Crea Honduras and the Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC), one of the principal private universities in the country affiliated with the Laureate International network, will partner to advance social and economic development, it was announced.
“We consider the alliance with the academy as an important collaboration model, and we value the dynamics of UNITEC with whom we will develop projects that emphasize institutional strengthening, youth, technology and social inclusion, ” says Crea Honduras head Susana Ferrera, an economist and experienced international development practitioner who has worked extensively in community development and workforce development with a variety of donors, NGOs and private sector partners.
“Our mission as Crea Honduras is to support the people and communities of this country, and to do this, we propose using innovation and technology to influence social development,” she adds.
The Oct. 25 agreement unites the UNITEC’s research acumen, educational excellence and technical knowledge in business, entrepreneurship and technology with Crea Honduras’ expertise backed up by Creative Associates International’s 41 years of experience in education, social and economic development, corporate social responsibility, citizen security and violence prevention, as well its ability to implement complex projects in challenging environments.
Crea Honduras and UNITEC will develop a joint research agenda, and partner in developing and implementing social initiatives. The first project will be aimed at the institutional strengthening of national organizations.
Continuing a legacy of development results
Officially launched in August, Crea Honduras and neighboring Crea El Salvador build on Creative Associates International’s robust experience implementing sustainable development programming over three decades in Central America.
Creative is currently implementing seven projects across the region, including in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and the Caribbean. These projects focus on preventing crime and violence, improving technical education and training, raising incomes for small-holder farmers and more.
The Honduras and El Salvador Crea subsidiaries draw upon the evidence-driven expertise of Creative in the region and serve as agile, flexible and innovative implementers of development programs, collaborating with a variety of donors and partners to tackle the region’s most pressing challenges.
In addition to its partnership with UNITEC, Crea Honduras recently piloted an innovative prevention program in collaboration with the Honduran government’s Deputy Secretariat of Security for Prevention.