Honduran Economy Seen As 'Promising,' But Needs U.S. Guidance

Honduras represents "a particularly promising challenge" for Washington, D.C., policymakers, in the words of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The slow, but growing economy in Honduras, combined with participation in CAFTA, FTAA, and WTO trade agreements, is complementary to that nation's "active civil society," the agency said in a recently obtained planning document. Consequently, USAID is dispatching a Senior Mission Economist/Donor Coordinator to Tegucigalpa to make sure the Hondurans don't screw it up, the document indicates. In order to prevent such backsliding, a PhD-level economist with U.S. citizenship is needed to assess the impact of Honduran "policies and practices on USAID programs."

Acting in the capacity of the U.S. Mission’s chief economist, he or she will analyze "key policy and operational constraints that Honduras needs to overcome to increase competitiveness and achieve broad-based economic growth." The U.S. Mission is, after all, responsible for developing and managing U.S.-sponsored assistance programs that are "focused on economic freedom for the poor, democracy and governance, and education and health of vulnerable populations."

On the other hand, USAID acknowledges, Honduras "shares its border with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Due to its location in the center of the Central America corridor used for trafficking in narcotics, arms, and persons, it is a region of considerable geopolitical and strategic interest to the United States."

The contract for the position requires a two-year stint in Honduras, with three one-year options. The pay range is $89,625-$116,517.

In a separate economic-development front, the U.S. Treasury intends to send contractors to Honduras, Nicaragua, and elsewhere on short-term advisory assignments to develop "legal frameworks for public securities."

The objective is to provide technical assistance and policy advice on sovereign debt matters "to senior ministerial and central bank officials, as well as to market participants in host countries." The salary range for these positions is $107,550-$149,200.