The Water Fund has worked extensively in Honduras, focusing on the municipal level with the objective of improving water and sanitation services in rural, peri-urban and urban areas. Among the lines of work, the focus has been on capacity building for small operators, with an emphasis on Integrated Water Resource Management at the micro-watershed level.
At the same time, there has been an important component of coordination of stakeholders at different levels: inter-municipal, with civil society and with the collaboration of Spanish operators, through various technical cooperation initiatives.
HND-018-B: Water and Sanitation Project in the Comayagua Valley. Complementary phase.
This programme, with a budget of €2.1 million, ended in August 2024, after four years of implementation. In 2024, a third extension of five months was approved to complete the remaining activities, especially those related to the water management awareness campaign and environmental education. The programme succeeded in meeting the objectives and results set out in the General Operational Plan (POG) and its annual plans.
In terms of infrastructures, the inauguration of the Ajuterique and Lejamaní distribution networks, is of note, an important milestone in improving access to drinking water in the Comayagua Valley. The second phase of latrine construction was also completed, reaching a total of 220 units in rural communities, directly benefiting more than 1,100 people. In addition, ultrasonic macro-meters were purchased and installed at strategic points in the system managed by Aguas de la Sierra de Montecillos, which will make it possible to improve flow control and operational planning for the system. The system’s operation and maintenance plans were also updated.
In terms of institutional strengthening and water resource management, an awareness campaign was developed and implemented directly by the management team, reaching more than 2,600 people through community meetings, home visits, educational tours, demonstrative talks and plumbing workshops with a gender focus. Within this component, the forum «Women’s leadership in water management 2024» was also held as part of this component with the participation of women, strengthening their role in decision-making for the sustainability of the service. The environmental awareness campaign in schools and communities, as well as actions related to payment for ecosystem services, were also completed.
HND-019-B: Optimisation of drinking water and sanitation systems in the city of Choluteca.
The programme «Optimisation of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Systems of the City of Choluteca», with a budget of €2,178,117, aims to improve the quality of life of the population by increasing the coverage of water and sanitation services in the city of Choluteca. During 2024, the Annual Operational Programme (POA 5) was approved, the General Operational Plan was restated, and a new management team was integrated. In line with these modifications, a Contingency Plan was drawn up to adapt the implementation to the new planning. A 15-month extension was also granted to the programme, which has allowed the planned activities to continue and progress towards the achievement of the set objectives.
In terms of infrastructure, the consultancy for the design of the water catchment works from the Choluteca River was awarded an order to begin, and progress was made in the preparation of preliminary studies and analysis of alternatives to increase the water supply. At the same time, the terms of reference for the external supervision of these works were drawn up and progress was made in the consultancy for obtaining the environmental licence for the sanitation works, including the technical closure of the El Edén oxidation pond.
In terms of institutional strengthening, the consultancy for the digitalisation of the user register was completed, which will improve the commercial and operational management of the system. In addition, the general diagnosis of the service provider Aguas de Choluteca was started, and progress was made in the preparation of the tender specifications for the acquisition of equipment that will strengthen the operation and maintenance of the system. Within the activities related to water resource management, reforestation activities were carried out on Cerro Guanacaure, with the recovery of 3 hectares of forest. The micro-watershed of Cerro Guanacaure is one of the sources of supply for the city of Choluteca, but also for the towns of Santa Ana de Yusguare, El Corpus and Namasigüe. The increase in demand has significantly reduced the flow, making actions aimed at the protection and conservation of water sources essential.
HND-020-B: Improvement of water resource management in peri-urban and rural areas of the municipality of Siguatepeque, Honduras
The programme «Improvement of water resource management in water-producing micro-watershed and improvement of drinking water and sanitation services in peri-urban and rural areas of the municipality of Siguatepeque», with a budget of €3,276,032.62, aims to ensure quality drinking water and sanitation services, as well as the protection of the municipality’s micro-watersheds. During the year 2024, the implementation of actions in the three components of the programme has continued, although various difficulties have meant that the programme has not progressed at the expected pace.
In the area of infrastructure, progress was made in the pre-qualification of companies for drinking water and sewerage works, as well as in the preparation of tender specification documents and terms of reference for the supervision of works in three sectors: Norte, Purán and Guaratoro. In parallel, land for wells and tanks was identified and environmental tendering continued. In terms of resource availability, the consultancy for the identification of new supply sources was awarded.
In terms of institutional strengthening, gender equity was promoted through workshops with community women’s networks and logistical support to the Municipal Women’s Office; currently 40 women are part of the structures of community organisations. Motorbikes and equipment were also provided to Aguas de Siguatepeque, USCL and COMAS, to strengthen the capacities of the municipality. On the other hand, in water resource management, awareness-raising workshops on water quality were held with water boards, monitoring kits were delivered, and environmental restoration actions were implemented in micro-watersheds. In addition, management plans were drawn up for the Guaratoro and Chamalucuara micro-watersheds, and the procurement process for the Integrated Land Use and Management Plan (POMI) for the Calán river micro-watershed was initiated.
HND-024-B: Improving access to drinking water, sanitation and integrated water resource conservation services in the Lenca corridor of Honduras.
The programme «Improving access to drinking water, sanitation and integrated water resource conservation services in the Lenca corridor of Honduras» has a budget of €4,299,694.60 and aims to contribute through interventions in water, sanitation and water resource management. Following a detailed analysis of the municipal association’s current capacities, this programme will be implemented by the organisation Water for People Honduras (WFP-H), which has been working in the area for a long time, within the framework of a Delegation Agreement approved on 21 August 2024.
