Strengthening capacities for the sustainable management of drinking water in rural communities in Honduras: a technical training experience from the Civil Engineering Program at UNAH

Abstract

The sustainable management of drinking water in rural communities of Honduras faces critical limitations, such as low technical capacity to design supply systems and the lack of trained personnel to operate appropriate technologies in rural contexts. This article presents the results of a research study aimed at identifying technical capacity gaps in the sector and systematizing a continuing education experience led by the Water and Sanitation Research Group of the Civil Engineering program at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH): the Advanced Diploma for the Sustainable Management of Drinking Water in Rural Communities. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining a sectoral diagnosis based on 329 surveys with an evaluation of the academic outcomes of the diploma program, developed between August 2024 and April 2025. The findings reveal a structural deficiency in the technical training of personnel in the rural water and sanitation sector, with more than 60% having received no prior training. Priority demands were identified in potable water treatment, rural system design, and the operation of compact treatment plants. The diploma, designed based on these gaps, combined distance learning, project-based methodologies, case studies, and the use of specialized software, achieving high levels of satisfaction (94%) and professional impact (98%). The experience demonstrates that continuing education programs with territorial focus and technical relevance can strengthen local capacities and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6. It is concluded that progress toward formal institutionalization through accreditation and inclusion in public policy is necessary.