Delegation from the Republic of Nicaragua
Position Paper for the General Assembly Second Committee
The following topics are before the General Assembly Second Committee: Financing for Development; Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for Sustainable Development; and Disaster Risk Reduction. The Republic of Nicaragua exerts immaculate support for the resolutions that will address the issues facing the United Nations Commission on human and economic development.
- Financing for Development
Providing finance for the economic development movement is a major challenge for all developed and developing economies. The agricultural development globally is hampered by a lack of infrastructure and a lack of qualified manpower, basic services and transportation. Informal employment included 90 percent of the agricultural workforce, the employment in this sector has stagnated compared to other sectors, such as industry, construction, and trade. In Nicaragua the poverty rate has increased. About 30 percent of the population lives on less than $ 2 a day. In rural areas, poverty rates are particularly high, with 50% of families living in extreme poverty, and 70% of the poor living in the countryside. This percentage increases among disadvantaged groups, such as indigenous peoples and communities of African descent.
The Republic of Nicaragua strongly supports the efforts of the three major international conferences on Financing for Development: in Monterrey, Mexico in 2002, The Addis Ababa Action Agenda of 2015 and the Doha Declaration of 2008 to provide the financing solutions and actions needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, the GA regulations 72/207 and 73/222 are providing a strong basis to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nicaragua responded to cooperate with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to support the efforts of farmers’ organizations and the government in the family as well as contribute to sustainability and replication of good practices. Nicaragua mentions its national policy of 2009–11 National Human Development Plan (NHDP), the World Bank’s 2008–12 and 2013–17 Country Partnership Strategies (CPS). to support and implement the projects that provide inputs to contribute to develop tools for sectoral policies in order to apply participatory development especially in terms of including women and small farmers in value chains and access to markets as well as self-employment and job creation.
Nicaragua recommends shifting the projects from focusing on food security towards an approach to job creation and business development through small rural projects and focus on including smallholder farmers in broader business and value-added products. The main activities include facilitating access to assets, market access, income-generating activities and employment opportunities; increasing labor productivity through incentives that facilitate access to information, technology, and technical and financial services. Inclusive economic and multilateralism are closely intertwined and are fundamental principles of Nicaragua Furthermore, Nicaragua invites Member States to foster integration by Improving environmental, financial and institutional sustainability. Engaging with other collaborating partners, public institutions, and farmers’ organizations, and promote the knowledge management and consolidation of successful innovations to increase the effectiveness of sustainable development practices.
- Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for Sustainable Development
Information and communication technologies have contributed in a very large way in the economic and social development based on the knowledge to which drives the international community to search for ways that allow it to evaluate the efforts made in this field. but this is not the case in the developing countries, more than 56 percent of the world’s population do not have access to the Internet and technology, which prevent many countries from taking advantage of the economic opportunities that can be created from the online market and reduce poverty and providing them with opportunities for social and economic advancement.
Nicaragua strongly supports the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the UNDP in its vital role in mediating international agreements to distribute and coordinate global efforts towards information development. Furthermore, GA resolutions 73/218, 72/200 and many others demonstrate the international community’s dedication to technology capacity building towards achieving the SDGs. Several SDGs are connected to and affected by Developing ICTs, including SDG 9, to help build resilient infrastructure and services to allow countries to participate in the digital economy and to increase their overall economic. Nicaragua has responded to cooperate with the goals of Addis Ababa Action on 27, July 2015, and the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action adopted by the World Summit on the Information Society at its first phase in a sustained manner to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and inclusive economic growth. Nicaragua has invested US$20.1 million after the approval of the World Bank (WB), in its project, The Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (CARCIP), this step will bring overall economic benefits to the region due to the development of interconnected broadband infrastructure, as well as the human talent to deliver services according to market requirements, such as technical English training. Nicaragua calls member state to maintain the important indicators of the inclusive economic, political, educational and social development.
Nicaragua recommends extending digital connectivity, with an emphasis on expanding affordable broadband access for all – including for women, persons with disabilities, and remote and rural areas. Work to develop digital platforms and solutions that can improve the delivery of public services. Strengthening the analog foundations of the digital revolution. Where countries need to invest in people to obtain stronger human capital and skills commensurate with the requirements of this new economy. Provide financing for building or upgrading the information and communications technology infrastructure. Through the approach that we will call “maximizing financing for development”
III. Disaster Risk Reduction
Risk of the natural disaster is the potential loss of life and injury left by persistent environmental degradation, accelerated and unplanned urban growth, demographic distribution trends, and migration to achieve the goals of sustainable development. There are many challenges that pose to disaster risks such as the displacement of people, the spread of epidemic diseases, the direct insecurity, and the lack of security. And the turmoil, and this is more than what was experienced in the region before. This realization accompanies effective disaster management and response at the national and international levels, especially since disasters are occurring frequently as a result of geological changes and increased climate changes across the Globe.
Nicaragua edges support to United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction UNDRR’s and its efforts to implement the goals of (GA) resolution 69/283, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, “to support the countries in its implementation, monitoring and sharing what works in reducing existing risk and preventing the creation of new risk”. Furthermore, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) that has increased its regional presence to further support and develop regional and national partnerships. Nicaragua calls for more focus on urgent climate actions, raising aspirations of disaster risk reduction be at the heart of the “work contract”, which will lead to the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on time. Nicaragua ’s national policies support this by promoting actions in partnership with neighboring countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce damage to vital infrastructure and disrupt basic services through its program Reducing Vulnerability to Natural Disasters program (RVND) to enhance the capacity to prepare assess and respond to hunger caused by disasters, and to develop regional plans that address the impact of disasters on nutrition. And to address deforestation by setting up tree nurseries and increasing tree planting, providing the community with better nutrition and greater resilience to environmental shocks.
Nicaragua acknowledges the terrible suffering that disasters can cause, as it is possible in one moment to obliterate the gains made in decades of development. Nicaragua recommends enhancing the ability of communities to reduce and respond to disaster risks when they occur and implement programs to support activities that reduce disaster risks while continuing to improve food security: such as soil and water conservation, developing flood-proof infrastructure, and repairing roads. Nicaragua also calls for Member states to work in conjunction with UNDP to improve planning and preparedness for emergencies, ensuring preparedness for disaster response and reducing its impact on vulnerable populations. Examples can be seen in some of the most disaster-prone districts in Nicaragua, where the program provides LGUs there with training and equipment to respond to emergencies, with automated monitoring stations set up that provide vital information about weather disturbances, and installing slopes to protect people and their farms.