'"Suma y multiplica': empowerment of rural women in the Pacific Area of Nicaragua" Suma y multiplica: maaseudun naisten voimaantuminen Nicaraguassa Nicaragua has a poverty rate of 42%, being the poorest country in Central America. In addition, it is currently going through its second year of recession as a result of the socio-political crisis that attacks the country. Multidimensional poverty attacks especially women with an educational deficit due to school drop-out and a limited capacity for critical thinking, which in the end leads to a low standard of living due to unemployment. Women are forced to migrate, suffer social isolation and have, if any, a mere survival income. 

 

 For the above reasons, the project has been designed to promote the empowerment of women microentrepreneurs in the Managua, Masaya and Carazo in an inclusive manner and with effective participation for their family economic development. The project has been designed to alleviate the consequences of multidimensional poverty with the insertion into employment. 

 

 To that end, the following trainings will be delivered:

 

 - Basic courses aimed at female entrepreneurs where 60 hours will be given on business management and preparation of business plans to improve income and avoid family and community disintegration. Other 20 hours will be targeted to respond to other two major deficits: poor health and educational poverty. 240 women will benefit.

 

 - A tailored microMBA program aimed at women microentrepreneurs in the area where 128 hours will be delivered on management and empowerment of women where participants enhance their knowledge through case studies, peer learning, educational tours to succesful businesses preparation of improvement plans. 160 women will benefit.

 

 - In order to help community leaders that ANDECU has benefited in the past, citizenship workshops will be delivered to improve their self-esteem and promote the development of resilience. 80 women will benefit from these workshops.

 

 - To avoid social isolation, the project has activities that connect women with each other and with other groups of interest, provide them with networking spaces, sale of their products and access to institutions that can give grants or loans. The project will connect the beneficiaries with other programs of ANDECU and of partner institutions. Nicaragua has a poverty rate of 42%, being the poorest country in Central America. In addition, it is currently going through its second year of recession as a result of the socio-political crisis that attacks the country. Multidimensional poverty attacks especially women with an educational deficit due to school drop-out and a limited capacity for critical thinking, which in the end leads to a low standard of living due to unemployment. Women are forced to migrate, suffer social isolation and have, if any, a mere survival income. 

For the above reasons, the project has been designed to promote the empowerment of women microentrepreneurs in the Managua, Masaya and Carazo in an inclusive manner and with effective participation for their family economic development. The project has been designed to alleviate the consequences of multidimensional poverty with the insertion into employment. 

To that end, the following trainings will be delivered:

- Basic courses aimed at female entrepreneurs where 60 hours will be given on business management and preparation of business plans to improve income and avoid family and community disintegration. Other 20 hours will be targeted to respond to other two major deficits: poor health and educational poverty. 240 women will benefit.

- A tailored microMBA program aimed at women microentrepreneurs in the area where 128 hours will be delivered on management and empowerment of women where participants enhance their knowledge through case studies, peer learning, educational tours to succesful businesses preparation of improvement plans. 160 women will benefit.

- In order to help community leaders that ANDECU has benefited in the past, citizenship workshops will be delivered to improve their self-esteem and promote the development of resilience. 80 women will benefit from these workshops.

- To avoid social isolation, the project has activities that connect women with each other and with other groups of interest, provide them with networking spaces, sale of their products and access to institutions that can give grants or loans. The project will connect the beneficiaries with other programs of ANDECU and of partner institutions.