Honduran Resource Centre for Knowledge and Information, CHRECIAS

CHRECIAS, the Honduran Resource Centre for Knowledge and Information, is formed by its members, the support from RASHON and the overseas organisations who support the initiative. It results from a common vision that sharing knowledge and making it accessible to all those who need it, is better than to keep it hidden away within the organisations. The organisation is based on a network of individuals who believe in the generation and extraction of new knowledge, not only that which can be found in text books, but also within people’s minds, their daily jobs, their work dynamics, at the organisations, and the work relationships among them. They are very heterogeneous people with diverse abilities, who accept changes and mistakes as a challenge to improve.

In the beginning, the growth of CHRECIAS was a slow process, since at the time, many of us had never heard about knowledge management, thematic groups, or documentation of experiences, for example. During this process, many people left, and others came in. There were those who thought so much discussion was useless, and were not willing to go on with the process, but there was always a group of people who were committed to the process, this consistency is reflected in the results for the two following years during which continuous progress has been achieved.

CHRECIAS arose as an initiative that has come to fill an empty space in the sector, strengthening knowledge management, the development of capabilities and establishing learning alliances in topics like governance, sanitation, multiple uses of water, transparency, etc. Its actions are based on its conceptual document and its strategic plan that applies the cycle of knowledge management in a practical way.

For the time being CHRECIAS is an organisation that does not have a budget for operational expenses. This means all the tasks are accomplished through voluntary service of RASHON members, with the support of some institutions which approve that some of their employees work on a part-time basis on these activities, and eventually with the assistance of university students who help while complying with required professional practice.

Tools

A range of tools have been used to implement the cycle of knowledge:

• Information technologies such as a website and google groups
• Documentation and systematization of experiences resulting in articles, field notes and bulletins.

Factors of success

• The approval of the sub sector water and sanitation law
• Credibility as an instrument for dialogue and consultation
• A demand for knowledge
• Financial support from international organisations
• Support from member organisations
• Technical support received from IRC.

Future challenges

Although it is true that after the establishment phase of the Resource Centre, the development of projects and important products for the sector has been accomplished, there are several challenges that will have to be overcome before the initiative is successful and can continue working independently from the collaboration of external organisations. These challenges are:

• Financing of operating expenses
• Strengthening of the core group
• Support of the reinforcement of decentralized levels.