KfW Development Bank (Nicaragua)

Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America after Haiti. Nearly half of the approximately six million inhabitants are considered poor when measured against the national poverty line. While the economy is growing and the state is spending more money on education, health care and other social services, poverty has only decreased slowly over the past 20 years because wealth and incomes are distributed unequally and economic development cannot keep pace with demographic growth. Additionally, the country is afflicted by natural disasters; frequent hurricanes and floods complicate life for the local people.