Cooperation Agencies In Bolivia: Who Are They?

Bolivia, a landlocked country in Latin America, has a diverse landscape, from the Andes mountains to the Amazon rainforest. It is a country rich in natural resources, but its reliance on the extraction sector makes it vulnerable to external shocks and climate change. With a significant proportion of its population living below the poverty line, Bolivia faces challenges such as wealth distribution inequalities and a large informal sector. Bolivia has experienced economic growth due to exports of gas, oil, and mining products, and the government's income redistribution programmes have helped reduce poverty. However, Bolivia remains one of the poorest countries in Latin America. This article will explore the cooperation agencies that Bolivia has worked with to address these challenges and promote sustainable development.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Since 1964, USAID has been working in Bolivia to help the Bolivian government improve the lives of its citizens. All USAID programs have been supportive of the Bolivian government's National Development Plan and have been fully coordinated with appropriate government agencies. Over the past 50 years, USAID has spent nearly $2 billion in close collaboration with the Government of Bolivia on various programs, including education, health, agriculture, alternative development, food security, economic development, and environmental protection.

For example, USAID has worked with the Government of Bolivia's Ministry of Health, the Pan American Health Organization, and the United Nations Children's Fund to increase access to quality healthcare services and address the needs of underserved rural communities. They have also supported local non-governmental organizations that provide health and reproductive services in rural areas. As a result, more than 618,000 antenatal care visits were provided by skilled providers, nearly 40,000 newborns received essential newborn care, and more than 205,000 children under five were reached by nutrition programs.

Additionally, USAID has helped protect biodiversity and manage natural resources in Bolivia. Around Lake Titicaca, USAID focused on reducing pollution by providing sustainable sources of income for local residents. In the Chaco forest, USAID worked to protect one of the largest remaining tracts of dry forests and increase water provision for local communities by compensating landowners for forest conservation, strengthening water cooperatives, and encouraging the use of technology for more efficient water use.

Despite the United States' efforts to establish a relationship based on mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation with the Bolivian government, USAID's programs in Bolivia came to an end in May 2013 when the Bolivian government decided to expel the agency. The United States deeply regretted this decision and denied the baseless allegations made by the Bolivian government. The termination of USAID programs had a significant impact on Bolivians, particularly in the areas of healthcare access, biodiversity conservation, pollution reduction, and economic growth.

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is an office-level agency within the federal administration of Switzerland and a part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The SDC is responsible for the overall coordination of Swiss international development activities, cooperation with Eastern Europe, and humanitarian aid delivered by the Swiss Confederation.

In Bolivia, Switzerland's development work through the SDC focuses on governance, economic and vocational skills development, climate change mitigation, and environmental protection. Switzerland has been active in Bolivia since 1968, and Bolivia has been an SDC priority country since 1981. The SDC's activities in the country are centred on knowledge transfer and support for young people in rural and peri-urban areas of the highlands and Andean valleys.

The SDC's work in Bolivia is structured around three main areas: bilateral and multilateral development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and cooperation with Eastern Europe. In the context of bilateral and multilateral development cooperation, the SDC promotes economic and national self-sufficiency, improves production conditions, assists with environmental issues, and helps ensure better access to education and healthcare for the poor.

The SDC's humanitarian aid mission is to save lives and alleviate suffering during armed conflicts and following natural disasters. It provides aid through the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit and supports humanitarian partner organisations such as the Red Cross. The cooperation with Eastern Europe assists the countries in their transition to democracy and a market economy.

The SDC's specialist units are grouped within the Thematic and Technical Resources Department, focusing on conflict prevention, good governance, social development, employment and income, natural resources, and the environment.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been working in Bolivia since the early 1980s. Bolivia is the third-largest grower of coca bushes in the world, and UNODC has been supporting grassroots alternative development projects to help farmers develop licit farming alternatives to coca bush cultivation.

UNODC and the Bolivian Government collaborate on alternative development programmes that focus on income generation and environmental protection activities to tackle poverty. These projects aim to provide sustainable economic alternatives to illicit coca bush cultivation and cocaine trafficking, thereby reducing poverty and social marginalization. The projects also emphasize preventing the further expansion of illicit coca bush cultivation and improving living conditions in areas where it is grown.

One such project in the Yungas of La Paz provides vocational training in areas such as tourism, agriculture, and the food industry to young people living in traditional coca bush cultivation zones. The project will qualify approximately 7,500 young men and women to work in the productive and service sectors. It also supports at least 90 micro-enterprises, improving their productive processes, administration, production costs, access to credit, and market links. Micro-enterprises are one of the major sources of employment in the country.

Another project supports the National Plan for Alternative Development in the context of the Bolivian Integrated Strategy to Counter Drug Trafficking. This project aims to consolidate the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources in the Cochabamba tropics and the Yungas of La Paz. It generates income and employment through rational and sustainable forest utilization and agroforestry management practices with the active participation of farmers and local entities. Approximately 4,500 families and 50 local organizations benefit from increased income, employment, and the availability of agricultural and forest resources through this project.

UNODC's work in Bolivia is part of its broader mission to advance the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and contribute to peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

Italian Agency for Development Cooperation

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) is responsible for performing technical and operational activities associated with the examination, development, financing, management, and control of the Italian government's cooperation initiatives. It works across several areas, including economic and human development, the environment, rural development and food security, emergency and fragile states, and sustainable development goals.

AICS focuses on key themes for the future, such as a more equal distribution of wealth, guaranteed access to quality healthcare and education, and environmental sustainability. The agency offers opportunities for various governmental and non-governmental bodies to get involved in cooperation activities, including universities, civil society organisations, businesses, and profit-making stakeholders.

In terms of the environment and the use of territory, AICS is committed to supporting the sustainable management and use of natural resources in partner countries. This includes protecting water, air, and soil, preserving biodiversity, and combating desertification. The agency also prioritises the development and implementation of measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and foster resilience.

Geographically, Bolivia is one of 22 priority countries for Italian Cooperation. AICS has 18 country offices worldwide and works with local administrations and field offices to implement cooperation projects.

Italy's development cooperation promotes sustainable agriculture, access to clean water, sustainable energy, education, work dignity, and gender equality. It also works to combat all forms of violence and guarantee access to sexual and reproductive health. Italy's total official development assistance (ODA) increased in 2022, and the country is committed to several international targets, Development Assistance Committee standards, and recommendations.

Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is Switzerland's federal government centre of expertise for all core issues relating to economic and labour market policy. It was created in 1999 through the merger of the Federal Office of Foreign Economic Affairs and the Federal Office for Economic Development and Employment. SECO's primary objective is to facilitate sustained economic growth, high employment, and fair working conditions by implementing the necessary regulatory, economic, and foreign policy frameworks.

In Bolivia, SECO has been active since 2017 as a complementary country to its development cooperation. SECO's work in Bolivia focuses on promoting sustainable trade and supporting the country's economic development. This includes improving access to financial and non-financial services or new markets for vocational college graduates, producer families, and micro and small enterprises. Additionally, SECO contributes to sustainable urban development measures, supporting the sustainable use of natural resources and focusing on adjustment mechanisms such as water management, land use, and disaster risk reduction.

SECO also plays a crucial role in Switzerland's relations with the European Union through the Integration Office, a joint initiative with the FDFA and the FDEA. Furthermore, SECO is actively involved in poverty reduction efforts through economic development cooperation.

As Switzerland prepares to phase out its bilateral programme with Bolivia by 2024, SECO is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and knowledge transfer. Switzerland's development work in Bolivia will continue to focus on governance, economic and vocational skills development, climate change mitigation, and environmental protection.

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