Honduras

	Progressio country representative in Tegucigalpa:
	Xiomara Ventura
	Programme Coordinator in London:
	Belisario Nieto
	No. of development workers currently in post:
	9
	We have been working in Honduras since the 1970s

Progressio has been working in Honduras since 1970. Progressio's work in Honduras aims to increase civil society participation, develop a sustainable environment, and tackle HIV and AIDS and gender equality. During most of the twentieth century, Honduras was under the heel of foreign (mainly US-owned) corporations and military dictatorships. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch struck Honduras and destroyed much of the country's economic infrastructure, leaving 16,000 dead and approximately 70 per cent of the country's crops destroyed. The hurricane's long-term impact was an economic recession and a sharp increase in poverty. The work of some civil society organisations has subsequently led to Honduras achieving status as a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) and these organisations are active in working on the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Progressio and its development workers have:

• supported local partner organisations fighting poverty, particularly those involved in the implementation, monitoring and social auditing of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, and all work to alleviate poverty affecting women
• developed the ability of local partner organisations to manage natural resources - principally water, forest and soil - in a sustainable way, to tackle environmental vulnerability and influence environmental legislation. In 2007, lobbying by Progressio's local partners resulted in a new national law to protect national forests
• supported initiatives that raise HIV and AIDS as an issue of national concern, and the monitoring of the Poverty Reduction Strategy in relation to people living with HIV and AIDS, as part of wider work to tackle health problems and increase access to public services
• Honduras hosted an international environment conference in 2007, bringing together Progressio staff from Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa to share knowledge and skills to take forward Progressio's sustainable development work

Challenges remain. By 2010, Progressio aims that:

• tackle gender inequality, Progressio supports at least one women's organisation promoting women's political participation and auditing as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. At least half of local partners incorporate and implement an anti-sexist perspective in their development strategies and their day-to-day practice. As a result, Progressio aims that local partner organisations report an increase in women's participation and empowerment in their organisations.
• at least half of local partners working in local development  participate and contribute to local development plans, including participatory municipal budgets and social auditing. This is part of Progressio's work to promote sustainability of electoral democracy and governance, political and institutional reforms, the emergence of municipal power and greater civil society involvement in decision-making that affects poorer Honduran people.