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Bolivia

Population: 11.05 million1

Rural access to basic water services: 78%2

Rural access to basic sanitation services: 36%3

everyone forever
districts: 8

woman washing clothes in outdoor sink | Clean Water in Bolivia | Where We Work | Water For People

Water For People in Bolivia

Bolivia is a landlocked country in the heart of South America, whose people are proud of their indigenous heritage and cultures. Bolivia’s president has set ambitious goals to reach universal access to drinking water services by 2020 and sanitation services by 2025.

Water For People began working in Bolivia in 1997. In 2018, Bolivia’s district of San Pedro became the first district where Water For People, together with district partners, achieved water services for everyone — every family, clinic, and school. This shows how powerful the Everyone Forever model can be.

Helping Bolivians bring water, sanitation, and hygiene to their communities

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WATER

Water For People implements piped water supply systems in Bolivia. We build the capacity of communities and districts so they will be able to manage and maintain these systems for the long term. With Water For People’s support, districts have created water and sanitation offices (called DMSBs in Bolivia) that support communities with operation and maintenance and oversight of water services.

white toilet on a red background

SANITATION

We promote a market-based approach to sanitation, which means families invest in their own household toilets that meet their preferences and needs. Demand for better sanitation in rural Bolivia has historically been low, but a program in the district of Villa Rivero to cover the cost of 10-20% of a family’s bathroom has led more families to build bathrooms. Water For People also supports microfinance for sanitation improvements so families can access small loans to build better bathrooms. We also make sure sanitation products like toilets, showers, and sinks are locally available.

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SCHOOLS AND HYGIENE

Alongside local leaders, we help construct safe and hygienic handwashing stations and toilets in schools. Each school intervention is combined with programming and education in the community to help ensure that good hygiene practices learned in schools are reinforced at home.

This is the face of clean water in Bolivia

Everyone Forever Districts

Scaling the Impact

In 2012, Water For People’s work in the district of Cuchumuela made it the first district in Bolivia to reach every community with water services. This attracted the attention of the national, state, and neighboring district governments who wanted to replicate the Everyone Forever model in other parts of the country. In 2016, this led to Water For People taking on two new Everyone Forever districts – Arbieto and Pocona. It also led to a partnership with the national Vice Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, which Water For People supports on its mission to reach universal water and sanitation coverage. Specifically, we provide advisory support in the departments of Tarija and Oruro.

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