Finnish strategy for Nicaragua: putting in action the Finnish government’s global priorities in Nicaraguan context

Finland does not have an official strategy for Nicaragua. The main principles of cooperation are agreed upon in the bilateral negotiations between Finland and Nicaragua every two years. The principles of the Finnish cooperation are defined in the Government’s Development Policy Programme.

Development co-operation is a part of the Finnish foreign policy. It aims at added security in the world by reducing poverty and by promoting economically and socially sustainable growth.

Finland has the following general principles in the co-operation with Nicaragua

1. Support the development of Nicaragua in accordance with the National Development Plan.

2. Help Nicaragua to reach the Millennium Development Goals

3. Put in action the Paris declaration of harmonisation and alignment in Nicaragua

4. Use the Finnish know how as an added value in co-operation

5. Complementing the public sector co-operation, by working through different channels – United Nations, International Development Banks, civil society, etc. – in order to reach a coherent content of the programme and add efficiency in reaching the goals.

The main sectors of development co-operation in Nicaragua are:

• support to decentralisation and municipal development
• support to the health sector
• support to integrated rural development.

In 2008, the Finnish bilateral cooperation budget for Nicaragua was 15 million euros and the programmed budget for 2009 is 13.5 million euros.