As part of the ILO's "Leader" programme on ESG principles, the companies Ingenio Azucarero Choluteca, Banco Atlántida, and Corporación Petrolera Montecristo (COPEMSA) have developed their respective risk and opportunity matrix, as well as stakeholder maps. This significant achievement was made possible thanks to the leadership of the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP) and its affiliated organisations: the Tegucigalpa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT), the Honduran Sugar Producers Association (APAH), and the Honduran Association of Banking Institutions (AHIBA).
The aim of the ILO's "Leader" programme is to strengthen the capacity of COHEP to effectively address social, environmental, and governance (ESG) challenges and opportunities, and to respond to society's growing expectations regarding corporate conduct.
With technical support from the ILO, COHEP developed a strategy to help Honduran companies anticipate and manage ESG-related challenges. This strategy, approved by COHEP's Board of Directors, is structured around seven key pillars. A central component of its implementation was the development of a Code of Good Practices, which systematises the experiences of Grupo FICOHSA (banking), ENERSA (wind renewable energy), SOLER (solar renewable energy), and FUNDAHRSE (an NGO specialising in responsible business conduct).
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To achieve these results, COHEP used the Practical Guide for Business Organisations, developed by the ILO with support from the ACT/EMP team at the ILO International Training Centre in Turin. This guide was adapted to the Honduran context needs and was used to train staff of the three affiliated organisations that participated in the pilot programme to promote ESG principles in their respective sectors.
As a foundation for the intervention, a survey was conducted among COHEP's 64 affiliated business organisations. The survey provided in-depth insights into their perspectives, level of knowledge, actions taken, and needs regarding ESG issues. The results showed that most organisations are familiar with ESG principles and are highly interested in implementing them. It also revealed that larger companies are more advanced in adopting ESG practices, while smaller one's face barriers, mainly due to lack of knowledge or concerns about their capacity to comply.
The information gathered was complemented by a business good practices workshop, which revealed that companies tend to focus on specific ESG criteria depending on their sector: renewable energy companies prioritise environmental aspects; agricultural companies focus on social issues; and banks emphasise governance.
Based on the knowledge gained, the training programme developed by the ILO global "Leader" programme was tailored to the regulatory framework and challenges faced by businesses in Honduras. The programme explains what ESG principles are, the benefits of their implementation, and the challenges and opportunities they present for the private sector. It also highlights national and international good practices and global trends, analyses the Honduran regulatory framework considering ESG principles, and offers guidance on how to implement and communicate results effectively.
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The training proposal was validated through an initial course for the business sector held between February and March 2025, as well as through pilot "training of trainers" initiatives with APAH, AHIBA, and CCIT.
The next step will be the digitalisation of the course, which will be offered in a hybrid format: a self-guided phase and a synchronous phase with sessions facilitated by trainers certified by the programme.
