Guatemala Leverages Inclusive AI for Smarter Local Governance
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of daily life, influencing various aspects from navigation and messaging to food delivery and transportation organization. In Guatemala, the primary focus is not on whether AI will influence society, but on ensuring its impact is positive, inclusive, and accessible to all.
AI represents a historic opportunity to modernize public services, build trust between citizens and government, and develop fairer, more efficient solutions. In line with this vision, Red Ciudadana, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is advancing Inclusive Municipal AI through the Joint Programme on Digital Transformation, funded by the Joint SDG Fund with support from the European Union and 16 Member States.
Local Realities and Ethical Principles
This initiative is grounded in local realities, guided by ethical principles, and shaped by the participation of residents and municipal workers across Guatemala. Municipalities serve as the frontline of public service delivery, handling responsibilities ranging from public lighting and water management to construction permits and urban planning. In this context, AI is seen not as a luxury but as a tool to strengthen institutional capacity.
Enhancing Municipal Services with AI
AI can assist municipalities in several ways: organizing citizen reports, guiding residents through administrative procedures, anticipating service disruptions, and analyzing patterns to improve planning and decision-making. The true value of Municipal AI lies in its ability to respond to concrete community priorities, respect human rights, and reduce inequalities rather than exacerbate them.
Building Digital Literacy and Capacity
The Inclusive AI project builds on the experiences of UNDP and Red Ciudadana in promoting transparency, participation, and public sector innovation. Since August 2025, the collaboration has focused on several key areas:
- A community-based digital literacy program targeting women, youth, and older adults, which strengthened basic digital skills and introduced AI concepts to reduce technological barriers.
- Specialized training for municipal officials to help teams understand AI, its practical applications, and the ethical responsibilities associated with its use in public institutions.
- Participatory processes that identified real municipal use cases where AI could improve services, such as citizen support, service management, territorial planning, and cadastral systems.
- Collaborative development of initial prototypes of AI solutions with municipal teams to enhance responsiveness, automate tasks, and strengthen transparency.
AI for Local Development Challenge
In early 2026, the AI for Local Development Challenge will launch, aiming to foster innovative AI solutions that address local public challenges. This initiative encourages collaboration among civil society, academia, the private sector, and local governments to co-create ethical, inclusive, and people-centered AI tools.
Through technical support, mentoring, and opportunities to present proposals, the challenge aims to build a local innovation ecosystem and scale sustainable municipal solutions.
Conclusion
Advancing Inclusive AI in Guatemala is fundamentally a human and territorial process. It prioritizes listening to communities, strengthening local capacities, and building trust between citizens and public institutions. When responsibly designed and implemented, AI has the potential to help municipalities respond effectively to daily needs while promoting equitable, transparent, and people-centered local governance.
