Andes | Brazil | Nicaragua | More by : Regions | Alphabetically

Nicaragua

Background

DFID provides poverty reduction budget support and works in programmes that focus on

• governance,
• public sector reform,
• social and economic inclusion,
• and HIV/Aids prevention and control.

Our total country programme for 2006/7 is £4m and will remain the same in 2007/8.

DFID works with partners and our regional strategy(298 kb) is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of assistance provided by multilateral donors. DFID support is channelled through a combination of instruments that include direct technical assistance with multilateral organisations such as the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and UNDP, as well as several bilateral donors, and strategic partnerships with civil society organisations. DFID also provides general and sector specific budget support to the Government of Nicaragua (GoN).

Back to top

DFID's work

The objective of the governance and public reform component of DFID's work is to ensure that public administration and political systems are more transparent, accountable and responsive to the poor. We engage simultaneously with central and local governments, political institutions (such as political parties and legislative bodies), and Civil Society Organisations.

We also work with the governmental and private sectors to stimulate equitable economic growth and fair access to markets. Special emphasis is given to strengthening Small and Medium-sized Enterprises' (SMEs') capacity to improve their competitiveness and their ability to engage with central government and International Financial Institutions.

So far we have helped 110,476 micro and small urban and rural entrepreneurs to do this. Access to regional and national markets has improved as a result, allowing SMEs' to participate in international trade. One example is the case of La Asociación de Productores de Plátanos de Rivas (APLARI) members, who signed a contract in August 2006 allowing 600 small producers to provide plantains to Central American supermarkets.

Our work in HIV and Aids Prevention and Control has encouraged the GoN in its efforts to develop a stronger national response to the growing epidemic, and focus on reducing stigma and discrimination through the involvement of faith and community based organisations. Christian churches and religious leaders are heavily involved in the struggle against HIV and Aids. One of the main challenges is to fight stigma and discrimination and turn it into solidarity and hope in favour of persons who live with HIV.

In Bluefields mortality rate among those who suffered HIV and Aids in the Southern Autonomous Region (RAAS) was one hundred percent. Recent Official statistics show that rate has plunged down to two percent.

Last updated: 17 September 2007

Back to top