. (Implementing organisation: OXFAM GB)
• Increase the capacity of water and sanitation ‘policy communities’ within civil society to demand more effective WATSAN services from government and municipalities. (Implementing organisation: Water Aid)
• Provide technical and financial support to build local capacity in the Maya Biosphere Reserve to manage representative, transparent, accountable and effective use of this precious land. (Implementing organisation: The Wildlife Conservation Society)

In addition, the Embassy has a small pot of funds to support projects that help peaceful resolution of the Belize-Guatemalan border issue; promote human rights; fight climate change and strengthen democracy in the region. This financial year, we are supporting:

• World Environment Day: "Your Planet Needs You": A project with UNDP to raise awareness among students of the importance of Climate Change.
• The OAS office in the Adjaceny Zone between Belize and Guatemala: to help to maintain good relations between the communities along the border of Belize and Guatemala.
• Femicide Investigation: A project with the Mirna Mack Foundation to raise awareness of barriers in criminal cases of violent death of women to improve the investigation, prosecution and punishment of crime.
• The Government of Guatemala´s preparation for the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen: we have helped Guatemalan experts to attend the preparatory meetings for the Copenhagen summit in December 2009.
• Justice Sector Reform: A project with the International Commission of Jurists to i) improve access to justice for victims of gross human rights violations; and ii) bring greater transparency to the election processes of the Supreme Court in Guatemala.
• Death penalty Awareness: A project with ICCPG to maintain the moratorium on the death penalty and work towards its eventual abolition by encouraging respect for life and strengthening the rule of law.
• Youth Development: A project with Gang Resent in El Salvador to prevent youth violence at schools in three communities from San Salvador: Apopa, Tonacatepeque y Guazapa.

Importantly, the UK also contributes 15% to the European Union's programme budget. In Guatemala, our contribution totals $13.65m. Work focuses on support to the UN body against impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), Central America´s regional integration process, the Justice Sector and Food Security.

Our embassy also works closely with other British embassies in Central America in a number of regional projects to i) support freedom of expression (Article 19), ii) investigate the security risks to climate change in the region (RUSI), and iii) tackle Child trafficking and abuse in Central America.