International Development Grant
Support to the Productive Rural Development Sector Program (PRORURAL)
Project Number: CA-3-A035181001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $7,734,056.00
Start Date: March 28, 2012
End Date: March 31, 2015
Duration: 3.0 years
Project Description
This project contributes to strengthening the agriculture sector in Nicaragua. It helps the Government of Nicaragua implement its Productive Rural Development Sector Program (known by its Spanish acronym PRORURAL). The goal of PRORURAL is to increase sustainable economic growth in rural areas and increase access to safe nutritious food for poor rural women and men. PRORURAL helps farmers to increase their productivity and the quality of the food they produce; helps them to diversify their crops and transform their produce into higher-value products; and promotes sustainable use of forestry resources and improved management of the forestry sector. As with all sector support initiatives Canada is working in close cooperation with other donors and the Government of Nicaragua to promote effective transparent and accountable country systems; increase donor coordination and harmonization; and strengthen mutual accountability. This initiative is continuously monitored and evaluated in coordination with other donors
Expected Results
The expected intermediate results for this project include: increased agricultural productivity for small-scale farmers (women and men) as a mean to reduce food insecurity; increased income and employment opportunities especially for small-scale farmers (women and men); enhanced conservation and sustainable use of natural resources by women and men; and increased efficiency and efficacy of national institutions in the rural development sector.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2015) include: (1) the production of cash crops such as coffee maize beans and rice increased on average by 22%; (2) 17 000 families were integrated into value chains for cocoa horticulture honey dairy coffee rice beans and meat in order to help them add value to their products get better returns and increase their incomes; (3) 88 806 hectares of forest were integrated in forestry sector management plans promoting the sustainable use of forestry resources; (4) 3 288 farmer associations (with 56% female membership) were formed to more effectively purchase resources and to facilitate entry into new markets; and (5) 222 144 producers (of whom 41% are women were given technical assistance to increase sustainable agricultural production practices. These contributed to increasing rural economic growth and improving access to safe nutritious and sufficient food for poor rural women and men and actively supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation activities. This project is part of Canada’s commitment to climate change action in developing countries. Through the Support to the Productive Rural Development Sector Program the project had provided assistance to Nicaragua to help them develop policies and implement programs to support climate change mitigation and adaptation activities through four ministries and public institutions working in Rural Development. Canada’s support has helped the Government of Nicaragua through PRORURAL to develop a responsive mechanism to assist small scale farmers in the implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation activities including the strengthening of the government’s and producers’ environmental management capacities responsible use of water in agriculture promoting agro-ecological production and supporting the national reforestation plan.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Government of Nicaragua
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
NGM Americas
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Basket funds/pooled funding
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP