The Rise of a Wixarika Leader
When Cilicia Ahyte first became involved with DGM Mexico, she was a young Wixarika leader offering workshops in her community on productive livelihoods. Today, she is recognized as a powerful voice for Indigenous Peoples—not only within her territory in the Sierra Madre Occidental, but also on national and global platforms.
Her professional path shifted significantly after engaging with the Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM). As a local promoter, she participated in technical trainings and international exchanges that expanded her knowledge and sharpened her vision for the future of Indigenous communities.
Through the program, she also became a DGM Global Fellow, a learning initiative designed to strengthen the leadership of Indigenous Peoples and Local Community representatives through capacity building and peer exchange. Since then, she has been invited to join three international events, including a speaking role at COP28 in Dubai and, most recently, as a panelist at the Second DGM Global Women’s Leadership Training held in Kenya in May 2025, which brought together 35 participants from 15 countries to share strategies for strengthening women’s leadership in climate action.
“Participating in DGM allowed me to see the future of Indigenous communities with new eyes. It opened professional doors and gave me the tools to design and lead projects with a gender and climate perspective.”
These experiences catalyzed her growth as a community leader and technical facilitator. Cilicia currently leads projects for Fundación Pro Zona Mazahua in Wixarika communities in northern Jalisco, supporting the implementation of both productive and social initiatives with a focus on climate change, sustainable agriculture, community governance, and gender.
As a direct result of her involvement in the DGM, Cilicia was also contracted twice as a consultant for the World Bank in Mexico. In 2023 and 2024, she contributed to the monitoring of subprojects under DGM Mexico and helped apply the W+ Standard, a methodology used to measure women’s empowerment and leadership.
“Now I don’t just implement projects — I train others, raise awareness, and work with organized groups on climate change, governance, and gender as a cross-cutting issue, she says. “Young women now come to me with ideas. I hope one day we can form a network.”
Cilicia’s journey shows how long-term investment in local leadership and inclusive governance can transform lives. From her early role as a community promoter to becoming a respected trainer and international speaker, her path reflects the core vision of the DGM: creating space for Indigenous and local leaders—especially women and youth—to lead the solutions in their territories.
Read more about Cilicia and other stories of impact in our 2024 Annual Report.
By Lidiane Castro (Conservation International)