On August 20, 2025, in Tegucigalpa, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducted the third edition of grant awards to nine Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Honduras. These organizations will implement initiatives to promote citizen and civic participation among historically underrepresented groups, including people with disabilities, women, indigenous and Afro-descendant populations, LGBTIQ+ individuals, and young people.
The selection process began with over 30 proposals, from which the nine organizations that best met the program’s criteria were chosen. The activities supported by the grants will focus on strengthening electoral personnel capacities, comprehensive training in electoral legislation, mock elections for first-time and underrepresented voters, conflict prevention, digitalization of human rights mechanisms, civic leadership, inclusive dialogues, strategic communication to combat disinformation, and sustainable, climate-resilient electoral logistics.
Each CSO received funding of up to 1,274,000 lempiras through the Support to the Electoral Cycle in Honduras for Transparent and Peaceful Elections (EUROELECT-H) project, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP. Prior to the grant awards, representatives of the selected organizations participated in four days of training covering project management, monitoring and evaluation, communication, and gender perspectives, equipping them with tools to ensure efficient and transparent use of the resources.
European Union Chargé d’Affaires Mickaël Roudaut highlighted the EU’s commitment to strengthening Honduras’ electoral cycle and fostering an inclusive civic space, particularly for groups that have historically been underrepresented. Similarly, UNDP’s Chief Electoral Advisor Iván Esquiva emphasized that the grants represent not just financial support, but an investment in the organizations’ capacity to drive meaningful participation and inclusion across the country.
The nine CSOs benefiting from this edition of grants include the Social Development Association “United We Can Do More” (UPOMA), National Federation of Organizations of People with Disabilities (FENOPDIH), Foundation for Municipal Development (FUNDEMUN), Diverse Women Association, Community Development Institute of Honduras (INDESCOH), Juan Manuel Gálvez Foundation, Association of the Center for Communication and Training for Development (COMUNICA), TRANSFORMING GENERATIONS Association, and the National Youth Council of Honduras (CONJUVEH).
Representatives from beneficiary organizations praised the initiative. Sonia Galindo of FUNDEMUN noted that participation in this edition strengthens both the organization and the municipalities it serves, raising awareness about transparency in electoral processes. Santos Espinal Montoya of the National Union of the Blind in Honduras (UNICH), working with FENOPDIH, highlighted that the grant will expand services to people with visual and other disabilities, enhance awareness of their rights, and empower them to exercise both voting and candidacy rights.
