Nicaragua

Solidar Switzerland has been involved in Nicaragua for almost 30 years, promoting the local population's rights to own land, to have an income and a violence-free life. Solidar Switzerland is committed to fair working conditions.

The Swiss population chiefly became aware of the comparatively large Central American country of Nicaragua through the solidarity movement of the 1980s. An economic embargo was imposed on Sandinista Nicaragua (1979-1990) while Contra mercenaries made their violent incursions from Honduras.
After the Sandinistas lost the 1990 elections, men and women from various social organisations engaged in a struggle against poverty and the increasing economic divide. The Sandinista party and Daniel Ortega returned to power in 2007, with the first two years of Ortega's government bringing contradictory results: while there has been social and political progress in areas such as education, labour and agriculture, and good cooperation with grassroots civil organisations (rural cooperatives, unions, etc.), critical political parties, NGOs and journalists deplore state repression and a lack of free speech.

Violence Inhibits Development

Nicaragua has 5.5 million inhabitants, half of whom are less than 18 years old. Due to poverty or the conflict, one million Nicaraguans are expatriates living abroad. 80% of the people living in Nicaragua subsist on less than 2 US$ per day. 75% of this impoverished population live in rural areas. One third of all households are single-mother families. 50% of all women in Nicaragua have been exposed to violence.

Agriculture – Opportunities and Risks

Nicaragua's agriculture is focused on exporting just a few products, making the country highly dependent on world market prices. Despite having the largest agrarian surface area, Nicaragua is the smallest of all Central American exporting countries, and it has the biggest trade deficit. The vast majority of the population are smallholding peasant farmers, whose productivity is too low. Moreover, disputes over land titles impede forward-looking investments in many areas.
Nevertheless, being Nicaragua's main source of revenue and providing almost one third of all jobs, the agrarian sector holds promises for the country's economic and social development.

A Wide Range of Commitments

Solidar Switzerland has been involved in Nicaragua for almost thirty years. We support co-operatives, women's organisations, small farmers' associations and trade unions in their struggle to improve conditions in deprived areas. Our commitment is focused on the following areas:

• Rural Development: legal right to land ownership; access to small loans, agricultural advice and marketing; institutional support of co-operatives
• Women's Rights / Human Rights: combat domestic violence; improve access to due legal process; ensure emotional rehabilitation; increase local population's participation in political processes to defend human rights
• Labour and Trade Unions: legal counselling; empowerment of youth movements; social dialogue
• Humanitarian Aid
  

Anja Ibkendanz is Solidar Switzerland's desk officer for Nicaragua.