A year of continuity and consolidation of economic development actions, battling food insecurity, and promoting human rights

In 2010, Nicaragua remained the poorest country in Central America alongside Guatemala. The country suffers from little economic exchange at a regional level. The central area called “el corredor seco” has again endured long and multiple drought periods; it therefore remains one of the priority areas in preventing risks and disasters. Indigenous regions on the Atlantic coast face chronic poverty conditions, exacerbated by recurring natural disasters such as the summer 2010 floods. ACTED has therefore continued its response to the needs of vulnerable populations in the rural parts of the Autonomous Region of the Northern Atlantic, Central and Pacific coast areas. Finally, in Managua, ACTED has maintained an institutional presence by opening a shared office for Alliance2015 members.

Supporting economic and value chain development in the country’s central regions

In the remote central Waslala municipality, ACTED has continued to implement a comprehensive 3-year project designed to strengthen economic development and the milk production value chain, to benefit more than 200 families of small-scale producers in 12 rural communities. By intensifying agricultural productivity, stronger organization at the family farm level and setting up environmental activities in cooperation with local authorities, ACTED pursues its objective aimed at stopping the progression of extensive but low-yield agriculture into protected natural reserve of Bosawás. By working upstream and downstream of the value chain, with the support of three local partners, ACTED notably distributed agricultural equipment to beneficiaries, provided technical assistance aimed at reinforcing small-scale production capacity, set up 12 community agricultural companies as well as a business structure destined to manage the upcoming milk collection center in 2011. Finally, setting up a sustainable forest and pastoral approach in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) should set the groundwork for local economic development, respectful of environmental constraints.

Strengthening vulnerable populations’ food security and woman and child protection

In the North Atlantic region in 2010, ACTED launched livelihood support activities in agriculture and improving access to water and sanitation with a view to strengthening the food security of vulnerable populations of the miskita culture. In more than 19 rural communities of the Waspam municipality of the Rio Coco Abajo area, ACTED built and rehabilitated water and sanitation infrastructure, namely tazas rurales in primary and secondary schools. At the same time, an awareness campaign covering good hygiene practices was launched by ACTED for students, youths, women and community leaders, with support from our local partner and local authorities. On the agricultural front, over 500 small-scale farmers, weakened by the low yield of the their production and by the impact of the summer 2010 floods, received equipment and agricultural inputs, as well as technical assistance throughout the year. Two rice, wheat and bean collection and trading centers were established in the two main communities of the Rio Coco Abajo. Finally, ACTED took part with the FAO in setting up a cooperative in an important fishing community, by providing a refrigerated truck and a boat to ease transportation and trading of fishing goods.

On the Pacific coast, ACTED focused on another kind of vulnerable population: mothers and children living in poor quarters of 4 major coastal cities. By setting up a community circus, ACTED helped 420 women and children from marginalized families take part in artistic activities such as theatre, dancing, music and painting. The objective was to raise their awareness to human rights. By collaborating with our local partner, community leaders, grassroots organizations and the local government, ACTED aimed at promoting woman and child protection in vulnerable environments, while establishing institutional dialogue to facilitate the integration of poor quarters in urban development strategies.

Strengthening institutions and diversifying actions based on acquired experience and synergies with the main actors in the field

ACTED is strengthening a strategy based on economic development and fighting food insecurity for vulnerable populations in the country’s most fragile areas (Atlantic, municipalities of the corredor seco, protected natural reserves and poor suburban areas). On another front, ACTED is aiming at strengthening its capacity to prevent risks and disasters and emergency response mechanisms, mainly during the cyclonic season. Finally, on an institutional level, ACTED is developing ties with Alliance2015 partners, NGOs, grassroots organizations and authorities involved in these intervention fields.