Impact Spotlight

Strengthening team and institutional capacity to improve programs across five coastal communities in Guatemala

Advancing nature-based livelihoods, environmental education, and shark conservation led by coastal communities

Designing and replicates environmental education and community entrepreneurship models to expand lasting impact

About

Founded in 2014, Fundación Mundo Azul (FUNMZ) integrates applied research, environmental education, community participation, marine conservation, and nature-based livelihoods. The organization conducts long-term fisheries monitoring with artisanal fishers and generates scientific evidence to support shark and ray conservation, fisheries management, and public policy. It currently works in nine coastal communities across Guatemala's Pacific and Caribbean regions. Since its founding, FUNMZ has implemented 53 projects with support from more than 32 donors, reaching more than 65,000 people. Its priorities include participatory fisheries research, environmental education, Shark Clubs, mangrove conservation and restoration, women-led mangrove beekeeping, and a women-led native mussel cultivation initiative.

“We believe marine conservation is more effective when coastal communities actively participate and have sustainable alternatives for their livelihoods. Our partnership with the Honnold Foundation allows us to strengthen our team and our programs to better support these communities, expand nature-based solutions, and generate lasting impact for the people and marine-coastal ecosystems of Guatemala.”

— María de los Ángeles Rosales, Administrative Project Coordinator

HF Partnership

FUNMZ's collaboration with the Honnold Foundation is evolving from an initial project that integrated solar energy, mangrove beekeeping, and community-based conservation in Barra Sarstún into a multi-year partnership for 2026–2028. Through flexible funding, this new phase will strengthen FUNMZ's institutional capacity to increase the quality, sustainability, and reach of its programs in coastal communities across Guatemala; this multi-year grant does not include new solar installations. The work will span four areas: strengthening internal talent and leadership; systematizing and digitizing processes; refining and validating environmental education methodologies and community entrepreneurship models; and strategic communications to document, share, and expand FUNMZ's impact.

This institutional strengthening will allow FUNMZ to more effectively support five coastal communities on the Pacific coast (Las Lisas, Buena Vista, and Sipacate) and the Caribbean coast (Sarstún and El Quetzalito), advancing mangrove beekeeping, mussel cultivation, environmental education, Shark Clubs, shark conservation, and participatory research. Community groups, young leaders, artisanal fishers, and local committees will actively participate in implementation, monitoring, and decision-making as FUNMZ works to build more consistent, replicable, and sustainable community programs that diversify livelihoods, strengthen local leadership, and improve the conservation and resilience of marine-coastal ecosystems.