Nicaragua Field Visit
A delegation of twelve parliamentarians visited Nicaragua from October 11 to October 14, 2004. The group included PNoWB members from Belgium, France, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Lithuania, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan and Sweden.
During the four day visit, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with members of the Nicaraguan National Assembly, members of the government, civil society and the donor community.
The group travelled to two provinces to visit four projects, supported by the World Bank and other donors: the Institute for Rural Development Project; the Replacement of the market in Ocotal project; the Nicaraguan Institute for Agricultural Technology project and the Replacement of Health Center in Niquinohomo project, which reflected the priorities set in the Plan Nacional de Desarrollo (PND) -the new Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-.
While the delegation expressed concern over an excessive politicisation of the poverty reduction process, it praised the creation of the PRSP commission in the Nicaraguan parliament as an innovative tool for participatory dialogue and country ownership.