Promoting Rural Development from a Territorial Perspective: The Case of The Yeguare Region, Honduras

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the impact of the implementation of a territorial model of development in the Yeguare Region of Honduras. The research questions look to determine the impact of the territorial approach for each of its major components: (a) youth development, (b) gender roles (c) sustainable livelihoods and (d) territoriality. The purpose was achieved through the following research questions: (a) What has been the impact of the youth participation and vocational education for the youth in the Yeguare Region?; (b) What has been the impact of the territorial approach on the development of the Yeguare Region?; and (c) How has the sustainability of livelihoods of the Yeguare Region been impacted by the territorial approach?. This study used two methods. Quantitative and qualitative methods permitted the gathering and analyzing of different types of project data. The quantitative analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative analysis elaborated and expanded the quantitative analysis. Ten themes related to the impact of the territorial model of development in the Yeguare Region emerged during the research. Youth leadership and entrepreneurship, youth expectations and future plans, and occupational status and welfare of the families were the emergent themes for youth development. Territoriality had the following emergent themes: priorities for local development, design of policies based on the established priorities, inter-institutional alliances, and organizational capabilities in the region. Sustainable livelihoods considered association capabilities, financial services, and welfare of the families as its emergent themes. The contribution of this study to the field of sustainable development was to expand the knowledge about the impacts of a territorial model of development in rural Honduras. Also, policymakers and project stakeholders may use this information to plan, design and implement more effective development programs, and may decrease project expenditures, increase income, and benefit the communities.