Bolivia

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Bolivia, a landlocked country in the heart of South America, is home to almost 10 million people. In this diverse country, about two-thirds of the population is indigenous. Poverty is widespread in the rural countryside, especially among indigenous communities. Contributing to the high level of poverty is limited access to clean drinking water and sanitation. According to the most recent Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) Report by UNICEF and WHO, 88% of people in Bolivia have access to improved water sources and 27% have improved sanitation facilities. However, in rural areas, access to safe drinking water is as low as 71% and sanitation coverage as low as 10%.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Population:: 10.290,000
Languages:: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Per capita income:: $4,800
Life expectancy:: 6/67
Under-five mortality rate:: 61/1,000 live births
Sources:: UNESCO and; UNICEF

Water For People began working in Bolivia in 1997. Since that time, Water For People–Bolivia has developed a strategic program to address water and sanitation needs in four rural municipalities: Cuchumuela, Villa Rivero, and Tiraque in the department of Cochabamba, and San Pedro in the department of Santa Cruz. In 2008, Water For People–Bolivia was invited by the Bolivian government to start work in one peri-urban area outside the city of Cochabamba, District 9. And in 2011, Water For People–Bolivia expanded its program further to the rural municipalities of Arani and San Benito, also located in the department of Cochabamba. Within each of these municipalities, Water For People works with local government, communities, schools, and local private and civil society organizations to reach high levels of water and sanitation coverage.

Everyone Forever in Bolivia

Everyone Forever is a unique programmatic effort to provide water and sanitation to Everyone in targeted districts and municipalities, Forever. It means these districts and communities never again need another international water agency to address their water challenges. And it provides a model for greater replication, leading to a push for national full water and sanitation coverage. Water For People-Bolivia is focusing its Everyone Forever programming in Arani, Cuchumuela, San Benito, Tiraque, Villa Rivero, San Pedro, and District 9 in peri-urban Cochabamba. Cuchumuela is set to be the first municipality to reach Everyone with safe drinking by the end of 2012.

Partners

Water For People believes long-lasting water and sanitation solutions can be achieved when key local role-players—the local private sector, civil society, and local government—are supported. As such, Water For People is deeply involved with key local stakeholders, including Bolivia’s Department of Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation (VAPySB), Ministry of Environment and Water, National Support Service for Basic Sanitation Services Sustainability (SENASBA), Universidad Mayor de San Simón, and multiple local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private-sector companies.

Work in 2012

In 2012, Water For People-Bolivia plans to continue to work closely with DMSBs and municipalities to build their capacity to support water systems and community management of these systems over time. This includes comprehensive workshops that focus on the technical aspects of water programming, such as system design, as well as the social components, including community mobilization and development. Additional trainings will be held on monitoring and evaluation of the current water systems, as well as hygiene education. To increase communities’ ability to manage and maintain systems over time, trainings will be held with water committees on operation and maintenance, and administration and financial management of water systems. Innovative sanitation approaches will also continue to be tested in an effort to increase household demand and access to toilets. In 2012, Water For People-Bolivia plans to work in over 60 communities and 47 schools throughout its target municipalities.