The Pandemic Fund

Background

Nicaragua was awarded US$17.1 million from the Pandemic Fund to reinforce the country’s prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) capabilities and defend against public health threats. The grant catalyzed US$2.9 million in co-financing and US$39.1 million in co-investment. 

The Central American country is committed to aligning with International Health Regulations (IHR) and strengthening its public health architecture. But COVID-19 exposed a range of vulnerabilities. Nicaragua is located along the path of migratory birds, which bring with them the risk of avian influenza and Newcastle virus, among other diseases. The risk is particularly high for Nicaragua’s rural population, whose poultry may interact with migrating birds. Adding complexity to the country’s public health landscape are socioeconomic factors and the migration of people, as well as the impacts of climate change. National assessments have shown that Nicaragua is particularly vulnerable to diseases such as measles, polio, cholera, severe acute respiratory infections, COVID-19, and dengue fever. 

The project is led by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, alongside the Ministry of Health, the Institute for Agricultural Protection and Health, and the National Council of Universities. The three Implementing Entities are the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO). 
 

Project objectives

With the Pandemic Fund grant, Nicaragua aims to alleviate the health, social, and economic repercussions of public health emergencies on the country’s people.
 

Implementation arrangements and key components

The project encompasses the Pandemic Fund’s three priorities: surveillance, laboratory systems, and workforce development. Activities supporting each of the priority areas follow. 

1. Upgrading surveillance and information systems. Activities in this area include updating the national surveillance system for human, animal, and environmental health, antimicrobial resistance, food contamination, and food-borne diseases, strengthening surveillance at the country’s points of entry, developing an early warning system for communities and connecting it to national systems, and creating a system to analyze data and share information at the national and global levels. Activities also include improving PPR capacity within the veterinary services with a focus on zoonotic diseases.
2. Strengthening human, animal, and environmental health laboratories. This component of the project focuses on strengthening quality management systems at national reference laboratories, upgrading the national network of diagnostic laboratories to detect infectious agents with pandemic and antimicrobial-resistant potential, and updating biosafety and biosecurity regulations for laboratory staff.
3. Mobilizing effectively against disease outbreaks. Mobilization activities include conducting emergency risk assessments at the country’s points of entry, updating emergency preparedness and response plans via multisectoral coordination, simulation exercises, and community participation (using the Family and Community Health Model), and institutionalizing risk communication and community engagement mechanisms. Activities also include updating the legal and regulatory framework to advance the implementation of international health regulations. 

FAO is the lead agency for agriculture and animal health, as well as food security. UNICEF is the lead agency for environmental health, risk communication and community engagement, and the protection of children’s rights. The WHO is the lead agency overseeing all human health-related activities.
 

Expected outcomes

Aligned with the One Health approach, and in collaboration with its project partners, Nicaragua seeks to: 

1. Upgrade surveillance and information systems to monitor diseases with epidemic potential.
2. Strengthen human, animal, and environmental health laboratories to detect pathogens with epidemic potential and enhance biosafety and biosecurity.
3. Update the country’s legal framework and risk communication and community engagement strategies to mobilize against epidemic threats.