Civil society organizations receive funding to promote citizen and civic participation among underrepresented groups

The European Union and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held a third edition of grant awards to nine (9) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that will develop actions to promote citizen and civic participation of underrepresented groups.

The actions will directly benefit groups of people with disabilities, women, indigenous and Afro-descendant populations, LGBTIQ+ people, and young people.

After receiving more than 30 proposals, the nine (9) organizations that best met the requirements were selected and will carry out activities in at least one of the following areas:

• Capacity building for electoral staff.
• Comprehensive training in electoral legislation and procedures.
• Electoral simulations for first-time voters and underrepresented groups.
• Conflict prevention and digitization of human rights mechanisms.
• Civic leadership and inclusive dialogues led by CSOs.
• Strategic communication and the fight against disinformation.
• Sustainable and climate-resilient electoral logistics.
   

Each organization received a grant of up to 1,274,000 lempiras awarded under the Support for the Electoral Cycle in Honduras for Transparent and Peaceful Elections (EUROELECT-H) project, which is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).}

Prior to the award ceremony, representatives of the selected CSOs participated in four days of training on project management, monitoring and evaluation, communication, and gender mainstreaming. These practical tools strengthen their technical skills and ensure the transparent and effective use of resources.

During the event, the European Union's chargé d'affaires, Mickaël Roudaut, said: “The European Union is committed to strengthening the electoral cycle in Honduras, for a more equitable, inclusive, and democratic society. To this end, it is necessary to strengthen the participation of all in the civic space, especially those groups that have historically been underrepresented.”

On behalf of the UNDP, Senior Electoral Advisor Iván Esquiva emphasized: “Today we reaffirm that the ideas and commitment of civil society organizations are the driving force behind the country's development. This support is not just a subsidy, it is an investment in their capacity to transform realities and open up more spaces for participation and inclusion in Honduras.”

The organizations that were awarded grants in this third round of small grants are:

• Social Development Association “Unidos Podemos Mas” (UPOMA)
• National Federation of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (FENOPDIH)
• Municipal Development Foundation (FUNDEMUN)
• Diverse Women Association (MUJERES DIVERSAS)
• Honduran Community Development Institute (INDESCOH)
• Juan Manuel Gálvez Foundation
• Communication and Training Center for Development Association (COMUNICA)
• TRANSFORMING GENERATIONS Association
• Honduran National Youth Council (CONJUVEH)

During the event, reactions were gathered from representatives of the beneficiary organizations. Sonia Galindo of FUNDEMUN, an organization that has benefited from these grants for the second time, highlighted that “Being part of this second edition will allow for institutional strengthening both within the organization and in the beneficiary municipalities. The project has made it possible to raise awareness about transparency in electoral processes.”

Santos Espinal Montoya of the National Union of Honduran Blind People (UNICH), who is participating in a consortium with the National Federation of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities of Honduras (FENOPDIH), said that "the consortium between these two organizations receiving this grant will make it possible to expand the coverage of care, not only to people with visual impairments, but also to those with other disabilities, promoting awareness of their rights and helping them understand that they can vote but also be elected.

About EUROELECT-H

This is a project funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP with the aim of strengthening the electoral and democratic process in Honduras from a comprehensive perspective. The actions of this initiative are aimed at improving the managerial and technical capacities of electoral institutions, incorporating a gender perspective.

In addition, it seeks to increase citizen participation and inclusion in the electoral process, with a special emphasis on promoting the political and electoral participation of women and other groups that have traditionally been discriminated against.