 Nicaragua
BACKGROUND
USAID/Nicaragua is committed to supporting the agendas for Health and Democracy of the current Nicaragua Government. Both agendas contain a set of crosscutting principles based on democratic values that should be promoted in all areas of cooperation for development. In response to a USAID request, the Health Communication Partnership will contribute to move both agendas forward by working with two USAID/Nicaragua Offices: Democratic Initiatives and Human Investment.
HCP will have four areas of collaboration with the USAID/Office of Human Investment: 1) technical assistance and training to Ministry of Health (MOH) in strategic health communication; 2) improving the public's health through participation and transparency (bridges between health and democracy); 3) contributing to reduce adolescent pregnancy; and 4) fostering collaboration between Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Education to improve adolescent and child health (advocacy for intersectoral approach to health). The MOH is aware of the role of communication and prevention as a way to reduce health care costs and as an element of sustainability of health interventions. HCP will be working with the Interagency Commission for RH, the NicaSalud network, the MOH, and other social ministries to strengthen capacity in strategic communication for behavior change.
In addition, HCP will work with the USAID/Office of Democratic Initiatives to support the Nicaragua Government in its intention to find new and effective ways to strengthen democracy. HCP will contribute to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to ensure transparency and drive the democratic agenda forward in the country. It will also develop a strategic communication program to encourage citizen participation and community involvement. By supporting these dual agendas, HCP will contribute to building a health competent society. In such a society, individuals and civil organizations are knowledgeable about their rights and responsibilities, feel empowered to actively participate in the different areas of development including health, and may use existing mechanisms to exercise their rights and access quality and culturally sensitive health services.
The overall goal of the program is to promote the democratic values of participation, transparency and compromise not only as part of the pursuit for good governance and fair administration of justice, but also as necessary conditions to improve the quality of life of the Nicaraguan population and to make the programs for development more sustainable.
Additionally, using core funds, HCP will collaborate with partner NicaSalud to boost impact of current child survival activities by strategically integrating additional communication channels into the community AIN-IMCI approach.
The Health Communication Partnership will focus on the following USAID/Office of Human Investment Intermediate Results
- IR 1.2 Increased use of services and improved practices for child survival;
- IR 1.3 Increased use of reproductive health services;
The Health Communication Partnership will focus on the following USAID/ Office of Democratic Initiatives Intermediate Results:
- IR 1.1 Consolidating the Rule of Law
- IR 1.2 Strengthened Civil Society
CURRENT STATUS
PCS has worked with many different local and global partners in Nicaragua under the PCS project. Of particular relevance is its six years of work with the Interagency Commission for Reproductive Health, a network with more than 24 organizations. The series of communication campaigns "Together We Decide" is already in its third phase and a variety of communication materials have been produced under its umbrella. PCS has also provided technical assistance to PROFAMILIA's contraceptive social marketing program and has also worked in Water and Sanitation programs under the USAID's Post Hurricane Mitch Reconstruction Program.
INNOVATIONS IN BEHAVIOR CHANGE COMMUNICATION
In Nicaragua, communication will be part of a larger program, which will combine Democracy and Health to promote more citizen participation. Communities and intended audiences (youth) will become major players in the development and implementation of the program activities. This increased participation will ensure more ownership of the programs by the intended groups, which will lead to higher impact and sustainability.
ACTIVITIES
Contact: Patricia Poppe, ppoppe@jhuccp.org
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