Context
As an emerging economy, Mexico is still a recipient of funds from international development cooperation. At the same time, it is assuming the role of a donor country, especially in Central America and the Caribbean. The Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) is responsible for planning and coordinating the Mexican Government’s international cooperation activities.
Objective
AMEXCID plans and coordinates Mexico’s international cooperation activities.
Approach
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ is helping AMEXCID to lay the foundations for a coherent cooperation policy in Mexico. Directorates that previously worked separately from one another in areas such as economic or educational cooperation are now to be jointly managed. This will streamline internal processes and strengthen Mexico’s cooperation activities both at regional level and on global issues.
GIZ is advising AMEXCID on its organisational structure and on developing processes and instruments for planning, implementation and monitoring. The aim is to ensure that all the directorates work together in an effective, mutually reinforcing manner. In addition, the project is strengthening AMEXCID’s cooperation with other government authorities. The private sector, foundations and civil society are also to be actively involved in the activities.
The project is helping AMEXCID to devise and put in place an internal strategy for improving performance and skills in policy development and design. In terms of its cooperation strategy, Mexico wishes to play an active role in Central and Latin America and be a confident player in global development issues. The project is helping AMEXCID to fulfil these aims, identifying common ground and encouraging the sharing of experience both within the region and with Germany. This serves to strengthen Mexico’s profile and positioning, which benefits both countries as part of a mutual learning process.
Results
AMEXCID set out its objectives in its Programme for International Development Cooperation (PROCID), which was approved in 2014. It has drawn up guidelines on setting up a Fund for International Development Cooperation (FONCID) as the Agency’s primary funding instrument and has established a national register of all Mexico’s development activities. The individual directorates are working closely with one another on planning, monitoring and evaluating these activities. A standardised procedure for project presentations and reports has been introduced. In order to design its own internal and external communications strategy, the Agency has examined the procedures adopted by other development agencies and international organisations, and collected examples of best practices.
The Mexican Government is participating in committees and engaging in international development cooperation processes. In April 2014, it hosted the High-Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. With GIZ support, 60 representatives from civil society organisations were able to attend this meeting and help disseminate the results. GIZ also helped AMEXCID to organise a regional conference on South-South and triangular cooperation, which is one of the focuses of Mexico’s development cooperation.
Events have been held, reports produced and findings published on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the participation of the private sector and the international process for financing development. In 2015, the International Year of Evaluation, AMEXCID was instrumental in organising nationwide events on this topic with assistance from GIZ. A pilot project with the private sector has been launched in Guatemala and Honduras involving triangular cooperation with Mexico’s national retailers’ association (ANTAD).