Paraguay – Iniciativa Zona Norte (IZN) Program
Strengthening local governance to reduce illicit activity
USAID/Paraguay’s Iniciativa Zona Norte (IZN) program will contribute significantly to United States government (USG) and government of Paraguay (GOP) goals to reduce participation in illicit economic and social activity. The goal of the IZN program is to help establish a new level of stability in the Canindeyú, Amambay, Concepción and San Pedro departments of eastern Paraguay in order to reduce the level of violence and criminal activity during Paraguay’s transition from de facto one-party rule to multiparty democracy. In order to achieve this goal, ACDI/VOCA is implementing the program with the following objectives:
- Strengthen local governance through the provision of technical and financial assistance to at least 15 municipalities in order to address governance weak points, respond to citizen priorities and improve service provision
- Ensure economic security through the provision of licit alternatives for generating income to poor rural campesinos and ensuring that the developments made are not undermined by the root causes of instability.
These objectives will be achieved through bottom-up, community-led initiatives that involve stakeholders in every facet of project planning and implementation. The process will secure the vital commitment of communities, local governments and the private sector to work together for future social and economic investment. The program will enhance economic growth through improved infrastructure, practices and technologies, and through the identification, prioritization and planning of productive activities that will ultimately integrate the most vulnerable populations into value chain activities.
To date IZN has benefitted 21,565 families through stabilization and livelihood development activities. Coverage of basic community driven local services and infrastructure has increased on average by 85% in communities receiving IZN assistance.
For more information contact Brandie Maxwell at bmaxwell@acdivoca.org.
Updated: 10/11
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