Nicaragua Transitional ICSP (January 2018 - March 2019)

T-ICSP approved in July 2017. Latest Revision (no. 04) approved by EB by correspondence in December 2018.

In the last decade, Nicaragua has achieved sustained economic growth and social development, with nutrition, education, and health indicators improving, compared to previous years. Yet, recurrent natural disasters and weather extremes, poverty, inefficiencies in the agricultural sector, and inadequate access to services still threaten the food security of the most vulnerable, particularly in the most remote areas of the country.

To foster widespread wellbeing, the Government of Nicaragua has established a strong policy environment and various social protection programmes, articulated in the National Human Development Plan (NHDP) (2012-2016). Achieving food security and sovereignty is one of its key pillars, with the Government aiming at guaranteeing people’s access to sufficient and nutritious food through strategies that are aligned with their traditions, cultures, and contexts. Fostering smallholder farmers’ productivity and adopting solutions at the family level are the centre of this model.

Therefore, in line with this enabling environment and the government’s enhanced capacity, the Transitional Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP) will support national efforts to achieve zero hunger by extending the reach of national programmes and enhancing their quality and sustainability. WFP’s added value lies in its capacity to reach the most remote and vulnerable areas, including indigenous communities, with direct food assistance, filling in implementation gaps of national programmes, and at the same time provide technical assistance to government institutions. The overarching goal is to contribute towards long-term approaches to break the intergenerational cycle of hunger and poverty, whilst ensuring that no one is left behind, through five Strategic Outcomes:

• Strategic Outcome 1: Pre and primary schoolchildren and persons living with HIV have access to adequate food and nutrition during 2018
• Strategic Outcome 2: Nutritionally vulnerable groups in the targeted areas meet their nutritional needs during 2018
• Strategic Outcome 3: Smallholder farmers in targeted departments increase their food security and access to markets all year round
• Strategic Outcome 4: Shock affected populations have access to adequate and nutritious food after an emergency
• Strategic Outcome 5: National institutions and programmes are strengthened to prevent and respond to shocks during 2018

The transitional ICSP is aligned with national priorities and Strategic Results 1, 2, 3, and 5 of WFP’s Strategic Plan (2017-2021). It supports Nicaragua in the attainment of SDG 2 and 17, whilst contributing to SDGs 3, 4, and 5; and is coherent with the United Nations Partnership for Development Framework (UNDAF) (2013-2017).