MAIN ACTVIVITIES

Food Security

The vulnerability of the population of Nicaragua comes from the instability of the production system, whether at the household level or at distribution level. Lack of opportunities for diversification of monetary resources, the bad weather conditions and lack of access to land are limiting the productivity and severely affecting the household economy.

• Support to production of basic grains to ensure a minimum of food availability over the years
• Promotion of Workforce Intensive Program as social safety net against hunger
• Monitoring and treatment of chronic malnutrition
• Promotion of national and municipal institutions fighting against hunger, according to the right of access to food
• Diversification of revenues through agricultural micro firms selling agricultural and nonagricultural products on international markets
• Cultural approach to understand and fight against chronic malnutrition

Water and sanitation

The current deterioration of the environment associated with the impact of natural phenomena is reveling in high levels of vulnerability of the population. This vulnerability can easily create high-risk situations: in case of droughts for example, affecting year after year the food production and visibly reducing the water resources, and increasing the risk of epidemics linked to consumption contaminated water.

• Rehabilitation of drinking water systems for human consumption
• Strengthening the municipal management of water
• Micro level approach in arid areas to face droughts and climatic change

Disaster prevention and emergency response

Following its emergency response in September 2008, ACF continues the reconstruction work in the area affected by Hurricane Felix: construction of latrines, distribution of farm tools and reconstruction of water infrastructure.

• Preparation to natural disasters (droughts and floods)
• Improving of the knowledge to monitor hydrometeorological risks
• Alert and warning systems
• Emergency water supply (bladders and reparation of wells)
• Epidemiological monitoring
• Distribution of emergency food, seeds and tools

HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

Nicaragua, one of the poorest countries in South America, is facing structural problems since few decades, half of the population has no access to basic sanitation structures. Chronic malnutrition affects 25% of children. Nicaragua has the biggest land in the region and yet it is one of the most economically vulnerable countries: 8 of 10 people live with less than two dollars a day. This vulnerability has severe consequences on the living conditions of the Nicaraguans whenever a natural disaster hit the population, such as the hurricane Felix in September 2008 that affected more than half one million people.

The effects of the global economic crises continue to have an impact on the economy of the country through exportations; investment flows and tourism revenues fall.

The state is strongly presence in key sectors (health, education, social) and/or in significant geographically or demographically areas (suburban, rural areas with low political and economic influence). This leads to a marked difference between the living conditions and access to basic rights of the population.

Nevertheless, the country has made important progress these last years in order to achieve the first Millennium Développement Objectives, the fight against hunger.