Gender and Vulnerable Populations Inclusion Strategy

The Activity focuses its efforts in six Departments in western Honduras and, starting in Fiscal Year 2021, in five urban municipalities under USAID's Development Objective 1 (DO1) implementation zones. The Activity conducted an Analysis of Gender, Vulnerable Populations, and Social Inclusion in the first year of implementation and developed a corresponding Strategy for western Honduras. With the extension of the Activity to DO1 areas of operation in fiscal year 2021, the Activity updated both the Analysis and the Strategy to ensure a unified and coherent approach to gender and social inclusion issues in both areas of implementation. The updated Gender and Vulnerable Populations Inclusion Strategy addresses the main gaps identified in the Analysis document and proposes concrete actions to close them, in alignment with the activities in the defined FY2021 work plan. The Strategy focuses on two main areas: Actions directed at Civil Society and Building the capacity of citizens and CSOs to ensure effective participation in and oversight over local services. The Activity will increase the knowledge of citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) that represent vulnerable groups about their rights and obligations in relation to the Activity's targeted services. The Activity will adapt gender and social inclusion training materials from the first three years of implementation, as necessary, to train citizens and CSOs regarding the different needs of vulnerable groups. The Activity will also conduct targeted outreach and communication campaigns to increase access to services for vulnerable groups. To promote a culture of social inclusion for vulnerable populations, messages will be disseminated by various means, framed within the Activity's technical assistance strategies. The Activity will discuss and test the targeted messages with organizations representing vulnerable populations during the production process and prior to their dissemination, in order to guarantee a technically appropriate approach that supports achievement of the Activity's objectives. The Activity will also build the capacity of citizens and CSOs to ensure effective participation in and oversight over local services. To support the actions in the Activity's work plan, HLG will strengthen the representation of civil society groups that represent vulnerable sectors, especially networks of women and youth, in decision-making processes. The Activity will also train groups of women and young people to conduct social audits and follow up on the recommendations of citizen oversight processes. The Activity will replicate and adapt models and approaches of inclusion previously used in DO2 municipalities in the new DO1 municipalities. The Strategy focuses on promoting the visibility and inclusion of other vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, LGTBI, indigenous people, young people, and returned migrants. The Activity will support the inclusion of gender and vulnerable populations in information campaigns regarding the local governments' transition and transfer processes to ensure that all citizens and civil society understand the objectives of the process.