Nicaragua

As a result of the social and political crisis that began in April 2018, Luxembourg made changes to its development aid support to Nicaragua. As direct disbursements to the government had been frozen and the new Indicative Cooperation Programme (ICP) had not been signed, 2019 saw the end of bilateral programmes in tourism, vocational training and health. In relation to health, the construction of a primary hospital in El Cuá is of particular note. This will make it possible to deliver high-quality healthcare to a rural population of more than 50,000 people.

In 2019 Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation was able to reposition its development aid to Nicaragua in order to provide humanitarian support to the population and to strengthen its support for Nicaraguan civil society, particularly regarding the protection of human rights and democratic values. Thus, in 2019 support for the WFP school meals programme was signed, seeking to provide food security in rural areas, alongside new funding for the Civil Society Support Fund (FASOC) managed by Oxfam and a project by the Frontline Defenders NGO to support human rights activists. Cooperation with local NGOs has also been strengthened through the micro-projects fund of the Embassy in Managua.

Two Luxembourgish NGOs, Frères des hommes and Terre des hommes, have implemented projects in 2019, targeting the comprehensive care of children and young people at social risk, capacity-building (including food capacity) and the informal economy.

Finally, Luxembourg has continued to strengthen its support for regional projects in Central America, particularly the Central American Integration System (SICA), of which Nicaragua is a member country.