24 June 2008

Managua, Nicaragua: UNV volunteers are helping to reduce food insecurity for Nicaragua's most vulnerable families by strengthening local governance. The ultimate goal is to ensure food security projects are integrated into all short- and long-term local planning.

Nicaragua is an agricultural country with a broad rural base, yet it has had serious difficulties in food production. Despite 1.3 hectares per person of agricultural land, the highest proportion in Central America, chronic malnutrition in children under five years is still about 20 percent – twice the regional average.
The country is advancing in the formulation of food security and nutrition policies. However, this is not always well developed at the local level, resulting in dispersed strategies, duplication of effort and insufficient resources.

UNV volunteers are working on these issues by assisting local governments and encouraging public participation. Nicaraguan municipalities are currently formulating development and budget plans for 2009-2012, which presents an opportunity to highlight the importance of food security in local work, improve coordination and to mobilize local people to get involved with newly-planned projects.

UNV is doing this under the programme 'Strengthening local governance in support of Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG 1)'. MDG 1 aims to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. The main partner in the programme is the Association of Municipalities of Nicaragua (AMUNIC). UNV is also working closely with other UN agencies such as UNDP, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF),  and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Under the MDG 1 programme, 50 national UNV volunteers are attached to Municipal Technical Teams as local promoters, researching and compiling information about food security at the local level and working with local development councils and committees. The UNV volunteers are also supporting shorter-term activities and facilities such as school gardens, municipal granaries, awareness activities and local forums on food security etc.

The programme also focuses on enhancing women's participation in local decision-making and dialogue. UNV volunteers in some municipalities are integrated into Gender Municipal Committees, supporting women-focused projects, working with women's production cooperatives, and assisting with nutritional education programmes directed at mothers.

Furthermore, UNV volunteers are encouraging local young people to work with Youth Committees and civil associations in their municipalities. Groups such as Food Security Youth Networks are supporting UNV by helping gather information, for example.