In early 2006, Nicaragua will undertake a study in the department of Chontales to identify the assets possessed by poor people in the area and to determine what public investments are needed to strengthen that capital. These assets include human and social capital, production goods, infrastructure, agro-climatic patrimony and biodiversity, among others.

The idea is to enable the poor rural population of Chontales to make better use of the opportunities being generated in Central America, thus producing growth and reducing poverty.

Special attention will be paid to identifying assets pertaining to dairy farming and to the organization of dairy and beef clusters in the territory. The study will be carried out with the participation and financial support of MAGFOR, FAO, the World Bank and the Government of Finland, under the supervision of RUTA and the World Bank. Two civil society institutions will also participate, namely, NITLAPAN, which is a research center, and the Campesino a Campesino Program.

A fundamental aspect of this study is that it will provide the national institutions with a methodology than can be replicated in other areas. RUTA has already hired the senior researchers, who will lead a group comprising an international specialist on geographic information systems and research assistants, national counterpart specialists (e.g., specialists in the territories and clusters to be studied) and field workers. Thus, one or several ministry representatives will be trained in the methodology to be followed. The research team may also include international consultants financed directly by individual donors.