From Principles to Practice DIGITAL

Building climate resilient housing in Honduras’ Sula Valley 2022 to present Sula Valley, Honduras Build ChangeRetrofitting homes to enhance structural resilience and access to essential resources, including energy, water and waste management, preserving cultural identity and ensuring that communities could withstand future climate events. In 2022, Build Change partnered with the Honduran Red Cross to pilot a climate-resilient housing programme in Honduras’ Sula Valley. The Sula Valley is one of the most important economic centres in Hon- duras, with Porto Cortez playing a critical role in trade with Europe and North America. However, the region is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, which cause widespread flooding and destruction. When people cannot live and work in the Sula Valley, the ripple effects on the national economy are significant. In response, Build Change piloted the programme with communities in Lupo Viejo and Potrerillos, collaborating with the Honduran Red Cross. This partnership combines Build Change’s retrofitting expertise with the Red Cross’s emergency response experience. The programme includes retrofitting existing houses to make them resistant to earthquakes, floods and strong winds. This retro- fit involves the addition of a “dry” second story that provides safe refuge during floods, and the installation of photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting systems and biodigesters to improve access to energy, water and sanitation. These improvements ensure access to basic services even during emergencies and reduce environmental risks during floods. The rainwater system provides a week’s worth of water for a typical family, connected to a fully functional bathroom on the second story. This approach helps to prevent involuntary migration and addresses the socioeconomic and psychological challenges of displaced communities. The pilot phase successfully upgraded eight homes, with ongoing efforts to retrofit more homes in the Sula Valley and create long-term systems change for climate-resilient housing currently under way. The first phase was recognized by the Latin American Development Bank as one of the top 10 innovations for social impact in Latin America. 85 Presented by Build ChangeHIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DBQS GOVERNANCE ENVIRONMENT FUCTIONALITY SENSE OF PLACE