Cozumel Launches 2026 Workshops to Strengthen Civil Organizations

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Cozumel has 40 civil organizations formally integrated into a network, and as many as 75 when groups still in formation are counted — growth that led officials to launch the 2026 Professional Development Workshops for NGOs, program coordinator Joaquín Calzada said.

The workshops focus on improving resource management, transparency and the impact of the organizations’ community projects.

Transparency and Funding Among the Main Challenges

Calzada said the training program is built on a diagnosis of the organizations’ needs and aims to give them tools to improve how they operate.

Across Quintana Roo, he said, there are roughly 700 organizations, 328 of which hold official registration. The training sessions will be concentrated mainly in the northern part of the state.

Calzada noted that the organizations must comply with rules requiring them to prove the lawful origin of their funds, account for how the money is used and meet a range of other obligations. He said those controls also matter for building trust among citizens, donors and the communities the groups serve.

The work of the organizations varies with the needs of each municipality. In Cozumel, a significant share of the activity centers on environmental protection, Calzada said, while in other parts of Quintana Roo many groups focus on education and care for people in vulnerable situations.

Stronger Planning and Greater Community Impact

The 2026 workshops are intended to help associations improve the planning and execution of their projects so they can make better use of available resources. Calzada said the ultimate purpose is to raise the quality of the organizations’ work and ensure their programs deliver greater benefits to the communities where they operate.