Top managers and technical specialists of the Honduran Company HONDUPALMA and Guatemalan INDESA met in the offices of the latter on August 25. The objectives of the meeting were to exchange experiences and knowledge and define a joint working plan. During the meeting, both companies signed a technical cooperation agreement to reach such objectives. 

Also during the first meeting participants discussed areas of common interest such as the use of biomass to generate energy, the sustainable management of african palm and Mechanisms of Clean Development, among others.  

Both companies identified specific areas of technical cooperation. This cooperation will take place in both countries through trainings and field visits  in order to implement techniques and knowledge to improve the productive, environmental and social performance of INDESA and HONDUPALMA.  

This visit and the signature of the agreement were facilitated by SNV as part of the project "Competitiveness Program for Sustainable Environmental and Productive Management of a Small Producers Cooperative" . This project has been funded by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID ) and is being implemented by SNV. 

For more information please contact SNV Advisors: Rubén Gallozzi rmgallozzi@snvworld.org and Bella Sosa bsosa001@snvworld.org

SNV in Central America has signed 4 new projects with 4 entities: Acción Internacional, Nicaragua's Educative Forum Eduquemos, UNDP and Lafarge Honduras.

In the project with Acción Internacional, SNV will be providing advisory services to the financial institution FAMA, which is a beneficiary of the project “Expansion to Rural Regions of a Micro-Financing System" in Nicaragua, in order to consolidate alliances with key actors in 3 value chains and with the aim of offering their services adapted to the participants in each chain.

With Nicaragua's Educative Forum Eduquemos, SNV will advise in the implementation of the project called “Investing in Human Capital”, an initiative also supported by The Netherlands Embassy planning to encourage more investments in the education sector.

With UNDP, SNV will carry out a study to assess the possibility of developing biogas initiatives in Honduras. The study will help identifying raw materials to produce biogas in different industries and technologies to be applied, defining the uses of biogas, assessing the potential for a carbon market and identifying the financial needs of the industry. 

With Lafarge Honduras, SNV will design a business model to expand the company's sales of concrete/cement to low-income communities in urban districts of Honduras. This will be carried out thanks to savings-credit solutions, delivery of construction materials and specialized technical assistance.

SNV in Central America has signed 4 new projects with 4 entities: Acción Internacional, Nicaragua's Educative Forum Eduquemos, UNDP and Lafarge Honduras.

In the project with Acción Internacional, SNV will be providing advisory services to the financial institution FAMA, which is a beneficiary of the project “Expansion to Rural Regions of a Micro-Financing System" in Nicaragua, in order to consolidate alliances with key actors in 3 value chains and with the aim of offering their services adapted to the participants in each chain.

With Nicaragua's Educative Forum Eduquemos, SNV will advise in the implementation of the project called “Investing in Human Capital”, an initiative also supported by The Netherlands Embassy planning to encourage more investments in the education sector.

With UNDP, SNV will carry out a study to assess the possibility of developing biogas initiatives in Honduras. The study will help identifying raw materials to produce biogas in different industries and technologies to be applied, defining the uses of biogas, assessing the potential for a carbon market and identifying the financial needs of the industry. 

With Lafarge Honduras, SNV will design a business model to expand the company's sales of concrete/cement to low-income communities in urban districts of Honduras. This will be carried out thanks to savings-credit solutions, delivery of construction materials and specialized technical assistance.

SNV in Central America has signed 3 new projects with 3 entities: Acción Internacional, Nicaragua's Educative Forum Eduquemos and UNDP.

In the project with Acción Internacional, SNV will be providing advisory services to the financial institution FAMA, which is a beneficiary of the project “Expansion to Rural Regions of a Micro-Financing System" in Nicaragua, in order to consolidate alliances with key actors in 3 value chains and with the aim of offering their services adapted to the participants in each chain.

With Nicaragua's Educative Forum Eduquemos, SNV will advise in the implementation of the project called “Investing in Human Capital”, an initiative also supported by The Netherlands Embassy planning to encourage more investments in the education sector.

With UNDP, SNV will carry out a study to assess the possibility of developing biogas initiatives in Honduras. The study will help identifying raw materials to produce biogas in different industries and technologies to be applied, defining the uses of biogas, assessing the potential for a carbon market and identifying the financial needs of the industry. 

SNV, as member of the Education Working Group, took part in the Conference on the Quality of Bolivian Education last 18-19 August.  Participants included authorities from the Ministry of Education, research institutes, NGOs and representatives of education centers. 

The key note speaker was Dr. Vernor Muñoz, former Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, who focused his presentation on the problems of education worldwide and the current tendencies for its analysis and discussion. Also, he analyzed the link between education, economy and development. 

The Education Working Group (Mesa de Trabajo en Educación -MTE) is an entity focused on the coordination in the education field. Some of its members are: The Netherlands Embassy in Bolivia, SNV, Plan International Inc., Terre des Hommes, CEBIAE, Autapo Foundation, CNC-CEPOS and ICCO. Its main objectives are to create knowledge for mutual learning and support to the education sector of Bolivia.