Engaging Guatemalan Scientific and Professional Diaspora
Guatemala’s scientific and professional diaspora (GSPD) represents a valuable resource for advancing national development through knowledge exchange and international collaboration. In recent years, initiatives such as Converciencia, the RedCTI network, and the OWSD-Guatemala Chapter have illustrated growing momentum to connect with diaspora professionals. Building on this foundation, there is a shared interest among national institutions to explore structured, inclusive, and sustainable mechanisms for engaging with the GSPD.
Vinculando a la Diáspora Científica y Profesional Guatemalteca is a joint initiative between the National Secretariat of Science and Technology (SENACYT), the Academy of Sciences of Guatemala, and a team of diaspora experts. Through five interconnected activities, the project supports collaborative research, peer learning, digital innovation, and targeted consultations to co-develop practical strategies and tools for diaspora engagement. By strengthening institutional collaboration and dialogue, the initiative seeks to enhance Guatemala’s science and innovation ecosystem with the valuable contributions of its global talent.
In partnership with
Programme of activities
In-depth consultations will be conducted with key public institutions in Guatemala, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, and the University of San Carlos. These hybrid-format consultations aim to assess institutional mandates, capacities, and existing practices for engaging the GSPD, identifying gaps and opportunities for improved coordination.
Following the consultations, data from all activities will be analysed to generate a comprehensive understanding of diaspora engagement. The findings will be synthesised into institutional reports, complemented by a literature review to contextualise the analysis.
Based on the analysed data, a research-based policy brief will be developed, consolidating recommendations for strengthening diaspora engagement mechanisms. The brief will be co-authored by diaspora experts and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal to ensure both national impact and international visibility.
Facilitated by the Academy of Sciences of Guatemala, this workshop will convene key academic stakeholders, including the University of San Carlos and private universities. It will focus on institutional mechanisms for diaspora collaboration in research and innovation. The workshop will promote inclusive dialogue and contribute to the development of strategic policy inputs for GSPD engagement.
Led by SENACYT, this one-day workshop will bring together representatives from at least six key government entities, including the Vice Presidency of Guatemala, the Ministry of Economy, and the Education, Science and Technology Commission of the Congress. The workshop will focus on validating the institutional analysis developed under Activity 1 and co-designing actionable commitments to strengthen coordination in engaging the GSPD. It will serve as a platform for inter-institutional dialogue and alignment.
This activity focuses on conceptualising the development of a digital platform for mapping and interacting with the GSPD. It includes reviewing existing platforms, consulting with stakeholders, and drafting a concept note to guide the platform's future development, grounded in local and international best practices.
Guatemala's Academy of Sciences will engage with its Costa Rican counterpart in online sessions to exchange best practices in diaspora engagement, drawing from Costa Rica's long-standing experience and exploring how it can inform Guatemala's national strategies.
This online session will convene over 100 GSPD members based in the U.S., including participants from the Organization of Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and RedCTI. The discussion will focus on understanding diaspora members’ needs and preferences, and collecting feedback on proposed engagement strategies to build more responsive and inclusive institutional mechanisms.
This hybrid session will bring together GSPD members in person and online. It will engage participants from the existing European diaspora network to explore their experiences, reflect on institutional relationships, and co-develop ideas for sustained collaboration. Outputs from both sessions will be consolidated into a findings report that will inform the project’s final policy recommendations.