The USAID Assistance Program in Bolivia

"Sustained and Equitable Development under Democratic Rule of Law"

The U.S. Government channels its economic, technical and financial assistance to Bolivia through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID is one of the oldest and largest development assistance agencies and is exceptionally well known throughout Bolivia, especially in rural areas, where thousands of projects have been implemented.

USAID works closely with the Government of Bolivia, the private sector and the Bolivian population at large, helping to consolidate democracy and achieve broad-based, equitable and sustainable development. USAID/Bolivia provides an average of $100 million in development assistance per year through bilateral agreements and programs implemented by the private sector, non-government organizations and civil society. USAID’s programs are designed to address the key issues of poverty and social exclusion by focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the rural and peri-urban populations.

USAID’s assistance program in Bolivia focuses on improving the effectiveness, responsiveness and transparency of local governance, Congress, and the justice system; increased economic opportunities for poor populations through business development and trade; improving health practices and services; increasing the sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity management; and promotion of social and economic development of rural farm families to reduce illicit coca production.

Following is a summary description of the five principal focus areas (strategic objectives) under the new Country Strategic Plan, which covers the period 2005-2009 with a planned total funding level of $559 million:

Democracy: Increased Confidence in Democratic Institutions and Processes

Activities: Administration of justice; local governance; strengthening of the legislative branch; political party reform; anti-corruption; and freedom of access to information initiative.

Economic Opportunities: Increased Income for Bolivia 's Poor 

Activities: Rural and urban financial services; rural agricultural development, and improved trade and business competitiveness.

Health: Improved Health of Bolivians, Contributing to their Quality of Life

Activities: Maternal and child health focused on primary health care; improved quality and coverage of community health care; expanded access to family planning services; AIDS and sexually transmitted disease awareness and prevention; infectious disease control (Chagas, TB, malaria, yellow fever); and health care reform through support to decentralization, increased community participation, partnership with private organizations and financial sustainability of health services.

Environment: Forest , Water, and Biodiversity Resources Managed for Sustained Economic Growth

Activities: Sustainable tropical forestry management; sustainable management of areas of significant biological diversity and value (parks and protected areas); and reduced industrial pollution.

Integrated Development: Licit Economy in Coca Growing and Associated Areas Increasingly Sustainable

Activities: Integrated development of the licit economy, municipal governance, social services and community and economic infrastructure in coca-growing and related areas, to provide permanent, licit and viable alternatives to the economy of illegal coca. 

Food Security Unit: PL-480 Title II

Activities: Enhanced household food security through improved agricultural production and storage techniques, marketing, and productive infrastructure such as irrigation; improved maternal and child health through better water sanitation infrastructure; education for household nutrition and hygiene; food for work projects; and income generation activities.

Office of Transition Initiatives:

Activities: Income generation, job training and productive engagement of youth; improved public school infrastructure in underserved areas to enhance the quality of primary and secondary education; facilitating political participation of disenfranchised, undocumented citizens in the Altiplano; work with civil society and the national government to provide balanced information on key issues; and civic education and training for emerging leaders of moderate social, youth and key indigenous organizations.