Outcome HND_D_2.1

The State and Honduran society implement policies, strategies and programs that allow the transition to an adequate and inclusive economic transformation and decent work for women and men.

Given that 2022 was considered a bridge stage for a second phase of the Women's Local Economy and Territory Program (MELYT), priority was given to continuing relationships with strategic allies in order to: improve access and use of tools, business, financial services and digital; support the construction of an environment of well-being, social protection, decent work and strengthened care systems to take advantage of economic opportunities and organizations and networks of women strengthened and organizationally expanded to promote the economic empowerment of women. During this year the new government took over and began to open spaces to approach issues long demanded by Women civil society organizations. With SEMUJER (Secretary for Women's Affairs): the Gender Policy of the Agri-Food Sector is being addressed with the Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG ) under the joint decision of both Ministers, which is expected to end in 2023. The other joint line is working with the private sector to develop their investments with a gender focus, promoting the WEPs principles achieving the subscription of 4 companies. In addition to the foregoing UN Women with SEMUJER and Secretary of Social Development (SEDESOL ) and Ciudad Mujer joined efforts to put together a Central American Colloquium: "The care society in rural areas: horizon for a sustainable recovery with gender equality", from October 26 to 28, 2022. This event was organized in preparation for the XV Regional Women Conference (CRM) ECLAC/ UN Women. This event was led by UN Women with WeEffect our strategic ally on Women's Economic Empowerment with a joint venture of 5 International Development Organizations more. Around the Colloquium, together with WeEffect and Diakonia Sweden, a parallel event was organized at the XV CRM; Care and rurality in Central American contexts. Within this process, SEMUJER Minister Doris Garcia, with prior preparation supported by UN Women, was able to position herself very well before the conference and became part of the conference secretariat. With Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)it was possible to take the first steps to launch the new trinational Inclusive Financial Ecosystem (EFI) regional program. This initiative has opened a great interest that makes explicit the coherence with the need in the subject. We have been able to begin to respond to strategic stakeholders, such as Inter-American Investment Corporation of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB Invest) as well as national Financial Institutions, private and public banks as well as saving and loan cooperatives, associations and the National Cooperative Women Council. A new agreement has already been signed with the new government to support the economic empowerment of women in conjunction with the Business Development Centers for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Companies (CDEMIPYMEs) of Lempa and Occidente with technical assistance for gender-sensitive business development. The proposal is to accompany the strengthening of the organizational structures of the social economy sector (Associative Companies, Savings and Credit Banks and Cooperatives) of women and/or ensuring the inclusive participation of women entrepreneurs or businesswomen in a clear link with chains of value. In addition, discussions have been held with the Presidential Delegate of Ciudad Mujer to accompany the Economic Autonomy Module through an agreement with National Entrepreneurship and Small Business Service (SENPRENDE).

The State and Honduran society implement policies, strategies and programs that allow the transition to an adequate and inclusive economic transformation and decent work for women and men.

The launch of the Honduras Food Security Policy (2023-2043) aims to foster economic, social, and environmental improvements in a sustainable and inclusive manner. This policy reflects the realities and aspirations of producers in Honduras' key sectors, incorporating contributions from public, private, and civil society actors involved in the agri-food sector. Its formulation comes at a pivotal moment of global transition, shaped by the post-COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, climate change, and rising costs of inputs, services, and technology. This context aligns with global technological advancements and the widespread poverty affecting small-scale producers. The Food Security Policy (PESAH) emphasizes the need to increase agri-food production in the country and proposes the creation of a separate national rural development policy, in coordination with state and private entities specialized in the field. The current context presents new challenges, including biosecurity, climate change, bioeconomy, the substitution of chemical fertilizers, organic production, livestock production, land invasions, migration, protected agriculture, specialized farming, and rural youth, among others. The Third Gender Equality Policy Plan of the State, currently under approval by the Council of Ministers of Honduras, is a vital tool for advancing the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leaving no one behind. The Third Gender Equality and Justice Plan 2023-2033 (hereinafter referred to as III PIJGH), launched by the Government of the Republic of Honduras, is instrumental in achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls (SDG 5). This requires states to adopt and commit to developing and implementing public policies that address the root causes of discrimination and gender inequality. The progress made toward gender equality in Honduras and in the region shows that much work remains, especially in terms of changing discriminatory sociocultural patterns, strengthening institutional capacities, and allocating the necessary resources to effectively implement plans, programs, projects, and public policies aimed at closing gender gaps and combating social, political, cultural, and economic discrimination. In Honduras, various forms of discrimination and violence persist in different areas of everyday life, undermining fundamental rights such as access to education, healthcare, dignified employment, decision-making power, and political participation—ultimately affecting the dignity and well-being of women in all their diversity. The State must ensure the necessary conditions for all individuals to fully enjoy their rights. This is why the creation of tools like this public policy is crucial for impacting the daily lives of Honduran women. The measures adopted in the policy aim to achieve material equality by integrating political, legislative, and/or administrative actions to eliminate any form of discrimination and violence against women and girls in state action. These actions guarantee non-discrimination on the basis of gender in society and promote women's access to the full enjoyment of their rights and fundamental freedoms, focusing efforts on the prevention, care, and eradication of all forms of violence and discrimination. Under the EFI program, UN Women, in coordination with the National Banking and Insurance Commission, supported the National Institute of Statistics in reviewing the financial inclusion module integrated into the Permanent Household Survey (EPHPM). This module aims to assess the level of banking inclusion among the Honduran population, as well as their financial literacy and personal finance management skills. The data collection took place in the last quarter of 2024 and will serve as an analytical tool, helping to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in financial inclusion. This will also lay the groundwork for policy guidelines and strategies focused on women's inclusion in the provision of financial products and services. Financial Inclusion Module Through technical assistance, UN Women is strengthening the capacity of the National Banking and Insurance Commission (CNBS), which oversees financial activities related to insurance, pensions, and resource management and investment. UN Women has signed a memorandum of understanding with the CNBS to collaborate on developing training processes on gender gaps in women's participation in financial institutions, their access to and use of financial services, and other relevant topics. Support will also be provided for the development of methodologies and training techniques, both formal and informal, on gender and masculinities. Efforts will focus on promoting gender equality within financial institutions and mainstreaming gender perspectives into the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (ENIF) 2024-2028, as well as conducting analysis and data tabulation based on the financial inclusion data gathered and the Gender Gaps Report for the financial system. Well-being, Social Protection, and Care Systems As part of the MELYT program, UN Women has supported the Ministry of Social Development in achieving three key milestones: The establishment of the High-Level Cabinet for the Creation of the Comprehensive Care System in Honduras, as a governance space for the development of the Care System within the Social Cabinet of the Government of the Republic, involving 12 institutions. The installation of the technical team for the Care Cabinet. The creation of the technical care table. These spaces foster dialogue and exchange between institutional actors and civil society organizations, promoting interinstitutional collaboration to advance several key initiatives, including the drafting of a bill for the Comprehensive Care System, the development of an inclusive care policy, a government communication campaign on caregiving to raise public awareness, and a high-level forum on care. Additionally, a mapping exercise was conducted to identify all initiatives and programs funded by international cooperation. A meeting was held to discuss the lines of work and coordinate efforts to promote shared responsibility for care, align actions, and contribute to the development of a more equitable and sustainable care system in Honduras. Participating organizations include: UN Women, We Effect, CARE, Justicia Alimentaria, Oxfam, the Embassies of Canada and Germany, Spanish Cooperation, the IDB, PNUD, UNICEF, UNOPS, OHCHR, UNHCR, the OAS, SOCODEVI, and the Office of the Resident Coordinator. Collaboratory for Promoting Innovative Initiatives An important strategy for fostering economic transformation and promoting decent work for both women and men is the establishment of a collaboratory aimed at promoting innovative initiatives to accelerate inclusion and promote women's financial health. This collaboratory brings together financial and non-financial service providers to address key issues such as increasing financial education, reducing loan requirements, especially for rural women, and overcoming barriers like lack of information, poverty, and limited access to technology.

The State and Honduran society implement policies, strategies and programs that allow the transition to an adequate and inclusive economic transformation and decent work for women and men.

Approaches to government institutions has been made, such as the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE) to achieve data collection through financial inclusion and time use surveys in the trifinio region; joint work with Secretaría de Estado en el Despacho de Desarrollo Social (SEDESOL) and Secretaria de Asuntos de la Mujer (SEMUJER) to achieve the installation of a the national care board, installation of the care regional platform and the launch of the care certificate with CLACSO, WE EFFECT, UNICEF, with Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Coperation funds, as part of the construction of the comprehensive care system; With Servicio Nacional de Emprendimiento y Pequeños Negocios (SENPRENDE), joint actions have been identified regarding women owners of businesses, companies or productive units and their access to tools to strengthen business, financial and digital capabilities. Aiming towards this goal, exchanges of experiences have also been carried out with business service providers (4 hondurans) at the regional level to know and apply the best practices of services and technological platforms with gender focus. Another determining result is the participation of financial institutions that are part of the country's large financial ecosystem, such as banks, cooperatives, microfinance companies, fintech, regulatory entities and associations, have joined the initiative the Inclusive Financial Ecosystem (IFE) program funded by the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg which aims to close financial gender gap and introduce innovative financial products and services with a gender focus. As knowledge products, it is expected to achieve publication in the first half of 2024, the analysis of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) MELYT guarantee fund, to learn its best practice of financial impact measurement with gender focus. During this period, two organizations subscribed the WEPS principles, making a total of 9 companies in the country. The WEPS have been promoted jointly country and regional level, through a latinamerican webinars cycle of WEPS experiences.