Nicaragua

Recurrent natural disasters, poverty and economic shocks are driving hunger in Nicaragua. WFP has scaled up in the country to reach those at high risk of hunger, including farmers and hurricane-affected populations.
WFP/Cassandra Prena/2022
Make a difference in Nicaragua

Climate Change. Poverty. Hunger.

Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, with a full 30% of the population living in poverty. Over 8% live in extreme poverty (less than $ 1.25 per day.) The country is still recovering from Hurricanes Eta and Iota, storms that hit the country in late 2020 and brought widespread destruction. It’s a cruel irony that Nicaragua is part of the Dry Corridor, where prolonged droughts are followed by heavy rain that the dry earth can’t absorb fast enough, leaving families destitute and hungry.

WFP’s Work in Nicaragua

WFP has been present in Nicaragua since 1971. We aim to break the inter-generational cycle of hunger through programs that support health, education and agricultural activities while working to build households’ resilience to shocks.
Two schools, Los Pedernales and 15 de Septiembre, are located in a mountainous and impoverished area of Jinotega, Nicaragua. The schools are close to each other, and have the same director and principle. In this area, many families rely on the cultivation of coffee, maize and beans. Many of the students have indigenous roots. WFP supplies the schools with maize, beans and rice from small and local producers, thus, encouraging the national production of basic grains. In recent years, the school buildings were affected by hurricanes Eta and Iota. There are no longer kitchens at the school, and instead parents have volunteered to prepare WFP school meals. The meals are cooked at a nearby home and then are transferred by foot to the schools. 68 children study at Los Pedernales School and 44 children study at 15 de Septiembre school. Two schools, Los Pedernales and 15 de Septiembre, are located in a mountainous and impoverished area of Jinotega, Nicaragua. The schools are close to each other, and have the same director and principle. In this area, many families rely on the cultivation of coffee, maize and beans. Many of the students have indigenous roots. WFP supplies the schools with maize, beans and rice from small and local producers, thus, encouraging the national production of basic grains. In recent years, the school buildings were affected by hurricanes Eta and Iota. There are no longer kitchens at the school, and instead parents have volunteered to prepare WFP school meals. The meals are cooked at a nearby home and then are transferred by foot to the schools. 68 children study at Los Pedernales School and 44 children study at 15 de Septiembre school. WFP implements the school meal in the municipalities with the highest levels of food insecurity, including the municipalities of the department of Jinotega. As this is an area affected by hurricanes Eta and Iota, WFP implements the “School Meal Reinforcement”, which provides a second plate of hot food
Nutrition
Through its mother-and-child health programs, WFP helps those most vulnerable to hunger: pregnant women, nursing moms and newborns. Children at the pre-school and primary school levels receive hot, nutritious meals through the National School Meal Program, which is supported by WFP.
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Reyna Alicia Rizo is a small producer of basic grains. She owns and works her corn plot with her husband, son and nephew. Thanks to her efforts as a farmer, she has managed to give her two children a university education. For the families of the countryside this is an achievement that is beginning to be seen among the new generations. Reyna also is a leader of a WFP-supported Women's Economic Empowerment Group (GEEM) and is leading 20 women from 6 communities in Jalapa who are planting gardens in their backyards. In the gardens they grow vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, peppers, cabbages, beets, carrots and root vegetables. These products increase families’ availability of food in the home. They also sell the surplus, which allows these women to receive some income. Home gardens are a strategy implemented by WFP as part of the BOOTS Program (funded by the European Union) with families vulnerable to food insecurity in urban and peri-urban areas that do not have land to produce or the amount they own is not enough to obtain all the food they need. The home garden activity includes: • Delivery of inputs and tools for the cultivation of the garden, prioritizing households that have female heads of household. • Training on the establishment and care of the garden, production cycles, environmental protection, among others. Rizo also participates in the GEEM Group of her cooperative and considers herself very lucky to be in charge of the 20 women who are cultivating the family gardens. She is an example of a leading and empowered woman.
Agriculture
WFP supplies farmers with modern tools, training, seeds and fertilizers. We also work to improve their access to water through irrigation projects, which expands their growing capacity. Then, we connect family farmers with regional markets so they can sell their products and earn an income.
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two schoolgirls sitting at desks in classroom
Gender Equality
A wide gender gap means female farmers face more significant challenges than men, especially when they try to access agricultural markets. WFP works toward gender equality through programs that promote positive attitudes and behaviors towards women’s inclusion in decision-making.
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WFP staff Virgilio Zapata inspects the damage WFP warehouse in the town of Bilwi after Cat-5 Hurricane Iota made landfall on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua on 16 November 2020. Hurricane Iota hit the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua leaving devastation on its path in the town of Bilwi.
Resilience
WFP helps families create sustainable livelihoods through programs like Food For Assets and Food For Training which teach valuable skills in exchange for food. We also support the Nicaraguan government with education, school gardens and infrastructure improvement to achieve self sufficiency.
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