Latin America

Denmark has actively worked to improve living conditions for the poorest parts of the population in Latin America, including women, children and indigenous peoples. Danish development cooperation in Latin America ran from the 1990s to 2016, where primarily four countries (Bolivia, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala) received support in order to reduce inequality and poverty.

The country program in Bolivia ended in 2018, and the efforts in Nicaragua were terminated in 2012. The Danish development commitment focusing on human rights and the environment in Central America ended in 2017. However, Denmark still has a share in the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which contributes to the development in the region through loans, aid and research. IDB focuses on combating poverty, strengthening the private sector and addressing the region's climate challenges. Thereby, the work of the Bank to a large degree reflects Denmark's development policy priorities.

Denmark's current development cooperation efforts in Latin America

Denmark remains committed to Latin America through cooperation with Danish strategic partners, who have several projects in the region focusing on civil society, humanitarian aid and labor market efforts. Furthermore, Denmark makes core contributions to a number of UN organizations who are present in the region.

Below is an overview of Danish contributions to strategic partners in Latin America.

In addition, Denmark provided a lump sum of DKK 10 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in connection with the refugee crisis in Venezuela in 2020.

Country program in Bolivia 1994-2018

For more than 20 years, Denmark provided financial and technical assistance to Bolivia. Initially, the focus was on poverty reduction and human rights, but later it changed to  include assistance within the environment and the climate. During the 20 years of assistance, Bolivia underwent a major development with a correspondingly high economic growth, and the country is today a lower middle-income country. Danish development cooperation in Bolivia was based on capacity building of state institutions and on creating positive changes in the local communities in collaboration with non-governmental organizations. Denmark has contributed to creating lasting positive results in Bolivia, such as:

- A more sustainable production and increased income for small farmers

- Better access to education, especially for indigenous peoples

- Stronger environmental protection and management.

If you want to read more about the Danish development cooperation effort in Bolivia, the evaluation report on the country program can be read here.

Country program in Nicaragua 1981-2012

Denmark's involvement in Nicaragua stretched from 1981 to 2012. Initially the development cooperation focused on combating poverty and hunger, improving infrastructure and ensuring access to clean water and health facilities. Later the approach supported projects in the fields of education, environment and agriculture. Denmark also focused on building state institutions and mechanisms to ensure human rights in the country. The Danish contributions have contributed to creating positive results in Nicaragua such as:

- Clearing of mines after the Civil War, so that Nicaragua today is free of landmines

- Renovation of schools and production of better teaching materials

- Agricultural cooperatives which, with the help of better cultivation methods, experienced increased production and thereby created higher income for the farmers

- Strengthening of civil society organizations working for democracy and human rights

If you want to read more about the Danish development cooperation effort in Nicaragua, there is a report on the country program (in Spanish), that can be read here.

In addition, there is a video about the country program: video