Overview
Key messages
WFP reached over 617,000 people with direct assistance and indirectly benefited 17,900 people with assets, capacity and services as well as 2 million people through national policies and programmes.
Nicaragua's path to economic recovery continued in 2023 with a 4 percent Gross Domestic Product growth projected by the International Monetary Fund [1]. This positive trajectory was bolstered by a significant curb in inflation, which dropped from 10.5 to 5.6 percent, providing tangible relief for essential items like food and fuel [2]. While these economic indicators painted a brighter picture, challenges remained, particularly in the Dry Corridor and Caribbean coast, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon and the lingering effects of the global food crisis.
In this context, WFP supported the national efforts to protect the food security of populations vulnerable to climate and economic shocks, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and other goals, including quality education, gender equity and climate adaptation. In line with national priorities, WFP collaborated with the Government and other local actors and stakeholders to enhance social protection, disaster risk management, gender equity and resilience to climate change.
WFP assisted 617,700 people in 2023, 51 percent of whom were women (94,760) and girls (218,500) and 49 percent of whom were boys (239,370) and men (65,070). This achievement was 4 percent less than in 2022 and yet 41 percent above plan, with a 2-percentage point increase in the number of women and girls assisted compared to 2022.
WFP complemented the National School Feeding Programme by delivering daily meals to 182,040 schoolchildren (49 percent girls) in Jinotega and the North Autonomous Region of the Caribbean Coast (RACCN, for its Spanish acronym). Additional school feeding was provided to 120,900 children (42 percent girls) in the Dry Corridor to support their food security during the lean season, as this region was most affected by the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
WFP supported the early recovery of Indigenous communities affected by Hurricane Julia. Although Hurricane Julia hit the Caribbean coast in October 2022, the scale of damages caused to infrastructure and livelihoods required assistance throughout 2023. WFP, in collaboration with national actors and local institutions, joined forces with two non-profit organizations to develop a comprehensive recovery plan rooted in the needs and preferences identified through free, prior and informed consultations with affected populations. This participative approach promoted a sense of ownership and autonomy over the recovery efforts.
This joint recovery effort reached over 460,640 people (59 percent women) by rehabilitating school infrastructure, providing fruit trees to support nutrition and national reforestation efforts and supporting livelihood recovery efforts in partnership with the Ministry of Family, Community, Associative and Cooperative Economy for the most affected households in WFP's area of intervention. WFP enabled other United Nations agencies to reach populations impacted by Hurricane Julia by establishing a temporary office with FAO and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Bluefields, the capital of the South Autonomous Region of the Caribbean Coast. The Bluefields office was an addition to the Humanitarian Hub launched by WFP in 2022 in Bilwi, the capital of the RACCN, where it hosts FAO, UNICEF and UNOPS.
As WFP's 2019-2024 country strategic plan (CSP) neared its end, WFP began transitioning towards developing its CSP 2024-2029. In line with this, WFP and the Ministry of Education (MINED) explored adopting a home-grown school feeding (HGSF) model incorporating locally sourced fresh produce in the school feeding basket. This model contributes to the nutritional benefits and diversification of children's diets and can potentially boost rural economies, positively impacting the food security of entire communities. WFP leveraged South-South and Triangular Cooperation to facilitate exchanges of experiences between MINED and countries with successful HGSF models in place. WFP continued promoting gender transformation and mainstreaming by supporting the Ministry of Women while integrating nutrition-sensitive activities.
In its technical role, WFP assisted the National System for the Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters and the National Institute of Territorial Studies in advancing emergency preparation and disaster risk management. In collaboration with national authorities, WFP's expertise contributed to developing an early warning system for drought events and generating monthly and trimestral climate and weather forecasts. These tools were the foundation for preparing actions to forecast disasters that could mitigate their impact. In 2023, these tools provided climate information to 17,900 smallholder farmers with recommendations to prepare for the El Niño phenomenon and other weather-related events. With this information, farmers could make informed decisions about their agricultural production, mitigating the impact of climate variability on their food security.
To strengthen food systems, WFP assisted 6,390 smallholder farmers organized in 30 farmers' organizations in boosting resilience against shocks. Out of these, 50 percent were women who were provided preferential access to agricultural inputs, assets and training to help bridge the gender gap in the agricultural productive sector. WFP leveraged its food demand to increase farmers' access to formal markets, procuring 30 percent more basic grains from smallholder farmers compared to 2022. To help farmers meet this demand and access markets, WFP assisted throughout the supply chain while promoting income diversification and water management assets.
Through these actions, WFP's operations complemented government actions and served as a social and productive protection net in Nicaragua, helping overcome the impacts of climatic and economic shocks. Indicators tracked by WFP suggested that 98 percent of assisted households managed to maintain an acceptable level of food consumption. Fewer households resorted to coping strategies, like reducing the number of meals per day.