2.18.2025: IMF - Nicaragua “committed to protecting the poor and vulnerable”; Sarah Woodard National Speaking Tour; USAID in Nicaragua
February 28- May 13: Sarah Woodard national speaking tour: Building Sustainable Communities, Insights from Nicaragua Sarah Junkin Woodard represents the work of the Jubilee House Community, a nonprofit she helped form in 1979. She has worked the last 31 years in Nicaragua, with the project name of the Center for Development in Central America. The JHC-CDCA continues to respond to local needs, seeking resources to help the poor accomplish what they see as their priorities, particularly in the areas of sustainable economic development, organic agriculture, health care, and education. Sarah's tour will both update supporters on the JHC-CDCA's work in Nicaragua and educate those in the global north on the amazing realities developing within Sandinista Nicaragua where both the social and political will are focused on helping the majority of the population, the poorest of the poor.
IMF Annual Report on Nicaragua (full report). Short summary is here; in addition: The IMF states it has good relations with the government, whch listens to and carries out most IMF recommendations. Remittances amount to 27% of GDP, $5.2 billion, 80% from those in the US. Over the past six years, Nicaraguan exports increased by an average of 10% annually. Gold exports recorded a much higher annual growth (23.4% on average), driven by higher international prices. As a result, gold has the largest share in total exports (28% in 2023, compared to 13% in 2017). External debt as a percent of GDP has been declining since 2020, while international reserves have been increasing. “Nicaragua is a small, open, market-oriented economy and has a long track record of sound policy implementation underpinned by macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline, and social inclusion.” (p,124) “The authorities remain committed to pursue prudent economic policies designed for hard times.” (125) “The authorities remain committed to protecting the poor and vulnerable, a key principle guiding their policies.” (127) “In 2024, the BCN [Nicaragua’s national bank] increased its foreign exchange reserves by $658 million, reaching a record level of gross international reserves of $6.105 billion (three times the level in 2018), equivalent to 31.7% of GDP and 8 months of imports.” (128)
USAID Financing in Nicaragua and of Chamorro Foundation 2014-2021 Total USAID money to Chamorro Foundation, 2014-2021, equaled $5,992,505. Total USAID money to groups in Nicaragua 2014-2021: $315,009,297. Two of the biggest years were 2017 and 2018, the year of the US backed coup attempt.
Nicaragua Government calls Vatican statement “irresponsible and disrespectful” “The Vatican State seeks to assign Positions and Powers that it purports to grant, in Nicaragua, to People who ceased to be Nicaraguans as a result of improper, intolerable behavior promoting politically instigated crimes, as well as constant calls to commit breaches of the Peace, with every kind of violence, falsehood and deliberate slander, inflicting anguish, suffering and pain, on the Families of our Country…From the millions of Voices and Souls, brutally silenced by the Inquisition, of all the Peoples sacrificed and bled to death by that depraved, pedophile Vatican State, denounced like this all over the World, which in these Times still cannot recognize Virtues and Rights but instead allies with Forces of Darkness, barbarism, genocide and evil, to continue plundering our Sacred Dignities, Beliefs and Powers as well as our Material and Spiritual Riches, which in the zeal of usurpation they still fail to understand.”
President of the National Assembly, Gustavo Porras: The Nicaraguan Constitution "ratifies its position against attempts at interference" The changes to the country's fundamental law reflect the evolution of the "revolutionary model" that is developing in Nicaragua in the face of interference by North American imperialism and European colonialism, reissued in the failed coup of 2018, according to Porras. The new constitutional basis ratifies as “traitors to the homeland” any citizen of this country who participates in criminal actions against the State. According to the new constitution, Nicaraguans have the right to “free, quality health and education,” and it also guarantees access to culture, sports and recreation; to food and nutritional security; access to basic services, such as drinking water, sanitation and energy; to decent and safe housing, and to the promotion of the creative economy.”
The CAFTA treaty and the prospect of new US sanctions against Nicaragua Draft legislation from the last session of the United States Congress, likely to be reintroduced in the 119th session, appears to conflict with CAFTA. If approved, the ill-named “Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act” (formerly numbered S.1881 in the Senate and H.R.6954 in the House) could enable the US administration to impose sweeping new economic sanctions on Nicaragua. The bill purports to be aimed at the Nicaraguan government and its officials, but in fact practically all of its sanctions would target Nicaragua’s private sector and companies exporting goods to the US. Many of these exports are part of a chain, in which processing is carried out in other Central American countries. Nicaraguan exports to the US are very significant, totaling US$3.71 billion in 2023, approximately half of the country’s total exports. They are very significant economically in a country with a total GDP of only $19.2 billion in 2024.
Nicaragua Withdraws from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Stating it Published a Report with "interventionist tendencies" The Nicaraguan government announced that it is withdrawing from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) because it published a report "in a malicious manner" and "for political purposes." According to Managua, the report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 lacks objectivity and methodological rigor, and contains "false information, with an interventionist and aggressive tendency." Nicaragua claims the report contributes to the dissemination of "negative" publications and content that are intended to "discredit the Government of Nicaragua" and "its policies to combat poverty, human development and food security."
Nicaragua Re-elected as Vice-Chair of the United Nations Palestine Committee Nicaragua has held this position since 2013, in a show of permanent solidarity with the people of Palestine, their just struggle for national liberation, the end of Israeli occupation, and their inalienable right to self-determination. Ambassador Jaime Hermida, Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to the UN, thanked committee members for the support and confidence of all the members in this election. He stressed Nicaragua’s determination to continue supporting any initiative that leads once and for all to the liberation of Palestine, the end of the Israeli occupation and the materialization of a free, sovereign, independent Palestinian State. Likewise, he reaffirmed that only the Palestinian people can decide on their future and their lands and that the United Nations must protect this nation in full respect of its inalienable rights.
Events
Nicaragua Webinar Sunday March 2, 3pm ET: "Brian Willson: Veteran, Peace Activist, Nicaraguan Citizen" Brian started life in a conservative small town in upstate New York, but he changed his political outlook as a result of life events including military experience in Vietnam. On September 1, 1987, he and other veterans blocked railroad tracks at the Concord, CA, naval station, to protest shipping US weapons to Central America. An approaching train did not stop, and Brian barely survived the impact, losing both legs below the knee as well as his right frontal lobe. After this attack, his activism only intensified. As a trained lawyer and writer, he has also documented US policy in over 20 countries including Nicaragua, which he made his permanent home several years ago.
March 10, 2:30pm ET: Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition monthly zoom meeting. Email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com in advance to request Zoom access.
April 13, 3 pm ET Nicaragua webinar with Sarah Woodard: Building Sustainable Communities: Insights from Nicaragua If you can, please attend an event in person in Sarah's national tour (first event described above). Register here for the Zoom webinar.
Delegations to Nicaragua 2025:
Casa Ben Linder Email casabenjaminlinder@gmail.com to apply:
May 2025: Co-ops and Communities: Cooperative Movement in Nicaragua
June 2025: Global Health: Family and Community Health in Nicaragua
July 2025: Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution
November 2025: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua
Date TBD 2025: Co-ops and Communities: Cooperative Movement in Nicaragua
Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition: nicasolidarity.com
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