Nicaragua faces significant development challenges as a result of democratic backsliding, persistent poverty, and growing insecurity.  The international community viewed the 2008 municipal elections, the 2011 Presidential elections, and more recently the 2012 municipal elections as flawed, which in part led to half of all bilateral donors to depart or reduce the scope or scale of their programs. However, remaining donors will continue to try to improve the country’s development.  USAID will increase the ability of the Nicaraguan citizenry to engage in democratic governance. Citizens who have the necessary tools, information, and skills will be better able to engage in governance, demand accountability, and affect positive, democratic solutions.