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Small actions, big change

Transforming Communities in Honduras

By IW:LEARN

October 22^nd, 2024

In many parts of the world, we often find ourselves admiring how other communities manage their resources and improve their quality of life. We ask, "Why aren’t similar initiatives taking root in our own towns and cities?" But in our reflections, how often do we stop to consider the role each of us can play in fostering change?

Every action, no matter how small, has the potential to inspire others and uplift communities. In Honduras, a project is proving this principle true.

The GEF CREW+ project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) alongside the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is bringing tangible improvements to communities in both ethnically significant regions and areas poised for tourism growth.

One such example can be found in the Indigenous communities of the Honduran Mosquitia. Here, the construction of basic sanitation units in villages such as WAMAKKLICINASTA and TRUKTSINASTA is transforming lives. Families are benefiting from better sanitary conditions, which is not only reducing the prevalence of diseases but also cutting down medical costs. The changes, though small in scale, are having a profound impact on health and quality of life.

Elsewhere, in Omoa’s La Playa neighbourhood, a pilot wastewater treatment plant is being built. This new facility, together with a sanitation network, will not only serve local residents but also protect the quality of water available to tourists, a vital consideration in this coastal area

These are small actions with wide-reaching implications, but for lasting change, sustainability is key. Communities must be empowered to maintain these improvements, ensuring health gains are not just temporary but long-lasting.

At a time when local actions can drive global benefits, are we all prepared to do our part?

About the project

The GEF CReW+ Project, "An integrated approach to water and wastewater management using innovative solutions and promoting financing mechanisms in the Wider Caribbean Region," is a partnership project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that is being co-implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 18 countries of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR).

This project builds upon its previous successful phase, “The Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (CReW)” project (2011-2017). GEF CReW+ is being executed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Organisation of the American States (OAS), and the Secretariat of the Cartagena Convention (CAR/RCU) on behalf of the IDB and UNEP respectively.