NICALERT: Disaster risk reduction with a focus on disaster prevention and preparedness in Nicaragua The action will improve or establish disaster preparedness (DP) mechanisms, prevention, early warning systems (EWS) and climate change adaptation measures. Under the principle of ¿leave no one behind¿, NICALERT will address the climate change impacts on the socio-economic rights of the following groups: women, children and youth, indigenous people, afro-descendant ethnic communities, the elderly and people with disabilities.&nbsp;The action will target historically neglected and isolated areas, where hazards, high levels of vulnerability and limited response capacity result in high levels of disaster risk. Strengthening local disaster risk governance, integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) as well as resilient and accessible infrastructure, strengthening (and localising) inclusive early warning and information systems[1], and promotion of women and youth empowerment as active actors contributing to disaster response, recovery, and community resilience are the core elements for the action[2].&nbsp;The action falls under MIP 2021 -2027 Priority 1¿Environment, and climate change adaptation and mitigation¿. It contributes directly to the Specific Objective (SO3): ¿Community resilience: Disaster risk reduction; prevention and preparation¿. The action responds to the basic principles of the international and EU policy framework, such as the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). It also aligns with Nicaragua¿s climate change and disaster risk management policies and plans.&nbsp;The Overall Objective (OO) of this action is to contribute to the reduction of disaster risk and impacts associated with climate change and other natural hazards in Nicaragua. In line with the Sendai Framework¿s priorities for action and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its SDGs, NIC-ALERT is designed as a comprehensive intervention with a multi-hazard approach, addressing the underlying drivers of disaster risk: hazard exposure, vulnerability, exclusion, as well as the existence or lack of inclusive disaster prevention, preparedness and response capacities of States and their communities and citizens.&nbsp;The action¿s Specific Objective (SO)/Expected Outcome is to increase community resilience to face climate-related impacts in some of the most vulnerable indigenous and afro-descendent communities of the Caribbean regions in Nicaragua, with a focus on women and youth. The implementation strategy is based on strengthening the nexus between humanitarian immediate/short-term response and mid/long-term development cooperation, building on lessons learnt, synergies and complementarity.&nbsp;This SO will be achieved through the following Outputs:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Output 1.1: Enhanced local community-based preparedness and response capacity to disaster risk with a focus on children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, based on their needs, rights and capacities and on women and youth as key actors.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Output 1.2: Strengthened community-based early warning systems in the face of disaster risk and climate change impacts.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Output 1.3: Empowered indigenous and afro-descendant women and youth in disaster risk management and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.