CABEI-supported NICAVIDA project receives "International Award on Gender Equity and Women's Empowerment"

Managua, December 06, 2021-. Karen Laguna is one of the beneficiaries of the Sustainable Development of Rural Families' Livelihoods Project (NICAVIDA), co-financed by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) in conjunction with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which was recently awarded the IFAD Gender Award 2021.

She is the owner of a small business that sells traditional foods such as nacatamal and cosa de horno in the department of León, who said: "We are very grateful for the support received from the NICAVIDA Project, which has allowed us to support our families by backing our businesses, increasing sales, properly managing profits and improving the infrastructure of our premises".

Mrs. Laguna's testimony is part of the positive impacts generated in transforming the lives of Nicaraguan women through the constant application of gender empowerment policies and strategies as agents of change, which were recognized by IFAD.

The initiative obtained the highest score in the gender equality category (6 points) in Latin America and the Caribbean, and provides for capacity building and planning, family, territorial and business investments, as well as project management. It also provides for increasing the income of the beneficiaries, improving their nutritional quality and strengthening their capacity to adapt to climate change, particularly by facilitating access to water.

"We are proud to support this type of transformation and social welfare initiatives, as CABEI we are creating the necessary conditions to continue promoting the active participation of women in our society," said CABEI Executive President Dante Mossi.

Currently, 25,239 families participate in the program, of which 15,670 are women heads of household, and of the total number of families headed by women, 73.1% belong to indigenous peoples. In addition, 158,626 people receive support for the sustainable development of coffee and cocoa productivity through incentives, as well as access to markets and climate information, and their productive capacities are strengthened, thus impacting 65,199 women.

The NICAVIDA Project is implemented by the Cooperative and Associative Community Family Economy Ministry (MEFCCA) and directly benefits vulnerable households in the Dry Corridor of Nicaragua, including eight departments: Madriz, Nueva Segovia, Estelí, Matagalpa, Boaco, León, Chinandega and Managua. The goal is to reach 30,000 families engaged in various activities, combining integration strategies in urban and rural labor markets with agricultural production for self-consumption and marketing.

CABEI is co-financing this initiative with US$15 million in conjunction with IFAD, a specialized international financial organization of the United Nations (UN) that aims to transform rural economies and food systems to make them more inclusive, productive, resilient and sustainable.

Achievements

One of the main contributions in the Dry Corridor is the formulation of territorial and business plans; 536 have been formulated with an investment program of US$3.7 million as of August, of which US$1.7 million has been disbursed. For this year, the portfolio will reach US$6.6 million to serve 5,533 families.

NICAVIDA has enabled the development of 564 infrastructure works such as wells, reservoirs, home yards, piles, roads, bridges, seed banks, and the rehabilitation of facilities, generating 19,574 jobs.

To improve nutritional quality and access to water, 76 school gardens, 84 seed banks (with a production of 467,563 quintals of basic grains), water storage in 155 basins, wells and mini aqueducts (with the generation of 15,200 cubic meters) have been established. In this way, 559 communities have been supported, benefiting 14,100 families and 4,700 children.

In line with CABEI's commitment to mitigate the effects of climate change, 1,328 hectares were reforested through 15 community investment plans, in which 176,221 plants were established to strengthen 62 subway water reservoirs that feed different areas.

In addition, 5,529 wood-saving stoves and 291 ovens have been provided, which avoid the emission of 58,280 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, equivalent to a 39% reduction in the number of tons generated per year. In terms of training, 95,731 people received orientation on natural resource management and climate change.

NICAVIDA is one of 36 programs and projects that CABEI executes in Nicaragua to contribute to the economic, social and environmental well-being of more than six million Nicaraguans, making it the country's main strategic partner.