United States Virtual Presence Post San Pedro Sula

Since its creation, USAID has provided more than $3 billion in economic assistance to Honduras.  These funds have focused on improving the socioeconomic development of the country by promoting economic stability, rapid and sustained economic growth, and the equitable distribution of the benefits of this growth.  These goals have been attained by promoting Honduran efforts to support:

• strengthening democratic institutions;
• diversification of agricultural production;
• expansion of exports;
• promotion of microenterprise;
• protection of  the environment;
• improvement of food security and sanitary conditions;
• increasing access to health services;
• expansion and improvement of the quality of elementary and vocational education; and
• provision of training opportunities;

Significant results have been achieved over the years through USAID's joint efforts with the people and Government of Honduras and other donors.  For example:

• in 1960, less than 30% of Hondurans had access to potable water; today, more than 75% do;
• illiteracy rates have dropped from 50% to 18.5% between 1960 and today;
• areas where wildlife is protected did not exist 25 years ago; today, about 5,800 quare miles are under improved management as national parks or wildlife refuges;
• Honduras returned to a democratic government in 1980 and has remained politically stable with a more independent judiciary system; and
• nontraditional exports have increased, providing employment to thousands of Hondurans.

Looking Ahead: USAID Strategy 2009-2013

In the coming years, the U.S. Government will focus on democracy, security, economic growth, health, education, food security, environment, and humanitarian assistance to help Honduras achieve the transformation goal of a democratic, well-governed state that responds to the needs of its people, and reduces widespread poverty.

The goals of the Department of State-USAID Joint Strategic Plan have been expanded to encompass the whole of U.S. Government foreign assistance efforts in Honduras.  The main goals of the US Government strategy are:

Governing Justly and Democratically is one of the primary goals because it is of vital importance of freedom and regional stability. Under this goal, USAID will strengthen the management capacity of local governments so they can provide better quality services that were traditionally provided by the central government.  USAID will also increase citizen involvement in local decision-making, and improve their transparency and accountability by strengthening the oversight of public funds.

Achieving Peace and Security is critical to achieving regional stability. The U.S. Government and the Government of Honduras will develop a bilateral multi-agency strategy to deal with shared threats, including international terrorism, gangs, organized crime, money laundering, and trafficking in drugs, arms, and people.

Promoting Economic Growth and Prosperity seeks to expand the benefits of Central America and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) to all sectors of Honduran society.  This program provides technical assistance to the private sector and to the Government of Honduras to comply with the new legal requirements and improve competitiveness.

Investing in People will focus on preparing students for 21st century opportunities.  USAID assistance focuses on empowering local governments to make decisions regarding education.  This program will also promote public-private partnerships to improve the education and competitiveness of the emerging work force. USAID will also work to improve educational quality of Honduras’s schools so that more children succeed academically and are able to complete their education through high school.

Providing Humanitarian Assistance USAID will continue to strengthen the Government of Honduras’s ability to prepare for and mitigate the damage from natural and man-made disasters, through the improvement of communication systems, evacuation plans, and the establishment of a national risk management system.