Swisscontact has been present in Nicaragua since 1981, where it began with inclusive economic development and programmes to improve air quality. Swisscontact currently focuses on two main areas of intervention: vocational training and labour market insertion of young men and women, and developing the skills of urban and rural business owners in order to improve their income and generate employment. All of Swisscontact's interventions in Nicaragua involve both the public and private sectors. The activities are implemented under a systemic and integrative approach that seeks the sustainability of the initiatives supported, provides innovative solutions to the challenges and obstacles encountered and favours the integration of the different actors involved.