IRC's activities in Honduras
IRC support in Honduras has evolved over the years from giving input into knowledge development and sector learning to helping with the formulation of a new WASH policy in 2011 and getting involved in broader sector development. The current focus of the support is on (1) the introduction of the life-cycle costs approach to standardize intervention models and defining financing mechanisms for these costs; (2) the development of a sector monitoring information system and (3) the promotion and enabling of knowledge management and learning in the Honduran WASH sector. IRC collaboration with FHIS, CONASA and RAS-HON has resulted in official agreements.
Focus on life-cycle costs
In 2012, in Honduras a group of stakeholders consisting of FHIS, COSUDE, CRS, CONASA and IRC came together to work on life-cycle costs. A first seminar was on the subject was organised in May 2012 by CONASA, FHIS and IRC and looked at how a better understanding on life-cycle costs can help in defining criteria for efficiency and effectivity of intervention models. Currently a first study is being conducted making a systematisation of life-cycle costs of different models of intervention for the provision of water and sanitation in Honduras.
Focus on sector monitoring
In 2012 a working group on SIASAR (Sistema de Información de Agua y Saneamiento Rural - the sector information system for rural water supply and sanitation) has been established as sub-group of the broader working group on information systems that was already in place. IRC actively supports the working group.
Focus on knowledge management & sector learning
IRC works with its partners in Honduras towards a learning sector. Together with RAS-HON (the Honduran resource centre network) and its members it has build up a track record of activities towards improved learning and sharing in the WASH sector.
Working on life-cycle costs in Honduras
In May 2012, IRC, FHIS and CONASA organised a seminar on harmonization of different intervention models for WASH, with specific emphasis on the use of costing data in that. It was agreed that a costing study would be done, using the Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) of various intervention models in FHIS and other sector agencies. Read more about the study progress in the recent blog post
'It's fun to work with the L C C A' written by Stef Smits.
IRC assists WASH policy development in Honduras
Although water and sanitation coverage in Honduras has increased in recent decades, there is evidence of deficiencies in the quality and efficiency of both water and sanitation. Indeed, gaps in coverage still remain, particularly in rural parts of the country where over a million people – half of whom are children, and a quarter of whom are women – still lack access to safe water and sanitation.
First informative meeting on SWA in Honduras
On 25 October 2011, IRC together with other SWA partners in Honduras conducted a meeting to inform the Honduran WASH sector on the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) global partnership and to seek the country’s interest to engage with this global partnership and to participate in the next biennial SWA High Level Meeting (HLM) which is planned in April 2012.
Everyone, forever?
This video tells the story of the approach of Everyone, Forever, followed by Water For People in the municipality of Chinda, Honduras. Water For People has tried to achieve 100% coverage in rural WASH in this municipality, and to set up institutional capacity to maintain that coverage. In September 2011, IRC's Stef Smits carried out an assessment of that experience. Check here whether everyone has been reached, and whether the services might last forever.
The 'Everyone, Forever' case of Chinda
Read the summary report of the case study in Spanish that was developed by Water for People and Triple-S on the "Everyone, Forever" approach for full water and sanitation coverage in the municipality of Chinda, Honduras. The case study describes the mechanisms that were put in place to reach full coverage. It also analyses to what extent a base has been established for ever lasting water and sanitation services.
The full report is available in the IRC WASH Library, and can be accessed by following this link.
Estudio caso -corto Chinda.pdf (355.2 kB)
Sustainability of rural water supply systems in Honduras by involving technicians in applied field research
Within the collaborative programme between IRC and RAS-HON (the Water and Sanitation Network of Honduras), applied field research is being carried out on different aspects, which affect the sustainability of rural water supply systems in Honduras. This is done by Operation and Maintenance Technicians (TOMs), who provide post-construction support to community-managed services. The first field research focused on multiple-use of water, which showed that the regulation of such uses could contribute to more sustainable services. A second round of field research is starting now, and aims to map experiences with transparency and accountability at community level.
Strengthening knowledge management cooperation agreement between IRC and FHIS
IRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Honduran Social Investment Fund FHIS (Fondo Hondureño de Inversión Social) that includes a joint workplan until August 2011. The objective is to strengthen knowledge management within FHIS, and on the other hand to express a continued commitment of FHIS to its involvement in the CHRECIAS resource centre, which is part of RAS-HON (Red de Agua y Saneamiento Honduras), the Honduran water and sanitation network.
