Central America (Nicaragua, Honduras)

Switzerland's activities in Central America focus on good governance, respect for human rights, inclusive economic development, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. After 40 years of fruitful international cooperation work, Swiss bilateral cooperation is planning to withdraw from the region in 2024. Swiss Humanitarian Aid will however continue to operate in Central America. Until then, Switzerland is working to consolidate the gains that have been achieved and withdraw from the region in a responsible and considered manner.

Map of the region Central America (Nicaragua, Honduras)
© FDFA

Despite being neighbours, Nicaragua and Honduras face different challenges today. Nicaragua has been going through a socio-political and economic crisis since 2018 which has impacted heavily on the country's human right situation and resulted in large-scale emigration. In Honduras, poverty and food insecurity are increasing. The rule of law is not always respected and violence is widespread. Switzerland's activities are therefore aimed at preventing violence and strengthening respect for human rights, but also at creating economic opportunities for people affected by poverty. Central America is one of the world's most exposed regions to natural hazards. Major disasters occur on a regular basis and are being exacerbated by climate change. That is why Switzerland is linking climate change adaptation measures to its efforts to strengthen national and regional civil protection structures.

Governance and the rule of law

Strengthening local governance and the fight against corruption

In Honduras, Switzerland is working to strengthen local governance structures and the participation of vulnerable populations and indigenous communities in natural resource management and economic development in two priority regions – the Gulf of Fonseca and Mosquitia. It is also supporting local human rights organisations to help better protect people's economic, social and cultural rights. In spite of the daunting socio-political situation in Nicaragua, Switzerland is working to promote good governance, a culture of peace, and respect for human rights.

At regional level, the SDC is supporting the work of the Inter-American Court and Commission on Human Rights in Central America in implementing global standards and curbing impunity, with a focus on people's socio-economic rights and access to natural resources. It is also helping fight corruption through targeted support for civil society and public ministries, including training for judges and legal staff in Honduras and Guatemala.

Good governance

Economic development

Strengthening small businesses

Small businesses are the backbone of the economy. In Central America, Switzerland supports rural industries such as cocoa, cashew nuts, sustainable livestock farming and agrotourism. Setting up cooperatives, improving product quality and increasing marketing efforts can help smallholder farms and rural enterprises increase their income. Switzerland also contributes to improving the economic situation of small-scale producers by assisting the responsible ministries in developing and implementing national support policies.

In addition, training opportunities accessible to all give young people from poor neighbourhoods and rural areas a better chance of finding a job. In Honduras, these activities are aimed at young people from neighbourhoods with a high crime rate with a view to violence prevention.

Basic education and vocational skills development

Private sector development and financial services

Climate change adaptation

Risk reduction and water governance

Because of climate change, the risk of devastating hurricanes and prolonged droughts is increasing. Risk mapping, river basin planning and the sustainable management of natural resources improve the resilience of local communities against the potential effects of climate change.

Climate change and the environment

Swiss Humanitarian Aid

Rapid response in the field, disaster risk management, migration and protection

In Central America, Swiss Humanitarian Aid (SHA) uses its funds to help mitigate the humanitarian impact of the migration crisis (Guatemala, Panama) and the effects of climate change. To improve the effectiveness and coordination of risk management, it also aims to support the development and implementation of local, national and regional standards, strategies and plans for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in line with the Paris Agreement (on climate) and the Sendai Framework for Action (for DRR). Owing to the steep rise in migration in the region and its catastrophic effects, the SHA also helps local organisations provide emergency assistance to migrants.

In addition, Switzerland regularly seconds experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit to UN organisations in the region.

Humanitarian Aid

Transversal themes

Gender equality, governance, risk management

Gender equality is key to sustainable development. In its programmes in Central America, Switzerland supports equitable access to resources and knowledge, and promotes the balanced participation of women and men in decision-making processes as well as helping to transform gender stereotypes.

It also focuses on fostering inclusive governance to contribute to a culture of peace. All Swiss programmes prioritise democratic institution building, irrespective of thematic focus. In view of the forthcoming withdrawal of bilateral cooperation from the region, strengthening participatory processes is key – including civil society monitoring of public policies.

Given the region's vulnerability to climate change, disaster risk management is intended to increase resilience among local communities.

Gender equality

Good governance

Disaster risk reduction

Approaches and partners

Switzerland's approach in Central America aims to ensure effectiveness and sustainability, which includes withdrawing its bilateral cooperation in a gradual and responsible manner. This is being done by focusing activities in defined geographical areas and on the root causes of poverty (out of fragility), and by taking a psychosocial approach factoring in the psychological impact on social functioning across all sectors.

Switzerland bases its activities on a multi-stakeholder approach. Even if conditions are difficult, it actively engages in dialogue with state institutions, the academic community and civil society. It encourages alliances with international partners and multilateral organisations to mobilise funds for cooperation programmes, as also set out in the SDGs.

Principles of cooperation

Projects Nicaragua

Object 1 – 9 of 9

  • 1

Contribution to UNHCR Programme Budget 2023-2024 (earmarked)

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024

UNHCR is one of Switzerland’s key multilateral partners due to its unique mandate by the General Assembly of United Nations to provide protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, refugee returnees, and stateless persons. The strategic direction 2022-26 concretise the overall mandate of UNHCR for the upcoming years. Contributing to these directions allows Switzerland to achieve in particular the human development goal defined in the Dispatch to Parliament on International Cooperation for 2021-24.


Strengthening Governance and Human Rights in Central America

01.10.2022 - 31.07.2024

The program supports the entities of the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS) in their mandate in order to strengthen the IAHRS’s capacities to monitor and issue recommendations and reparation measures for the protection of the human rights of human rights defenders, women as well as indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples in Central America. In particular, the capacities of civil society organizations to activate the IAHRS through advocacy actions will be reinforced.


Social Performance Task Force (SPTF)

01.01.2022 - 31.12.2024

Savings, loans, insurance and digital finance are key enablers for low-income households to improve their livelihoods and for micro-entrepreneurs to run their businesses. The SPTF promotes client-centric and responsibly offered financial services through the application of the Universal Standards for Social and Environmental Performance Management. This will contribute to serve 60% of adults (70% women) in low-income countries not having access yet to financial services.


Strengthening Governance and Human Rights in Central America

Natural Resources Governance Dialogue

01.10.2019 - 30.09.2022

The program strengthens the capacities and the presence of the Inter-American Human Rights System in Central America in order to ensure the follow-up on court judgements and recommendations, to educate employees of the justice sector, to report on the Human Rights situation and to strengthen the protection of Human Rights defenders. The program further promotes dialogue on natural resource management among governments, the private sector, indigenous peoples, and Afro-descendants.


Fortalecimiento de la Gobernanza y de los Derechos Humanos con enfoque en el Triángulo Norte de Centro América

05.07.2018 - 31.12.2019

El programa facilita que autoridades de gobiernos, sistemas de justicia, sociedad civil, empresa privada, prioricen acciones de vigilancia, promoción y protección de defensores de derechos humanos y de pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes en el marco del Sistema Interamericano de Derechos Humanos, e inicien un proceso de dialogo regional alrededor de la gestión de los recursos naturales.  


Cocoa value chain

Cocoa Chain Value Family

01.01.2018 - 30.09.2024

Actors in the Central American cocoa value chain improve their productivity, establish public-private alliances, respect economic, social and cultural rights, and reduce their environmental impact. Thanks to the program 4,500 producer families will increase their net annual income by at least 10%, while 4,000 young adults and 2,000 women gain access to sustainable jobs. This will boost the local economy in the poor and peripheral areas in which cocoa is grown.  


Public Private Development Partnership: Social Entrepreneurship Catalytic Impact Financing for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC-IMPACT)

01.11.2015 - 31.12.2027

Social entrepreneurs (SE) find innovative, effective and efficient solutions to social problems with a private sector, entrepreneurial approach. ODA funds are scarce and need to be used with leverage. This intervention will leverage social enterprises efforts, impact investors’ capital and local government funds for poverty reduction and improved livelihood of low income households.


Cocoa Value Chain

01.05.2013 - 30.06.2024

Cocoa produced in agroforestry systems, mostly by smallholders in Nicaragua and Honduras, substantially increases employment and income generation as well as food security. This project links and capacitates key actors of the cocoa value chain in both countries and at the regional level. It promotes public-private partnerships to benefit 3’000 small cocoa producers and their families.


Technical Assistance Medium Term Expenditure Framework, Phase III

01.02.2013 - 31.12.2016

The third phase of the MTEF program has two main objectives. First, it aims to meet the demands of the Nicaraguan authorities to strengthen their Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and draw on the recommendations laid in the final external review and thus amplify the scope of the Nicaraguan MTEF model and allow the MTEF become a more useful policy making tool. Secondly, the project has a regional component, that focus on the needs of central american countries in this area, so as to contribute to the dissemination of MTEF systems, while learning and adopting the Nicaraguan good practices in the subject.

Object 1 – 9 of 9

  • 1

Projects Honduras

Object 1 – 12 of 13

Contribution to UNHCR Programme Budget 2023-2024 (earmarked)

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024

UNHCR is one of Switzerland’s key multilateral partners due to its unique mandate by the General Assembly of United Nations to provide protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, refugee returnees, and stateless persons. The strategic direction 2022-26 concretise the overall mandate of UNHCR for the upcoming years. Contributing to these directions allows Switzerland to achieve in particular the human development goal defined in the Dispatch to Parliament on International Cooperation for 2021-24.


Strengthening Governance and Human Rights in Central America

01.10.2022 - 31.07.2024

The program supports the entities of the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS) in their mandate in order to strengthen the IAHRS’s capacities to monitor and issue recommendations and reparation measures for the protection of the human rights of human rights defenders, women as well as indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples in Central America. In particular, the capacities of civil society organizations to activate the IAHRS through advocacy actions will be reinforced.


Citizen Security

01.09.2022 - 30.06.2024

The program supports the Security Ministry and the National Police of Honduras in professionalizing institutional processes with a focus on human rights and gender as well as on community policing. In the Gulf of Fonseca and La Mosquitia, the program consolidates local coordination mechanisms for violence prevention involving justice and security sector actors, local governments and civil society. During the exit phase, the aim is to institutionalize the achieved results.


Contribution to the country office of UN Human Rights in Honduras (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights)

01.01.2022 - 30.06.2024

UN Human Rights has established itself as the principal point of reference for critically positioning human rights in the public and political agenda of Honduras. It will continue to strive to provide protection of individuals and communities whose rights are at risk or denied, while also working to further develop institutions, laws and policies that effectively protect human rights. This will contribute to rule of law and providing the necessary framework for equitable and sustainable development.


Social Performance Task Force (SPTF)

01.01.2022 - 31.12.2024

Savings, loans, insurance and digital finance are key enablers for low-income households to improve their livelihoods and for micro-entrepreneurs to run their businesses. The SPTF promotes client-centric and responsibly offered financial services through the application of the Universal Standards for Social and Environmental Performance Management. This will contribute to serve 60% of adults (70% women) in low-income countries not having access yet to financial services.


Strengthening Governance and Human Rights in Central America

Natural Resources Governance Dialogue

01.10.2019 - 30.09.2022

The program strengthens the capacities and the presence of the Inter-American Human Rights System in Central America in order to ensure the follow-up on court judgements and recommendations, to educate employees of the justice sector, to report on the Human Rights situation and to strengthen the protection of Human Rights defenders. The program further promotes dialogue on natural resource management among governments, the private sector, indigenous peoples, and Afro-descendants.


Citizen security

Honduran Police Strengthening

01.09.2018 - 31.12.2022

The program supports the reforms of the National Police focusing on institutional integrity: reform of the police education system, community policing and effective control systems for personnel. In the Gulf of Fonseca and the Mosquitia, justice and security sector actors, local governments, civil society, private sector and indigenous populations strengthen their cooperation and jointly implement local and regional violence prevention strategies.


Fortalecimiento de la Gobernanza y de los Derechos Humanos con enfoque en el Triángulo Norte de Centro América

05.07.2018 - 31.12.2019

El programa facilita que autoridades de gobiernos, sistemas de justicia, sociedad civil, empresa privada, prioricen acciones de vigilancia, promoción y protección de defensores de derechos humanos y de pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes en el marco del Sistema Interamericano de Derechos Humanos, e inicien un proceso de dialogo regional alrededor de la gestión de los recursos naturales.  


Cocoa value chain

Cocoa Chain Value Family

01.01.2018 - 30.09.2024

Actors in the Central American cocoa value chain improve their productivity, establish public-private alliances, respect economic, social and cultural rights, and reduce their environmental impact. Thanks to the program 4,500 producer families will increase their net annual income by at least 10%, while 4,000 young adults and 2,000 women gain access to sustainable jobs. This will boost the local economy in the poor and peripheral areas in which cocoa is grown.  


Contribution to the country office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras (OHCHR)

Human rights mural

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

The OHCHR has established itself as the principal point of reference for critically positioning human rights in the public and political agenda of Honduras. It will continue to strive to provide protection of individuals and communities whose rights are at risk or denied, while also working to further develop institutions, laws and policies that effectively protect human rights. This will contribute to rule of law and providing the necessary framework for equitable and sustainable development.


Public Private Development Partnership: Social Entrepreneurship Catalytic Impact Financing for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC-IMPACT)

01.11.2015 - 31.12.2027

Social entrepreneurs (SE) find innovative, effective and efficient solutions to social problems with a private sector, entrepreneurial approach. ODA funds are scarce and need to be used with leverage. This intervention will leverage social enterprises efforts, impact investors’ capital and local government funds for poverty reduction and improved livelihood of low income households.


Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Contribution to Country Office Honduras

01.06.2015 - 31.12.2017

Human Rights promotion and protection in Honduras does not live up to international standards nor does it comply with international commitments as shown by the 2010 Universal Periodic review of the Human Rights Council. On demand of the Government of Honduras the UN is establishing a Country Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2015. The office will combat impunity and strengthen the capacities of governmental entities and CSO-institutions to protect human rights.

Object 1 – 12 of 13