Oxfam has been working in Nicaragua since 1987. Since the beginning, we have been working to improve the lives of thousands of small-scale producers and peasants, particularly women.

Background

Poverty in Nicaragua is concentrated in the rural zones, where more than 25 per cent of the population is living on one dollar a day.This situation has got worse with trade liberalisation and the government has been unable to implement public policies that can reverse this situation.

Complete communities have become isolated and the public budget destined for them is nothing or scarcely able to cover their social needs, especially in the Caribbean coast.

Oxfam's work

We support human rights and lobbying organisations, which are helping women and indigenous groups to lobby for their economic, political, and individual rights.

We are also working with more than 20 local organisations and governments on schemes to raise awareness of sustainable and environmentally friendly farming methods, so that farmers are able to conserve their precious soil and water resources.

We are also developing strategies for dealing with disasters such as floods and earthquakes.

We have two main strategies in Nicaragua:

Sustainable livelihoods and product diversification

This work seeks to build on Oxfam's experience in food security and market access. Our main objectives include:

• enhanced food security and income, based on product diversification;
• increased income and the capacity of women to participate in markets;
• better social organisation to negotiate in markets and participate in relevant policy processes;
• improved access to agricultural development services, technology and infrastructure.

Gender and reduced vulnerability to natural and/or man-made disasters in zones addressed by the programme are issues that have been integrated in all our work.

Civil and political rights in Nicaragua

This programme builds on Oxfam's considerable experience of working with women and indigenous people on the Atlantic Coast.

It aims to improve people's capacity to undertake advocacy work, improve municipal accountability mechanisms, and develop transparency and good governance in civil society and municipal and regional governments.

This work has a specific focus on getting local governments to include women's rights and needs in investment plans at the local and regional levels.

Last updated: feb 06