Supporting Civil Society Organizations in Nicaragua

01.01.2024 - 31.12.2024

SDC and other like-minded donors are engaged in enhancing the democratic and public policy processes in Nicaragua. A strong civil society is essential to the quality and sustainability of this effort. The proposed program will promote citizen participation, strengthen capacities of Civil Society Organizations and foster informed policy dialogue. 

PRODET – Programa Desarrollo Económico Territorial

01.09.2020 - 31.03.2025

In Nicaragua, the department of Nueva Segovia is known for its very high poverty level but also for its important economic growth potential, a dynamic productive sector and well-cooperating municipalities. In this context, the program promotes territorial economic development favouring vulnerable populations. Capacities and the coordination of public and private actors shall be enhanced, institutions strengthened, innovation systems supported, and productivity as well as competitiveness improved.

Community-driven watershed management for climate change adaptation in Nicaragua

01.01.2020 - 31.12.2024

In Nicaragua’s “dry corridor” strong climate variability results in reduced agricultural production and scarcity of water. The project will contribute to: the dialog among all actors of selected watersheds; commonly agreed upon action planning; and community-led rehabilitation of ecosystems. This will enhance the resilience of poor parts of the population confronted with climate change and will allow a healthy agro-ecological balance to be re-established in the watersheds.

Strengthening Governance and Human Rights in Central America

01.10.2019 - 30.09.2022

The program strengthens the capacities and the presence of the Inter-American Human Rights System in Central America in order to ensure the follow-up on court judgements and recommendations, to educate employees of the justice sector, to report on the Human Rights situation and to strengthen the protection of Human Rights defenders. The program further promotes dialogue on natural resource management among governments, the private sector, indigenous peoples, and Afro-descendants.

Grassroots women building resilience and peace in Central America.

01.10.2019 - 31.12.2022

The project enables two thousand grassroots women and their families to implement effective climate adaptation practices and strengthen their voice and leadership to influence related public plans and policies. The exchange of good local practices will be fostered among women in the region, thus increasing their resilience to climate change and variability.

Inclusive Cities

01.09.2019 - 30.04.2030

The programme promotes inclusive governance in the north-central region of Nicaragua. It strengthens the links between secondary cities and their rural environs, with a focus on participatory planning, economic development and environmental management. Secondary cities play a key role to reduce internal development gaps and promote decentralization. The intervention will capitalise twelve years of SDC experience with local governance in rural municipalities in the same region.

SDC Education Fund

01.01.2019 - 31.12.2022

As part of its increased commitment for Education and of the implementation of SDC’s Education Strategy, the SDC launches an Education Fund in order to incentivize innovation and the application of new approaches in basic education/vocational skills development and through educational activities across sectors. Innovation can have a catalytic effect on the effectiveness of programmes in and through education. Education is a core enabler for sustainable development and is an important lever in Switzerland’s commitment to promote human and economic development, peace and stability. 

Central America: Zamorano - Educating future leaders

01.12.2018 - 31.12.2022

Cosecha de Agua (Water Harvesting)

01.11.2018 - 31.12.2022

This project strengthens the food security of 2,500 families and responds to the challenges of climate change and the economic crisis in Nicaragua’s dry corridor. The second phase of the project is intended to systematize and replicate on a larger scale water harvesting and other practices for more efficient use of water resources. In the interest of enhanced implementation efficiency and effectiveness, the participation of the government is reduced and a contribution to a specialized international organization is proposed.

Cocoa value chain

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2023

Actors in the Central American cocoa value chain improve their productivity, establish public-private alliances, respect economic, social and cultural rights, and reduce their environmental impact. Thanks to the program 4,500 producer families will increase their net annual income by at least 10%, while 4,000 young adults and 2,000 women gain access to sustainable jobs. This will boost the local economy in the poor and peripheral areas in which cocoa is grown.  

Gobernanza del riesgo en Centroamérica

01.12.2017 - 31.12.2023

Centroamérica es vulnerable al cambio y la variabilidad climática así como a otras amenazas geológicas que ponen en riesgo la vida de alrededor de 19 millones de personas y su desarrollo económico. El proyecto promueve la gobernanza regional para mejorar la efectividad en la reducción de los desastres y la adaptación al cambio climático para contribuir al desarrollo resiliente. Promueve acciones de preparación y respuesta a desastres, así como la formación especializada y de calidad en reducción de riesgos de desastres en carreras universitarias seleccionadas.

Society, culture and memory

01.11.2017 - 31.12.2023

The “Society, culture and memory” programme promotes culture and historical memory in Central America to stimulate processes leading towards more inclusive, less violent societies. Both culture and historical memory have enormous potential to help to create identities and transform societies in the Central American region, which has been characterized by inconclusive peace and democratization processes and the highest rates of violence in the world. With its long presence in the region and its impartial reputation, Switzerland is well positioned to enhance these processes