In 2003, the United Nations Organization recognized sport as a way to advance the achievement of the Millennium Goals, and to promote development and peace. It is documented that sport serves as a vehicle to promote important social skills, including teamwork, tolerance, cooperation, perseverance, confidence, leadership, among others. Participating in a sport and as a member of a sports team contributes to psychological, physiological and social well-being, benefiting both the participant and the community to which they belong. Sport can play an important role in promoting social integration and economic development in different political, geographical and cultural contexts. In Nicaragua, the practice of baseball has a long history at the national and community level: more than 16 Nicaraguans have debuted in the US Major Leagues; On the other hand, in 2017 the U14 and U10 teams were crowned winners in their respective Pan American Championships, increasingly achieving the consolidation of the federation that represents them. Although there are baseball leagues for boys that demonstrate some competitive athletic ability, before the implementation of the technical cooperation project NI-T1256, Social Inclusion Through Baseball, currently underway, there were no opportunities for boys and girls to learn the game. and enjoy participation in a non-competitive team. It should be noted that prior to the implementation of NI-T1256 there was no opportunity for girls interested in learning to play baseball; The execution of this project has allowed the incorporation of more than 20 girls in community teams, and 2 female trainers. This experience is helping to change socio-cultural norms that inhibited girls and women from participating in a sport previously considered the exclusive domain of the male sex.

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF IADB

The Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI) is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) or Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC)-funded project. If you submit a complaint to MICI, they may assist you in addressing the problems you raised through a dispute-resolution process with those implementing the project and/or through an investigation to assess whether the IDB or IIC is following its own policies for preventing or mitigating harm to people or the environment. You can submit a complaint by sending an email to MICI@iadb.org. You can learn more about the MICI and how to file a complaint at http://www.iadb.org/en/mici/mici,1752.html (in English) or http://www.iadb.org/es/mici/mici,1752.html (Spanish).