Transforming partnerships in Bolivia
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Bolivia
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Latin America Regional
Strategy 2004-2007 (298
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Image courtesy of Tom Weller
On
January 21, Evo Morales Aya officially took office as the first President of
indigenous descent in the history of Bolivia. In the elections held on December
18th, his MAS party won with a majority of 53%.
The elections were largely considered fair and transparent, and DFID has
supported the National Electoral Court, voter registration and education in the
poorest areas for years. DFID is well placed - through its regional approach -
to help promote the exchange of best practices around social protection policies
for the most vulnerable.
Here are some examples of how our work in Bolivia is influencing government
and civil society to make life better for the most vulnerable in South America's
poorest country.
Into the open: Supporting greater transparency in public life
 With small amounts of money, DFID has been developing approaches to service
provision which has led the way for other donors. For example, in Santa Cruz, DFID is supporting local mayors to improve local services, and helping local
governments have a national voice.
In October 2005, Felix Chapia (sub-mayor for District 9)
said: "Before, people's complaints got lost or ignored. For the first time,
people here have been able to define their priorities, for what is most needed
where they live. Imagine what we can do in one year. Or five? Or ten?"
Read case study on supporting greater transparency
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Partnership opens airwaves for Bolivia's youth
 Image courtesy of Tom Weller
Bolivia
itself is one of the most unequal countries in one of the most unequal regions
of the world. Poverty is particularly concentrated in rural areas and among the
indigenous peoples who make up over half of the population. Discrimination
against indigenous people and against women is widespread.
Which is partly why DFID
Andes is supporting
Bolivia's Electoral Court and the Consortium of Citizen Participation (CPC), organisations that work to tackle the root causes of conflict that are identified as discrimination, poor
communication and intolerance.
Read the case study on Eco Jovenes
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Right to Identity: Turning schoolchildren into citizens
 Image courtesy of Tom Weller
Thanks
to a series of training courses organised through DFID-supported networks,
hundreds of El Alto's schoolchildren are being educated by young, dynamic
facilitators about the benefits of claiming their rights.
By participating in a range of Bolivian civil society campaigns – these
facilitators been able to get 400 students registered for their ID cards in time
for the elections held in December 2005.
Read the case study
for more about Right to Identity
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Community policing
 Image courtesy of Tom Weller
Max Paredes
is a large market district in La Paz, where over 100,000 people live side by
side with tens of
thousands of street traders, tourists - and some of the most dangerous criminals in La Paz.
The result is disorder, high levels of
crime and fear of crime.
To combat this, DFID, the UK's Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office have
joined forces to help local government introduce community policing to La Paz,
so that local people feel safe and more connected to the state.
Read the case study on community policing
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