Mexico

The United States and Mexico relationship is critical to regional stability, security, and prosperity. IRI has worked with state and local officials and civil society groups to strengthen Mexico’s governance, accountability, and citizen awareness. IRI’s work with political parties, government officials, CSOs, and key stakeholders has helped boost the country’s political system and aided in the successful integration of direct input from civil society in the adoption of anti-corruption laws.

To strengthen and stabilize local Mexican governments, IRI is currently collaborating with civil society at the local level to promote and advance Open Government Partnership (OGP) commitments. IRI’s program aims to increase the knowledge base of the state governments of Guanajuato and Nuevo León on how to implement and access open government mechanisms. At the same time, IRI is also fostering a network of civil society organizations (CSOs) and working with them to form coalitions while creating accountability and pressure for the local governments to incorporate OGP principles at the local level. CSOs’ ongoing individual advocacy restructured as a coalition is critical in pushing government officials to align with the national strategy.

Similarly, IRI supported the effective adoption of Mexico’s new justice system (Nuevo Sistema de Justicia Penal – NSJP) through increasing public awareness and understanding of the new system among Mexican citizens and public officials tasked with its implementation. To achieve this, IRI implemented training sessions, communications campaigns, and justice summits to further the discussion between local, state, and federal officials, CSOs, and community leaders about the new justice system.

Lastly, IRI equipped and trained Mexican CSO partners in Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Querétaro to inform citizens to boost demand for lawful behavior and effective anti-corruption/judicial strengthening measures. Through coalition creation, IRI supported constructive engagement between civil society, the private sector, academia, and Mexican government stakeholders. As a result of this project, state anti-corruption laws contain direct inputs made possible by the work of these coalitions.