Honduras

Located in the heart of Central America, tropical Honduras was once part of Spain's vast New World empire and became an independent nation in 1821. More than 7 million people live here. The distribution of wealth is extremely imbalanced and unemployment rates are extremely high.

The economy relies heavily on a few agricultural exports, most notably bananas and coffee. In recent years, however, Honduras has experienced a significant increase in manufacturing, predominantly from U.S.-based companies establishing operations in the country.

After 25 years of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982 and has been successful at maintaining peace and some level of economic development until 2009, when unrest and a power transition again occurred. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed more than 5,500 people and caused approximately $2 billion in damage.

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Honduras News

  • ITT Expands its Corporate Citizenship Program [read more]

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BACKGROUND:

Population:
6,969,000
Languages:
Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Per capita income:
$3,420
Life expectancy:
67/73
Under-five mortality rate:
27/1,000 live births
Sources:
UNESCO and UNICEF

Long-term success in Honduras

Water and Sanitation

A recent water and sanitation sector analysis reported that in 2001, Honduras had reached water coverage for 80% of its total population and 70% of those living in rural areas. But the same study revealed that water quantity and quality are not adequate, and suggested that the existing infrastructure poses a serious health risk to citizens. An alarming 90% of the water supply is intermittent and unreliable. This study found that only 44% of the water provided is effectively disinfected and that there is a lack of adequate water quality control and monitoring, especially in rural areas. Many rural communities have no water infrastructure whatsoever. Sanitation coverage in Honduras is improving, reaching 68% of the total population but only 50% of the rural populace.

Water For People in Honduras

Water For People began working in Honduran communities in 1993 and has focused on villages in the northwestern part of the country in the departments of Santa Bárbara, Cortés, Yoro, and Atlantida.

Water For People–Honduras will support 28 communities and 26 schools in 2010, helping people obtain safe drinking water, sanitation services, and hygiene education. Typical projects include protected springs, gravity-fed water systems, pumped water systems, storage tanks, and pour-flush latrines.

Over the years, Water For People–Honduras has developed valuable working relationships with several government and nongovernmental field partners, including the National Autonomous Water and Sanitation Service (SANAA); the RAS-HON North water and sanitation network; municipal governments of San Antonio, Chinda, and El Negrito; and numerous NGOs and private sector supporters operating in these regions. There is an ongoing effort to build the capacity of these partners so that they will have the skills to develop future water systems without Water For People’s help.

 


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