Rural Opportunities in the Gulf of Fonseca in Honduras

The project aims to improve the economic well-being of small-scale entrepreneurs and producers especially women youth and marginalized people living in poverty in the Dry Corridor of Honduras. It works to strengthen the business competencies of micro small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and to enhance their ability to profit from markets. The project also fosters a local economic environment contributing to the success of MSMEs in the best way to achieve short-term results while building long-term sustainability. The project engages both agricultural and non-agricultural enterprises directing 70% of the investment towards those owned by or mainly employing women youth and other poor and marginalized groups. Project activities include: (1) providing training and technical assistance on business and organizational skills to MSMEs producers and their organizations;(2) linking MSMEs to financial services;(3) enhancing access to local national and export markets;(4) increasing the ability of business development services for MSMEs; and (5) strengthening the ability of institutions to implement local economic development plans and sharing of lessons learned. The initiative covers 33 municipalities; it is expected to reach 7 000 households comprising 36 000 people 70% of them women and/or youth. The project is implemented in partnership with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and McGill University. It also engages a full range of Honduran stakeholders in government the private sector academia and civil society at the community department and national levels.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved business technical and financial practices of small-scale enterprises especially those led by or mainly employing women youth and/or marginalized people; and (2) increased productivity and sales by small-scale enterprises especially those led by or mainly employing women youth and/or marginalized people living in poverty.