CABEI: improving the quality of life of 35,838 families in the Nicaraguan Dry Corridor

Managua, January 30th, 2023.- Due to the scarcity of water and high temperatures in Nicaragua's Dry Corridor, improving productivity and achieving good yields in the different agricultural activities requires economic inputs for investment, technology and a lot of perseverance from the families. This has been achieved in the last 5 years with the execution of the Sustainable Development Project for the Livelihoods of Rural Families in the Dry Corridor of Nicaragua (NICAVIDA).

This broad initiative is supported by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), in conjunction with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and is implemented through the Ministry of Family, Community, Cooperative and Associative Economy (MEFCCA), benefiting 35,838 families living in the 37 municipalities that make up the Dry Corridor in the departments of Chinandega, Managua, Boaco, Madriz, León, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia and Estelí.

It is worth noting that 19,417 (54%) of these families are headed by women, and 3,800 are indigenous, whose living conditions have been improved by increasing their income through the appropriate use of natural resources, improving their food and nutritional security and reducing their vulnerability to climate change by innovating in organic agriculture, growing a variety of vegetables and selling them in the local market. 

"We are satisfied with the excellent results of the NICAVIDA project, which contribute to the economic development of the families living in Nicaragua's Dry Corridor through the various actions that make up this project and that have improved productive practices through water harvesting, drip irrigation techniques, seed improvement and the opening of ventures that have boosted the economy in the communities," said CABEI Executive President Dr. Dante Mossi.

Firm execution

To date, NICAVIDA has carried out more than 986 productive infrastructure works such as wells, reservoirs, home yards, tertiary roads, bridges, seed banks, among others, with which more than 1,327 hectares have been reforested, mainly water recharge areas, and 1,000 commercial facilities have been rehabilitated.

In addition, 22,510 diagnoses have been made for vulnerable families, surpassing the goal by 15%, in addition to providing information on nutrition and practices to improve their diet to almost 85,000 people and more than 81,000 have been trained in Natural Resources.

In 2021, NICAVIDA was recognized by IFAD with the International Award on Gender Equity and Women's Empowerment, obtaining the highest score in the gender category in Latin America and the Caribbean.