"The coronavirus pandemic poses significant challenges to social and economic development worldwide, requiring cooperation of all sectors and global solutions to combat this disease. In light of the ongoing crisis, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting the Government of Honduras tackle the national emergency as a result of COVID-19.

To reduce exposure of the population to the virus, measures such as social distancing, quarantine and curfew have been put in place countrywide. The impacts of these measures, however, is affecting the most vulnerable Hondurans, particularly in terms of daily access to food.

The National Center for Social Sector Information (CENISS), the entity responsible for maintaining updated information systems and databases in order to make evidence-based decisions on social policy, requested UNDP’s technical support for an improved targeting of beneficiaries of the “Honduras Solidaria” program, an initiative implemented by the Government that will help those most in need during the crisis. The important and ongoing work carried out by CENISS, which has a data registry of almost half the population of the country, allows to identify where are located the pockets of the most vulnerable people.

For the next 30 days, within the framework of “Honduras Solidaria”, basic food and hygiene items will be distributed to roughly 800,000 of the most vulnerable families in the country, accounting for about 3.2 million people (roughly one third of total country population). The selection is based on certain criteria including poverty, disability, elderly and early childhood, among others.

Likewise, other technical reviews are expected to be provided to ensure effective targeting with social protection programs of organized groups in the productive sector of the economy, such as vendor associations and the transportation sector.

Also, as part of our efforts to support actions for the emergency, 276 pickup vehicles of a UNDP-implemented national identity registration program have been repurposed to bridge the logistical gap and allow delivery of food and hygiene packages to the most vulnerable groups.

Our coordinated response operates on high standards of efficiency. We are working tirelessly to be able to support the efforts to reach out to the most vulnerable and ease their situation at this time of crisis while preventing the spread of COVID-19."

Richard Barathe

UNDP Resident Representative in Honduras