The IDB executive vice president meets with leaders in the southern Atlantic Coast town of Bluefields.

IDB pledges to help Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast

Bank will help citizens and government to join in pursuing development goal

By Burke Dillon, Atlantic Coast, Nicaragua

Last February, I led a three-day mission of IDB headquarters staff, country office staff, and Nicaraguan officials traveling by plane, jeep and boat through the country’s Atlantic Coast region. We wanted to get to know this enormous territory, its land and its people, and to learn more about a local development project being financed by the IDB. In particular, we wanted to listen to what local people, community and religious leaders, nongovernmental organizations, mayors and regional government authorities had to say about their hopes for the future, and to better understand how the IDB might support their own development efforts.

Our group experienced some of the region’s ethnic and cultural diversity. We visited Waspam, a Miskito Indian town on the River Coco that is still recovering from the dual impact of the 1980s conflict and Hurricane Mitch. We met with leaders from the Miskito community of Auyu Pihni. We spoke with citizens and officials from Puerto Cabezas, the administrative center of the North Atlantic Autonomous Region, and Bluefields, the administrative center for the South Atlantic Autonomous Region. In Pearl Lagoon, we met with members of both the Creole and Garifuna communities.

With its unique geography, history and culture, this region is in many respects a world apart. We found communities with distinct cultural and historical traditions, where people speak local languages as well as English and/or Spanish. But despite the diversity, we found people who want to be part of Nicaragua and to take part in all aspects of their country’s development.

Our overwhelming impression was one of energy, commitment and eagerness to participate. Civil society organizations are well organized and involved in health, education, environment and community development. They are mobilizing the community-level resources that are key to the success and impact of any development initiative on the Atlantic Coast.

People on the Atlantic Coast have little tradition of working with, or even trusting, government. The two regional governments were created only 10 years ago, and municipal governments held their first elections in 1996. Today there are encouraging signs that community groups, civil society organizations and the government are learning to work together to help resolve the pressing problems of unemployment and low incomes. At the same time, all levels of government share the same challenges of strengthening their financial situation and improving their capacity to deliver quality basic services.

Here the IDB has an important role to play. A central objective of the new IDB-funded program is to help regional governments establish better working relationships with civil society and municipal governments. The program will support regional governments’ efforts to listen to local communities and help them to get what they need. At the same time, the program will help regional governments inform their citizens about what government does and how public resources are invested.

The program will also help to better define the different roles and responsibilities of regional and municipal governments, assisting the former in promoting the strategic development priorities of the Atlantic Coast in national development policymaking and programs.

During our meetings we heard three strong messages:

First, combating poverty is a clear priority. Everywhere we went we were impressed by the contrast between the region’s abundant natural beauty and resources and the poverty of its people. Atlantic Coast communities are among the poorest in the country, and are getting poorer. People are willing to help themselves, but they need support. Farmers told us that they want access to the Caribbean markets, which they will have if Nicaragua successfully concludes its discussions with CARICOM.

Second, the people need access to credit. We were told that credit for small and medium-size businesses does not exist. Without credit these businesses cannot grow, create jobs, and raise incomes. The Bank can help, and a study financed by the Sida-IDB Partnership Program will take a look at the demand and supply for microcredits on the Atlantic Coast to help identify the possibilities of a Bank-supported operation in this area.

Third, we found that health and education models on the Atlantic Coast differ from those elsewhere in Nicaragua. NGOs and church-related organizations are important service providers, complementing the efforts of government ministries. The people also want to maintain their own traditions. They want bilingual education and access to traditional medicines and treatment. The Bank can play a role here also.

The Bank has a long-term commitment to the Atlantic Coast. It will work with the local, regional and national governments to foster economic and social development for the region’s people.

The IDB members of the mission to Nicaragua consisted of Burke Dillon, David Atkinson, Lionel Nicol, Emma Monin, Hans Gatz, Marta-Luz Atkinson and Peter Sollis. Accompanying them from the Nicaraguan government were Carlos Noguera, executive president of the Social Investment Fund; Juan Carlos Gutiérrez, of the Ministry of Foreign Relations; and Omar Poblete, coordinator of the IDB-financed Atlantic Coast Local Development Program.