Nicaragua
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HFA National Reports
Preliminary HFA national report 2009-2011 (2010): Nicaragua (via HFA Monitor on PreventionWeb / Spanish)
National Report 2007-2009 (2008): Unreported
National Report 2007: Unreported
National Report 2006: Unreported
National Report 2005: National Report in Preparation for WCDR (2005) - Nicaragua (Spanish)
National Platform:
In process
The focal point of the national platform will be the National System for Prevention, Mitigation and Attention of Natural Disasters (SINAPRED) and members will include:
- Executive Secretary of SINAPRED,
- Disaster Operations Center,
- CODE Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forest,
- Ministry of Development,
- Industry and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources,
- Ministry of Finance and Public Credit Ministry of Labour Institute Territorial Studies,
- INETER,
- Ministry of Defense,
- Ministry of Health,
- Ministry of the Family,
- Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport,
- Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure,
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,
- Ministry of the Interior
Contact Person:
Jorge Ramón Arnesto, Secretario Ejecutivo
Address: Secretaría Ejecutiva del SINAPRED del Canal 2 de TV, 20 Varas al Oeste, Reparto Bolonia. Managua, Nicaragua.
Tel: +(505) 2280-9910, Fax:(+505) 2280-9937
E-mail: sdesastres@vicepresidencia.gob.ni
URL: www.sinapred.gob.ni
HFA National Focal Point
Secretaria Ejecutiva del Sistema Nacional para la Prevención, Mitigación y Atención de Desastres - SINAPRED
- (National System for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Response)
Contact person: Rafael Ramirez Gómez, Executive Secretary
Address: Edificio SINAPRED, Rotonda Colón 50 metros al Norte, frente a Avenida Bolívar, Managua, Nicaragua
Tel: (505) 2280-9910 / Fax: (505) 2280-9937
E-mail: rramirez@sinapred.gob.ni
URL: www.sinapred.gob.ni/
Alternative / technical contact:
Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales (INETER) - National Institute of Territorial Studies
Contact person: Alejandro Rodríguez Alvarado
Address: Frente al Hospital Solidaridad, Managua
Tel: (505) 2249-2757 / Fax: (505) 2249-1890
E-mail: ineterds@ibw.com.ni; ara@ds.ineter.gob.ni
URL: www.ineter.gob.ni
Other Contacts
Permanent Mission of Nicaragua to the United Nations in Geneva
Chief:
His Excellency Mr. Carlos Robelo Raffone
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Permanent Representative
Address: Rue de Vermont 37-39, 1202 Geneva
Tel: +(41-22) 740-5160, Fax: +(41-22) 734-6585
E-mail: mission.nicaragua@ties.itu.int
UN System Coordination
UN Resident Coordinator
Mr. Alfredo Missair
E-mail: alfredo.missair@undp.org
UN Inter-Agency Support
Mr. Kasper Andersen, Interagency Coordination Officer
(+505) 266 1701, (+505) 266 6909 (fax)
E-mail: [mailto: kasper.andersen@undp.org kasper.andersen@undp.org]
Ms. Claudia Gazol, Interagency Coordination Assistant
Tel: (+505) 266 1701, Fax: (+505) 266 6909
E-mail: claudia.gazol@undp.org
UN Country Team
Mr. Alfredo Missair: Resident Coordinator, UNDP System
Mr. Pedro Pablo Villanueva: Representative, UNFPA
Ms. Socorro Gross: Representative, OMS/OPS
Ms. Debora Comini: Representative, UNICEF
Mr. William Hart: Representative, WFP
Mr. Alfredo Missair: Representative a.i., FAO
Mr. Humberto Arbulu: Representative, IMF
Mr. Joseph Owen: Representative, World Bank
Ms. Gerardina Gonzalez: Regional Representative (Costa Rica), ILO
Mr. Wolfgang Reuther: Regional Representative (Costa Rica), UNESCO
Mr. Roberto Kozak: Regional Representative (Costa Rica), IOM
Mr. Kasper Andersen: Coordination Support, UNDP System
Ms. Claudia Gazol: Coordination Support, UNDP System
Fuente: UNDG Country Team
UNDP
Address: De Plaza España 400 Metros to the south, PO BOX 3260, UNDP Building, Managua - Nicaragua
Tel: 00(505)-2 664 586, Fax: 00(505)2-666 909,
E-mail: registry.ni@undp.org
Country profile
Official Name Conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua. Conventional short form: Nicaragua. Local long form: Republica de Nicaragua. Local short form: Nicaragua
Capital: Managua
Independence day: 15 September of 1821 (from Spain).
Area Total: 129,494 sq km (land: 120,254 sq km and water: 9,240 sq km).
Population density: 5, 675,356 (July 2007 est.)
Ethnic Groups: 69% mestizo, 17% white, 9% black and 5% Amerindian. Nicaragua's pre-Colombian population consisted of many indigenous groups. In the western region the Nicarao people, whom the country is named after, were present along with other groups related by culture and language to the Mayans. The Caribbean coast of Nicaragua was inhabited by indigenous peoples who were mostly chibcha related groups that had migrated from South America, primarily present day Colombia and Venezuela. These groups include the Miskitos, Ramas and Sumos. In the nineteenth century, there was a substantial indigenous minority, but this group was also largely assimilated culturally into the mestizo majority.
Religion: Religion Percentage Roman Catholic 58.5% Evangelical 21.6% Moravian 1.6% Jehovah's Witnesses 0.9% None 15.7% Other1 1.6%
Official Language: Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census). Note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast.
Government: Republic
Currency Cordoba (NIO)
Climate: Tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands.
Nicaragua is a unitary republic. For administrative purposes it is divided into 15 departments and two self-governing regions (autonomous communities) based on the Spanish model. The departments are then subdivided into 153 (municipalities). The two autonomous regions are Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte and Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur, often referred to as RAAN and RAAS, respectively. Until they were granted autonomy in 1985 they formed the single department of Zelaya.
1. Boaco (Boaco)
2. Carazo (Jinotepe)
3. Chinandega (Chinandega)
4. Chontales (Juigalpa)
5. Estelí (Estelí)
6. Granada (Granada)
7. Jinotega (Jinotega)
8. León (León)
9. Madriz (Somoto)
10. Managua (Managua)
11. Masaya (Masaya)
12. Matagalpa (Matagalpa)
13. Nueva Segovia (Ocotal)
14. Rivas (Rivas)
15. Río San Juan (San Carlos)
16. RAAN (Bilwi)
17. RAAS (Bluefields)
Natural Hazards
Destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes.
Geographical Description (about Hazards and Disasters) 2007
Nicaragua is grounded in a section of the ring of fire surrounding the Pacific Ocean and trace the contact zone of tectonic plates-including Coco and Caribbean, where many earthquakes and eruptions take place. The country is marked by natural hazards, not only for the quantity and frequency, but because of the variety of sources that the rise. Indeed, this is one of the countries with the highest degree of natural hazards in the continent. The weather, belonging to tropical eco-system, large variations in precipitation that keep the country ranging from cycles of drought and floods. The corridor of tropical cyclones every year hitting the Atlantic crossing the country, causing extensive flooding and landslides. There are geographical locations, such as in the southeast, qualified among wettest in the world. The location of the central mountain range that allows the rivers flow into the Atlantic, causing severe flooding that recur every year.
Over the past 106 years, Nicaragua has been affected by tropical cyclones in 41 different categories, the North Atlantic area is the most affected. The drought-which is closely linked to the El Niño phenomenon-particularly hurt regions of the Pacific, Northern and Central, but not on a widespread basis. In contrast to the rivers of the Pacific, the Caribbean slope of the sea are long-haul, with a permanent flow regime and abundant. Most rivers produces floods and floods in the rainy period.
Managua is a city with the highest threat of earthquakes because it sits on the site where the volcanic chain changes course and the game of the tectonic forces is more complex than in other areas. Nicaragua has two lines crossing volcanic belt around the Pacific. The most important are six active volcanoes, twelve resting and five inactive. The landslides are one of the geological processes are more widespread and frequent, and are a threat to human lives, production and infrastructure. The main causes are the heavy rain, erosion, earthquakes and excavations. The danger for tsunamis has generally been underestimated until the occurrence of the tsunami of 1992. In recorded history reported at least nine events that have affected Nicaragua.
Institutional Setting
As a result of Mitch and the disastrous effects caused in Nicaragua, the Government, with support from the United Nations Programmer for Development, was given the task of designing a system that was approved by the National Assembly on March 8 2000, Act 337. The Act creates the National System for Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters, which has General Regulations (Decree 53-2000) and a manual which specifies the duties of each member of the System (Decree 98-2000) , taking a momentous step in dealing with disasters.
The National Committee on Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters is the governing body of the system, and has defined powers among other policies, plans, advising the President on the declaration of State of Disaster and approve the proposal annual budget for the National Fund for Disaster. The Committee is composed of the President, 11 ministers and the director of the Institute for Territorial Studies (INETER), has similar bodies at the departmental level and regionally. Those who are in the rest of the territory are integrated and comprised of representatives from member institutions of the National Committee, which has presence in the place. They can also join representatives of other nonprofit organizations or civil society.
Act 337, also creates the Executive Secretariat System, as a technical body of the national committee and administrative support and implementation of the National System. The Secretariat is responsible for the operational coordination of the members of the National System and serves as a liaison between the institutions that formulate national policies. In addition, he is responsible for coordinating the actions of the Working Sectoral Committees, the Regional Committees, departmental and municipal, to ensure that prepare response plans in accordance with the departmental and local National Response Plan. The Act provides that the institutions making up the national system must designate the unit or executing unit, and will be responsible for ensuring compliance with sectoral plans that correspond to your institution in the areas of prevention, care and mitigation of disasters, and integrating Sectoral Working Committees. Heads of Technical Units of Link will be members of the Disaster Operations Center (CODE). This is an information specialist in situations warning or disaster, in the service of the National System, and coordinates the actions of the National System institutions involved in search, rescue, relief, among other functions.
To achieve the objectives in the areas of prevention, care and mitigation before a disaster, the system has created the Sectoral Working Commissions for the implementation and enforcement of the measures adopted by the national system as provided in the Act, which stipulates that committees will be chaired and coordinated by the ministries.
At the National Disaster Fund will be assigned a budget item within the general budget of the Republic. This item may be increased by contributions, donations, grants and bequests or contributions of individuals, whether natural or juridical, domestic or foreign. The resources that are established through the program the General Budget of the Republic, as well as those obtained through other sources, will be available to the National System to proceed against imminent risk or disaster situations. The Executive Secretariat of the National System for Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters will operate as a technical body of the fund, under the administrative controls that set for this purpose the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, and the Comptroller General of the Republic.
Source: UNISDR Americas / CIA Factbook
Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)
- Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, May 4, 2010
- Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, January 3, 2006
- Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Second Progress Report, January 15, 2004
- Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Annual Progress Report, November 30, 2002
- Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, July 31, 2001
- A Strengthened Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, August 15, 2000
Urban indicators
Statistical Overview
- Urbanisation:
- Total Population: 5 million
- Urban population: 56%
- Slum to urban population: 81%
- Annual population growth rates:
- Urban: 3%
- Slum: 3%
- Annual population growth rates:
- Slum Indicators - % urban population with access to
- Safe water source: 95%
- Improved sanitation: 43%
- Sufficient living area: 62%
- Durable housing: 70%
(Based on UN-Habitat 2001 estimates)
| Indicator | 2030 |
| Total population (thousands) | 7,406.8 |
| Population in urban (thousands) | 4,872.8 |
| Population in slums (thousands) | N/A |
| Population in urban areas (% of total population) | 65.8 |
| Population in slums (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Annual urban population growth rate (%) | N/A |
| Annual slum population growth rate (%) | N/A |
| Population with access to improved sanitation (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Population with access to improved water (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Population with sufficient living area (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Population with durable structures (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Population in rural (thousands) | 2,534 |
- Source: UN-Habitat - The data presented here is extracted from UN-HABITAT's Global Urban Indicators database.
- The data is drawn from different sources and based on 2030 estimates.
Climate change
- Nicaragua's First National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCC (Spanish, July 2001)
Progress towards the implementation of the HFA
HFA P1 - Institutional and legal framework
HFA P2 - Risk identification and EWS:
HFA P3 - Knowledge and education:
HFA P4 - Risk applications:
HFA P5 - Preparedness and response:
Others Documents:
National action plan for Nicaragua (2008); Government of Nicaragua, 2008
Disaster risk reduction national coordinating mechanisms in Nicaragua (2008); Government of Nicaragua, 2008
- Presented at the Workshop on National Platforms, August 23-29, 2008; Davos, Switzerland
Magazine about the Progress of SINAPRED 2007 - World Bank
Implementation of the National Plan for Training and Training (SINAPRED-UNDP-SDC)
National Plan for Disaster Response 2001
Conceptual Framework Enviromental Indicators (Spanish)
Web Links
PreventionWeb: Nicaragua - Disaster Statistics
Nicaragua Coordination Profile; United Nations Development Group (includes Common Country Assessment - CCA, United Nations Development Assistance Framework - UNDAF, MDG Reports, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper - PRSP, UN Country Team, Resident Coordinator Office and more)
INETER National Institute of Territorial Studies
SINIA National System of Environmental Information
MDG Profile: Nicaragua
