Contents 3 Editorial

Works having an Immediate Impact respond to the 4 needs for community development

Participatory planning and project ranking process for 7 alternative development projects

Publication funded by the United Nations Drug Control Educational, Roadways, Programme (UNDCP) through project AD/BOL/99/D69, Linking Productive, and Service Alternative Development to the National Planning System, and published by the Vice-Ministry of Alternative Development 10 Infrastructure Works (VIMDESALT)

• General Coordination: Lic. Circe Araníbar Chávez

• Front Cover Photographs: Health Programme in the Yungas PDAR File, Maps and satellite photographs of the AD/BOL/01/157 Project 16 Municipalities of Yungas • Designed and printed by: Artes Gráficas LAVADENZ Calle Gustavo Medinacelli 2220 Telf: 242-3716

NUEVO GRAN ANGULAR The articles in this issue do not necessarily reflect the views of the MAPA Project – Yungas, an institutions mentioned above. innovative experience to Articles may be reproduced if the source is acknowledged. 19 develop the Yungas Free copies are available from the AD/BOL/99/D69 Project office: Av. 14 de Septiembre 5369 - Calle 7 – Obrajes Email: [email protected] bold69@bolivia.undcp.org P.O. Box 14973 La Paz – Bolivia Productive development for the Municipalities of 21 Caranavi and La Asunta

Micronews

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock AD/BOL/99/D69 Project Farming and Rural Development Linking Alternative Development to Vice-Ministry of Alternative the National Planning System Development 24 And today

The immediate objective of Alternative Development is to substitute the illegal economy of the coca leaf crops for legal productive activities that, based on the productive vocations of the region involved, are oriented towards both national and international markets with a vision of productive chains covering the agricultural, productive and sales phases. The degree of progress in this field, in the Cochabamba tropics and the Yungas in La Paz, are separate due to the priority given to the involvement of the Alternative Development over the past few years.

Taking into account the integral focus of Alternative Development, its actions are also oriented towards improving health and education indicators, focused towards human development in order to consolidate the productive and social scenarios in the region, which must banish for once and for all the illegal activities deriving from the coca leaf crops.

In this perspective, Alternative Development started its activities anew in the Yungas in La Paz, trying to encourage people to voluntarily reduce their coca leaf crops and compensating them for the same. Working together with the Municipal Governments and the Civil Society in the region, more than one hundred short-term, high impact, and low cost activities were prioritised and carried out, taking care of the needs for educational infrastructure by means of building and financing educational units; urban, roadway, sports infrastructure, basic sanitation, health equipment, machinery and equipment for roadway maintenance, electricity, and other items, benefiting several municipalities in the Yungas of La Paz.

Through the signing of four agreements between the Vice Ministry of Alternative Development and the Federations of Settlers to carry out Alternative Development works and to start the voluntary, compensated eradication of the coca leaf crops, an up-date was prepared of the social requirements, which had not been considered in the Municipal Development Plans and which will be taken care of by the State’s offer for Alternative Development.

The social requirements through alternative development were structured in participatory workshops with the affiliates of each one of the Federations of Settlers, based on which a validation process is being carried out in each one of the settlements and communities in order to proceed with the implementation of the works. The participatory planning workshops that were held in the area have permitted the State’s offer for alternative development to be organized into five components: Health, Strengthening of Democracy, Community Development, Secondary Roadways, and Market Access.

Dr. Marco Antonio Oviedo VICE MINISTER OF ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT In the Yungas of La Paz Works Having an Immediate Impact Respond to the Need for Community Development

High-impact, short-term works are being carried out for the alternative development in the region.

Coca leaf crops in the region of the Yungas.

The strategy for the involvement of Alternative objectives, policies, and action Programmes within Development in the Yungas of La Paz defines the the framework of which works that have an

4 AGOSTO 2002 The results achieved in the heads-on fight against the production, traffic, and sale of cocaine has deserved the reiterated recognition of the community of nations in different international forums, expressing their praise towards the political will of the Bolivian Government to take the country out of the coca leaf-cocaine circuit.

The eradication of over 38,000 hectares of illegal coca leaf crops in the sub-tropics of the Department of Cochabamba is the best illustrative testimony of the Bolivians’ will to end drug- trafficking and its associated crimes, which in the past have seriously affected the country’s national dignity.

The first steps that were taken towards this goal started in mid 2001, when the Vice Ministry of Alternative Development started to execute Works having an Immediate Impact as a response to the needs of specific community groups that identify and prioritise the most important needs of the community to which they belong. Areas where the coca leaf is produced in Bolivia. Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development - Vice Ministry of Alternative Development. The above-mentioned works respond to a work immediate impact on the provinces of Nor Yungas, system of the Vice Ministry of Alternative Sur Yungas, and Caranavi were carried out. Development that tries to put the region in a

The sports infrastructure was also one of the main requirements of the communities who benefited from works having immediate impact.

AGOSTO 2002 5 favourable position by means of identifying the In the philosophy of the Vice Ministry of Alternative works having priority that were defined with the Development, in order to achieve sustainable active participation of the beneficiaries and which development, which is the aspiration of all people, are short-term, have a high impact, and low cost it is necessary to fulfil two basic conditions: in order to immediately respond to the region’s urgent needs. The participation of the communities a) The products of the activities that are carried in the development activities allows the assessment out must be useful for society and that usefulness of the potential that the members of the community is measured in terms of access, availability and have to manage processes of greater complexity in quality of production. the economic and productive environment. b) The development process must comply with the The implementation of these works having rational use of natural resources, in other words, immediate impact requires the full participation it must be in balance with the environment. of the community, to this end techniques that have been designed by the AD/BOL/D69 Project are used The two aspects mentioned above are indispensable to identify and prioritise the problems that affect for the sustainability of alternative development, the community and how to solve them. In many which seeks to consolidate a licit regional cases it has been detected that when these productive base. techniques are not used, the rural settlers identify only the external problems whose solution is Within this baseline framework, the Vice Ministry outside of their scope. of Alternative Development has agreed to the implementation of a number of Works having Through the application of this methodology it immediate impact for the benefit of communities has been established that in most of cases, the that are located both within the traditional areas priorities of these communities are centred on of production, as well as in the surplus areas in productive areas, roadway infrastructure, health transition. and education. Financing for the implementation of the works The implementation of works having immediate having immediate impact carried out in impact generates an environment of mutual trust communities in the Provinces of North Yungas, to face future development processes on a greater South Yungas, and Caranavi amounts to US$ scale in terms of investments and time, while at 525,164 and comes from contributions made by the same time these constitute a learning phase in the United States of America through implementing participatory projects. USAID/Bolivia and the European Union.

Coca leaf crops cause the erosion of the soil in the Yungas.

6 AGOSTO 2002 The organised civil society participates in an effective manner Participatory planning and prioritisation of alternative development projects

The State offer for alternative development is oriented towards satisfying the structured social demand through a consultation process with the different Federations of Settlers in the region.

With the objective of involving the grass-roots communities in establishing the priorities for the projects carried out in the settlements and communities in the Provinces of North Yungas, South Yungas, Caranavi, and Larecaja, the Vice Ministry of Alternative Development, through its Planning Unit, holds participatory planning workshops destined to involve the beneficiaries in identifying and weighing up development projects for their regions. In the Provinces of the Yungas, the lines of development are defined by One day workshop destined to identify the projects required by a community. the communities which, through participatory strategic planning processes surplus coca leaf crops of a union, colony, or select, define, and prioritise the projects that correspond community, as well as the time frame for eradication. to the framework offer of the Alternative Development Programme for the Yungas. Once this first phase is achieved the Strategic Planning Workshops begin, where the first step consists of a simplified As a first step, before peasant organisations have access analysis of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and to Alternative Development projects, they sign an threats (SWOT), which allows the peasants themselves to agreement between the Office for the Reconversion of analyse each one of these categories and how they the Coca Leaves and the community. This document correspond to the reality of their communities in order to expresses the farmers’ commitment to eradicate the present solutions to the problems that they face.

AGOSTO 2002 7 In identifying the strengths, the participants in each Other factors that they consider as latent threats have to workshop determine those aspects that they consider do with climatic conditions, such as droughts, freezing to be positive for their development, find those that and/or diseases that they do not know how to handle. refer to the aspects of their productive diversity, the strength of their productive organisations, and their The SWOT analysis concludes with the identification of proximity to one of the very important centres of the solutions that are needed in order to overcome the consumption, such as the city of La Paz. weaknesses, as well as their respective justification. In some cases between 6 and 12 main projects are defined, In the area of their weaknesses, the community and these must be priorities based on the financial identifies those aspects that are lacking or where they resources that are available for the development of the have deficiencies. In most of the workshops one can community. The main objective is to identify projects observe that one of the main concerns is the deficient that take advantage of the productive potential of the roadway infrastructure, especially the poor condition region and the availability of infrastructure, human and of the roadways, the lack of technical assistance and other resources for the development of the community. training for agricultural production, the lack in health care, education, marketing for agricultural production, The results of these planning and basic services, such as potable water and electricity, as well as other aspects that they consider to be relevant. workshops feed a database The information that is obtained in the more than 80 The analysis of the opportunities identifies the use of participatory planning workshops held in different elements that represent development options for the communities in Sur Yungas is systematised in a database community. One of the first topics that is presented is that includes all the elements of the administration and how to optimise the existing financing that is available in implementation processes for projects designed by the the Alternative Development Programme to implement AD/BOL/99/D69 Project. The database identifies the projects, the support from the municipal governments region, federation or main office to which the colony within the framework of co-participation, the offers of belongs, the number of the agreement signed with the some NGO’s or churches, associations, cooperatives that Office for Reconversion of the Coca Leaves, information provide support in sales, technical assistance, marketing, on participatory planning workshop, the projects that and other elements that can be identified as opportunities were given priority, the component to which each project and that they envision as such. corresponds, the executor, and any observations thereto. Among the main threats they face, the settlers in the In order to carry out the Strategic Planning workshops, region indicate low prices, the attitude of the agricultural the settlements, communities or regions must have a prior brokers in the tertiary sector and transportation. In some certification from DIRECO, certifying that a community, cases, they state --as threats-- the increase in coca leaf region or settlement does not have any coca leaf crops. crops or the possibility that drug-traffic will be activated The certification involves a process of cadastre surveying in their communities, which could generate violence. for each one of the plots in a community and the verification that there are no coca leaf crops in any of the same, either because they have been voluntarily eradicated or because it is a settlement that never had these crops.

One aspect that should be pointed out within this context is the incorporation of the Larecaja Province, part of the surplus area in transition that was defined by Law 1008 applicable to Coca Leaf and Controlled Substances, into the Alternative Development Programme, taking into account the risk that the area runs in developing coca leaf crops. In order to avoid any possible expansion of coca leaf crops in that Province, the Alternative Development Programme has begun to carry out projects having immediate impact in the region. The results of the workshops that were held up to May 2002 allow for a The development lines in the Yungas are determined by the settlers in beneficiary portfolio of approximately 166 projects communities.

8 AGOSTO 2002 identified to date for short-term implementation and 2) Analysis of the expected results and the problems approximately the same number to be executed within that the project might face with its implementation. the mid and long-term. 3) Analysis of the indicators and observations on the progress of the impact of its activities. Although there is a certain pattern to the prioritised 4) Identification of those who are responsible for the demand, i.e. roadway infrastructure and/or electricity, it follow-up. has been established that there are other important 5) Definition of follow-up tasks. requirements that are linked to specific agricultural productive activities in certain sectors, such as the case of Once the five phases have been completed, the matrix of the coffee producers, who consider that their priority indicators for the evaluation of the impact is prepared. number one is the transfer of post-harvest technology The objective is to build an instrument based on economic including the supply of water for industrial use in order and social indicators --derived from the implementation to improve the quality of their production. The demands of Alternative Development projects-- useful to measure from the coffee-growers sector are clear --they are with the grass-roots organisations the impact on the immersed in the post-harvest topic-- because they consider economy of the settlements and their standard of living, that this link of the value chain is the weakest, it is an i.e. whether the level of investments made through the obstacle for the achievement of their objectives. A similar project had a favourable repercussion on variables, such situation was observed among the tea producers, whose as income, level of production, self-employment, increase main requirements are organisational-building, in productivity and technological level. technological improvement of crops, processing and sales, demands deemed to be fundamental and focused within The indicators for the organisation must measure the an integral improvement project for the productive base. changes in the degree of organisation in the settlements, control of the beneficiaries on the decisions of a project In this line of work producers propose the diversification and the topic of leadership. In terms of environmental of crops, as well as livestock breeding, considering the indicators, it shall be possible to evaluate any changes that perspective that the tea market could have problems. Similar might have occurred in the environment due to the requirements arose from workshops that were held in areas implementation of the projects, for example, agricultural- where there are milk, or fruit producers’ associations who forestry, reforestation, following different practices, level place top priority to their needs related to technology transfer. of ecological awareness and other projects. In the planning workshops priorities, such as, soil conservation with a focus on agriculture, forestry, pasturelands, as well as watershed management, are also established. Other topics of specific concern to the communities are related to education. In most of the workshops the topic of support to women is highlighted, although it does not rank amongst the first places, however, gender is emphasized as one of the major concerns of peasant organisations. Follow-up and evaluation of the impact of projects involve participatory methodologies Within the framework of strategic planning work, the communities are also involved in the monitoring or follow-up phase of the projects and impact evaluation, applying participatory methods, to close all phases or stages of implementation thereof. Technicians from the Vice Ministry of Alternative Development have prepared methodologies destined to apply participatory monitoring and evaluation systems to enable the participants to prepare a matrix for these processes. The method that is used takes into account the following elements: 1) Identification of the participants and the situation of the group with respect to their knowledge regarding the project and their responsibilities. The three provinces of the Yungas where coca leaf crops are found.

AGOSTO 2002 9 Alternative development is present in different communities of the Yungas Educational, Roadway, Productive and Service Infrastructure Works The first phase of the alternative development involvement prioritises the implementation of social and productive infrastructure. The implementation of works having of surplus crops in the immediate impact that began towards growth of the demand mid 2001 is a part of the first phase for illegal uses…”. of the Alternative Development Programme and substitution of coca Within the framework leaf crops designed for the region. for the implementation of the first phase of the The Yungas in the Department of Alternative La Paz comprises three provinces: Development North Yungas, South Yungas and Programme for the Caranavi, wherein traditional Yungas, the production and surplus production communities in the areas in transition are located, different municipalities pursuant to Law 1008 for the Coca that are a part of the Traditional coca leave production areas and surplus Leaf and Controlled Substances that Provinces of North production areas in transition. sets forth and regulates the norms Yungas, South Yungas, and Caranavi content for the Alternative for the fight against production, benefited from roadway Development of the Yungas of La Paz, traffic, and sale of drugs in Bolivia. improvement works, production and defined on the basis of priorities service infrastructure, as well as from expressed by the communities. The In accordance with this legal productive activities whose common components are: health, democracy- instrument, the area of traditional denominator was that they were building, community development, production, which is “where the coca identified and prioritised by the secondary roadways and market access. leaf has been historically, socially, and inhabitants of those communities. agriculturally-economically grown School infrastructure, for traditional uses...”comprises the In all cases, the implementation of sub-tropics of the Provinces of North the works having immediate impact first priority of and South Yungas in the Department was preceded by a process of Coroico and of La Paz. consultation among municipal La Asunta authorities, community leaders, and Works to improve and/or construct On the other hand, the Province of authorities of the Vice Ministry of schools --carried out in the Caranavi is part of the surplus Alternative Development, in municipalities--were an important production area in transition, representation of the Government. part of those works having defined as “…where the coca leaf immediate impact in the crops are the result of a process of The works having immediate impact municipalities of Coroico, Caranavi, spontaneous or guided settlement, are mentioned in the five basic La Asunto, Palos Blancos and which has supported the expansion components of the programme Chulumani.

10 AGOSTO 2002 Improvement works in the Colopampa School. Side view of the School in Quinuni. Improvement of the educational establishments in the province will implementation was entrusted to infrastructure was a priority of the also benefit from the Alternative the NGO ACDI/VOCA. inhabitants of the Yungas, who Development Programme for the agreed that education is an Yungas in La Paz. Among the priorities in the indispensable investment to Municipality of Palos Blancos, IV encourage and promote Furthermore, houses were built for Section of the South Yungas development in their regions. teachers in the Municipality of Province, construction and/or Coroico, which directly benefit 26 improvement of several schools in Interpreting the concern of the educators. This housing compound these communities were established. inhabitants of several communities was built on property belonging to in Yungas, the Alternative the Felix Reyes Ortiz Educational Responding to their demands, four Development Programme for the Unit, in whose classrooms modern classrooms were built in Yungas allocated an important part approximately 800 students study the localities of El Sillar, benefiting of the financing granted by in the different cycles of education. 230 students in primary and USAID/Bolivia to works having an secondary school level, from the immediate impact, in response to Infrastructure works for schools in communities of El Sillar and the requirements of communities, this Municipality required an Bustillos. The brand-new with respect to school infrastructure. investment of US$ 41,800, and their infrastructure was additionally

Students, teachers and parents of each SCHOOLS IMPROVED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LA ASUNTA one of the schools that were provided Works Community Student Cost Characteristics improvements, stated a commitment Body (in $US) to carry out rigorous maintenance of Santa Rosa Santa Rosa 235 students from 2,900 Construction of 6 the school compounds to prevent its de Quinuni de Quinuni 14 communities classrooms. Sanitary and deterioration. electric installations. Complex construction, The area where coca leaf is patio with concrete layer. traditionally cultivated, the Colopampa Colopampa, 100 students from 3,800 Construction of 4 Municipality of Coroico, obtained Las Mercedes the communities of classrooms. Complex the major amount of financial Playa Ancha, Villa construction, equipped Esperanza, Alto Villa with blackboards, and resources for the improvement of and Colopampa desks. infrastructure of its schools, due to the fact that the inhabitants of the Cotapata Cotapata 108 students from 2,400 Construction of 3 the communities of classrooms. Electric & different communities that are part Agua Clara, Puerto sanitary installations. of the area placed priorities for the Rico, San Pablo, Blackboards & desks. improvement of their school Olivos and others infrastructure on top of their list. Yanamayu Yanamayu Students from 6 11,000 Repair of 5 classrooms & communities bathrooms. Screens. Patio Repair works performed in the with cement floor, Municipality of Coroico benefited Flagpole. the schools of Chijchipa, El Palmar El Palmar, 30 students from the 5,600 Construction 1 Munaypata, Mururata, San Pablo, Calisaya community of El Palmar classroom San Pedro de la Loma, San Pedro Las Palmeras Las Palmeras, Students from the 5,600 Construction 1 Parroquial, Tocaña and Villa Quinuni community Las Palmeras classroom Rosario. Another 14 educational

AGOSTO 2002 11 SUMMARY OF ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS IN CARANAVI Roadway WORKS LOCATION COST CHARACTERISTICS

Construction Central $US 19.125 - 77 m long infrastructure a handing for vehicles Broncini - 2 concrete towers in Santa Fe - 2.5 m wide wooden platform priority in Caranavi

Improvement Incahuara $US 12.650 Extension: 5 km. Among the works having roadway between Incahuara- immediate impact, carried out in Uyunense the Municipalities of North Yungas, Improvement Villa $US 1.000 Extension: 10 km. roadway to Exaltación South Yungas and Caranavi, those Choronta corresponding to roadway Improvement Alcoche $US 4.345 Extension: 26 km. roadway to Region infrastructure received special Alcoche attention from the Alternative Improvement main Rural $US 14.723 Extension: 40 km. roadway of the Caranavi Development Programme, fully Northeast aware that these roadways link the Gravel on roadway Progreso and $US 3.461 Extension: 1 km. to Colonia San Lorenzo, rural communities to the urban Progreso Eduardo Avaroa centres, as a necessary condition to Region

Gravel on roadway 7 Machos, $US 1.000 Extension: 1 km. encourage the socio-economic colonia Eduardo 7 Machos Abaroa development of the region. Region

Main roadway Collasuyo, $US 3.450 Extension: 10 km. Collasuyo Uyunense The work performed in this Region component covers the Maintenance to 2 de Julio, $US 2.580 Extension: 1 km. 2 de Julio Cantón Chojña improvement and maintenance of Roadway secondary roadways, as well as the equipped with 110 school benches two communities required US$ construction of bridges for and blackboards for a total amount 11,525, financed by USAID, for the pedestrians and vehicles, linking of US$ 6,211. benefit of students from the several communities and settlements of Villa Cruz, Ingavi, settlements to urban-rural centres In this same Municipality of Palos Pauca, Villa Coroico, and another that, due to their characteristics, Blancos, with an investment of US$ 14 communities in the area. provide greater advantages for the 10,899, two classrooms were marketing of agricultural and constructed in Simay, a community In the Municipality of La Asunta, livestock production from those located in Covendo canton. The Capital of the V Section of the localities that are far removed from infrastructure was equipped with South Yungas Province, the the urban centres. 60 school benches. construction of the works having immediate impact in the area of The works for roadway Other works of educational school infrastructure were entrusted improvement and maintenance of infrastructure that were carried out to the NGO “Save the Children”. infrastructure consisted of placing in this municipality consisted of the gravel, rehabilitation of side ditches, construction of one classroom and These repair works benefited the cleaning up landslides, and profiling one bathroom in the community schools in Santa Rosa de Quinuni, gravel areas. of Popoy with an investment of US$ Colopampa, Cotapata, Yanamayu, El 8,100 and the completion of the Palmar, and Las Palmeras, permitting Although roadway infrastructure school infrastructure in the substantial improvements in study works were carried out in all the communities of Villa Coroico and conditions of almost one thousand Municipalities of Yungas; Caranavi Las Delicias. The works in these students in the region. was the one that benefited most

Within the framework of improvement of secondary roadways, gravel Bridge for vehicle traffic - Chivoy Phases I and II. was placed, side ditches were cleaned up, as well as landslides.

12 AGOSTO 2002 from this type of works, taking into account the fact that its leaders and authorities placed these works in first place in the order of priorities for the region.

The works on roadway infrastructure carried out in the Municipality of Caranavi required an amount of US$ 62,334, which was financed by USAID/ Bolivia.

One of the main results of the roadway infrastructure for the Municipality of Caranavi is the hanging bridge for vehicles in Santa Fe, which benefits the inhabitants of the communities of Santa Fe, Uyunense, and Central Broncini, permitting connection with the Completion of the Israel Pedestrian Bridge in the Municipality of La Asunta. capital of the Province which, in the Central Northeast roadway and de Cajuata, Naranjani and the turn, constitutes the most populated in those settlements of Progreso, Siete completion of the pedestrian centre of the Province, thus Machos, Central Collasuyo, and 2 de bridges of Israel, Santa Fe, San expanding the possibilities for trade Julio, with consequent benefits for Pedro, required a total investment of their agricultural products and the farmers and general population of US$ 158,985. In addition, the economic benefits for the producers of more than twenty towns in the Central Litoral Bridge for vehicle in the aforementioned communities. Municipality of Caranavi. traffic was also completed with an investment of US$ 10,000. The Santa Fe Bridge --whose In the Municipality of La Asunta, implementation required an South Yungas Province, the The Municipality of Palos Blancos, investment of US$ 19,125-- is located requirements for roadway South Yungas Province, while over the Coroico River. It has a length infrastructure were also considered defining its priorities which of 77 meters and 2.5 meter in width. to be at the top of the list of preceded the implementation of the Now-a-days, traffic is open to vehicles priorities of settlers. These works works having an immediate impact, with a capacity of up to 3 MT. were entrusted to the NGO “Save also considered roadway the Children” and to the Office for infrastructure as extremely Other works on roadway Reconversion of Coca Leaves. important for the socio-economic infrastructure in Caranavi were The construction of the pedestrian development of the communities performed in different stretches of bridges of Siguani Grande, Limon that are a part thereof, since their connection with more populated centres enhances marketing possibilities for their agricultural and livestock products, characteristic of this municipality. The construction of bridges for use by vehicles in Palos Blancos, Chivoy and Rio Matadero, amounted to a total cost of US$ 77,951. Financing for these bridges was shared by USAID, US$ 69,311, and a national counterpart with US$ 8,640, benefiting over twenty communities in the Municipality of Palos Blancos. In the Municipality of Coroico, the most important work on roadway infrastructure consisted in the construction of Moro Bridge, with Alternative Development has provided sports complexes to several communities. In the photo a total cost of US$ 4,000. we see the complex of the Colopampa School in the Municipality of La Asunta.

AGOSTO 2002 13 passenger embarkation areas, as well as in the entry and exit of buses. These improvement works on the bus terminal were entrusted to the NGO “ACDI/VOCA”, which required an investment of US$ 13,450, financed by USAID and by a national counterpart.

In the same municipality, works were carried out to extend the football field in Entre Rios, a job that was given priority by the inhabitants who considered that sports are an important activity for the well-being of the population. These works benefited approximately 10,000 inhabitants from different communities in the region, with an investment of US$ 4,784. Inside view of the Bus Terminal in Caranavi Caranavi due to its geographic The public lighting systems installed Sports and trade are location is the connecting point of in the city of Caranavi, as well as strengthened in social the Amazon Region with the an ambulance for its Hospital and infrastructure country’s urban centres, thus, it has heavy equipment for its The demands of the inhabitants great importance for the exchange Municipality was part of the works in the Municipalities of Yungas- of trade in the region and is an with immediate impact in response -where works having immediate obligatory crossing point for the to the requirements of the impact were carried out-- traffic between the Departments of inhabitants of Caranavi. involved considerable works in La Paz and Beni. the area of social infrastructure A drinking water system was including recreational activities, The work performed on the bus constructed in this same such as spaces dedicated to sports terminal involved three phases: the first Municipality in the community of and/or services, i.e. potable water phase consisted in the placing of Nariz de Canoa, located in the Santa systems. ceramic floor and bases of walls; the Ana de Mosetenes Region. The Among the most important second phase involved placing a chain- beneficiaries classified these works roadway infrastructure works, the link fence around the perimeter of the as structures with great impact. Caranavi Bus Terminal has major Terminal; and the third phase The drinking water system consists importance, considering that comprised the installation of gates in of four water reservoirs, one main

Plaza “Benemérito Ramon Mendoza” in the town of Palos Blancos, ongoing construction with the assistance of the Alternative Development Programme

14 AGOSTO 2002 Asunta. In the first case, a sports court-yard and its respective grandstand were covered with cement; also the perimeter and sides were fenced. In the second case, a basketball court was built with its grandstand, fencing around the perimeter and boards. The cost for both works, whose construction was entrusted to DIRECO, amounted to Bs. 104,554.

The works having immediate impact carried out in La Asunta also involved the construction of a social club in Pichari Bajo, with an investment of US$ 2,400 for the construction and fine works of two rooms and grandstand. Construction of a sewage system in Chamaca – Municipality of La Asunta. system and three secondary systems, community of the same name, The community of Chamaca in the constructed at a cost of US$ 18,480. directly benefits over one thousand same Municipality was benefited families who now have adequate with the construction of a sewage The pipes placed between the water infrastructure to trade their system that consisted of two intake and the communities of agricultural products. The two- primary septic tanks and 13 Nariz de Canoa and Nuevo Mundo story high market was constructed secondary ones, connected by pipe were made of plastic with a linear with an investment of US$ 25,920. lines for the drainage of the sewage extension of 8 kilometres. The system which measures beneficiaries of this service are On the ground floor there are 7 approximately 300 meters in length. responsible for the connection of sales stalls and on the upper story The beneficiaries of this work, water to their homes. there is a large dining-room with 5 whose cost was US$ 24,280, sales stalls for food, equipped with contributed as counterparts with Another request in the form of dish-washers. The market labour digging ditches for the pipe heavy equipment was made by the infrastructure also has bathrooms lines, as well as in the construction Municipality of Palos Blancos and a basement. of septic tanks. within the framework of the works having immediate impact. In this Other social infrastructure works that In the Municipality of Coroico a sports respect, the community of San benefited the La Asunta Municipality complex was constructed in Santa Miguel de Huachi was provided consisted in the completion of the Rosa de Quilo Quilo with financing with a tractor which required complexes in Chamaca and La in the amount of US$ 7,600. repairs that amounted to an investment of US$ 8,718. The tractor will be used in roadway improvement works for the communities, settlements and/or unions in the region. Within the framework of the works having immediate impact, the “Plaza Recreacional Benemérito Ramon Mendoza” was also constructed with an investment of US$ 24,000. In the Municipality of La Asunta, the works carried out in social infrastructure responded – as in all the cases – to the needs presented as priorities by the leaders of the communities and settlements. The construction of the Las Mercedes market, located in the Las Mercedes Market facilities – Municipality of La Asunta.

AGOSTO 2002 15 A vital component of the Alternative Development Programme Health Programme in Municipalities of the Yungas

Care to prevailing diseases in the region, intensive treatment of leishmaniasis and tuberculosis, environmental sanitation and supply of drinking water services are activities that have priority for the Health component in the Alternative Development.

The access of the population to basic health services, drinking water, and basic sanitation, as well as sanitary education, are aspects necessary to improve its quality of life. Based on these considerations, the Alternative Development Programme for the Yungas of La Paz incorporated the Health component, aimed to contribute to the decrease of indexes of prevailing diseases in the region, emphasizing the attention given to leishmaniasis and tuberculosis. Actions are carried out in two areas within the framework of this component, known as the Health Programme for the Municipalities of the Yungas, entrusted to SERVIR, a Non-Governmental Organization, which, in turn, constitute two sub- programmes. a) Infectious Diseases Access of the population to basic health services improves its quality of life. b) Water and Basic Sanitation case of leishmaniasis, also known as white leprosy, and a high Preventive and Both sub-programmes carry out incidence rate of tuberculosis. Curative Sub- actions in response to the real Programme to deficiencies facing the Yungas The endemic prevalence in this population which require dynamic region is due, among other causes, Provide Care to and urgent attention. to the scarce attention paid to basic Infectious Diseases sanitation. The Health Programme Through the Preventive and The region of the Yungas in La Paz in the Municipalities of Yungas Curative Sub-Programme to presents a high rate of covers both aspects, supplementing Provide Care to Infectious Diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and vector the Health activities that the State the health services have been transmitted diseases, such as the carries out in the region. strengthened, especially in those

16 AGOSTO 2002 aspects that are related to who is in charge not only of taking during which the Health leishmaniasis and tuberculosis. The care of prevalent diseases, such as Programme in the Municipalities strengthening provided consists of leishmaniasis and tuberculosis, but of the Yungas was in effect, is the diagnosis services, active search for also of any other situation that installation of a Departmental patients, treatment, cure, follow- should emerge at that time, i.e. Centre for the Treatment of up, as well as a strong preventive births, diarrhoea, snake bites, and Leishmaniasis and Infectious component in order to interrupt others. The mobile units, as well as Diseases, located in Chulumani, the chain of disease transmission. the personnel, are equipped with capital of the South Yungas medical instruments, a pharmacy Province. The Centre was In order to benefit the greatest and audiovisual materials to train inaugurated in November, 2001, possible number of inhabitants in local promoters. providing quality service to the the region, six health teams are inhabitants of the rural simultaneously displaced to the The work of the mobile units is communities in this Programme different communities every day. supplemented by micro- area of influence. The Departmental To begin with these teams consult educational Programmes and radio Centre for the Treatment of with the communities to schedule spots on the diseases that are Leishmaniasis is the first point of these intervention visits, which prevalent in the region of the reference for the care of this consist of preventive and curative Yungas. These materials are endemic prevailing disease. activities. broadcasted by radios that have the largest audiences in each one of the Water and Basic The consultation process consists three provinces of influence of the Sanitation Sub- of agreeing upon a date for the visit Alternative Development Programme with the leaders of a community, Programme for the Yentas. The Water and Basic Sanitation who commit themselves to Sub-Programme allows the encourage the active participation Results dispersed rural inhabitants of the of the population in these health The preventive and curative Yungas of La Paz to increase their activities. activities carried out between July access to the supply of water 1, 2001 and February 28, 2002 distribution and basic sanitation Afterwards a date is set to verify the permitted 18,350 patients to be services. visit of a mobile team displaced to treated. To this result, the treatment the beneficiary community. This of leishmaniasis for 624 patients This component of the Health method provides a close should be added; 311 of them Programme in the Municipalities relationship with the members of completed their treatment, 275 were of the Yungas takes care of the the communities and marks the tuberculosis patients. installation of water systems beginning of activities, such as appropriate for human training health promoters to The highest incidence of consumption and the construction continue to carry out preventive tuberculosis at the national level is of family, school and/or community and curative work. The mobile in the Yentas, followed by Yapacani. sanitation units. teams that visit the communities Both represent the highest rates of are made up by a professional incidence in Latin America. An evaluation is prepared for the doctor, a nurse, and a promoter Another result in the eight months construction of sanitation units

Health teams are displaced to the different communities of the Yungas of La Paz.

AGOSTO 2002 17 where conditions of social organisation are favourable for the implementation of projects in the area of health presented by each community. Awareness campaigns are carried out on the importance of basic sanitation for the health of the population in each town beneficiary township. Results Between July 2001 and February 2002, six drinking water systems were delivered and seven “sanitation units”, this is the name given to an infrastructure that comprises showers, bathrooms, wash basins, and laundry facilities in a specific space, with an ecological waste The Departmental Centre for the Treatment of Leishmaniasis and Infectious Diseases, disposal treatment system to Chulumani, Capital of South Yungas Province. prevent environmental contamination. dispersion of smallholdings in the is the contribution of counterpart rural areas. beneficiaries, municipal The water systems are co-financed governments, Departmental by the Municipality where The seven drinking water systems Health Services, and voluntary beneficiary communities are located have benefited 1,500 families who personnel from the communities. and these consist of works for the now-a-days have a faucet in their This amount involves rendering collection, supply and distribution homes in the communities of Santa of technical studies, labour, of water, providing each home with Ana, Barreal, Tunari, Condor 44, equipment, materials, professional a faucet. In many cases, the works Condor 18, Rio Negro, and health personnel, technical for the installation of water supply Cabecera, located in the South personnel of the municipalities, systems face difficulties due to the Yungas and Caranavi Provinces. and trained community personnel. Although the supply of these services is not conditioned Between April 2001 and February to the eradication of coca 2002, almost one million dollars leaf crops, in exchange for have been invested in activities these services there is a related to the two sub-components requisite in response to the of the Health Programme in the request of communities, Municipalities of Yungas. In whereby certification of accordance with the schedule, by vaccination of children and March 2003 this Alternative pre-natal controls for Development Programme must pregnant women are have completed the construction of mandatory. 16 water systems, 200 family sanitation units, 60 school Financing sanitation units, and 25 community The total budget assigned to sanitation units, figures that will the Health Programme in partially take care of the emerging the Municipalities of the demands of the different Yungas amounts to US$ communities. 2,951,000. This amount is scheduled for the two years With respect to the preventive and of the life of the Programme, curative sub-programme for the i.e. April 2001 – March 2003. treatment of infectious diseases, the target is to treat 1,000 cases of USAID’s contribution to leishmaniasis and the greatest this budget is US$ possible number of tuberculosis Tuberculosis in the Yungas has the highest incidence at the national level. 2,500,000 and US$ 451,000 cases.

18 AGOSTO 2002 For the productive development of the region The MAPA – Yungas Project, an innovative experience to develop the Yungas

The actions taken by the MAPA – Yungas Project are the development of productive chains, tourism, and co-financing of projects identified by civil society, as well as the coordination of plans for development with the municipal governments.

The MAPA -Yungas Project (Market Access and Poverty Alleviation) is financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Bolivia) and by the Bolivian Government within the framework of the Alternative Development Programme. The main objective of this project is to carry out activities to stimulate the generation of licit income, as well as sources of employment to help the sustainable economic growth of the Yungas of La Paz. The project focuses its activities on three areas of involvement for the creation of job opportunities that generate high income in the short and medium term. The three areas are:

• Support to coffee growers, especially in the harvest and post-harvest activities in order to provide them an advantageous access to markets for specialty coffee. • Support to the tourist sector in the Municipality of Coroico. • Support to other promising agricultural areas.

Coffee-growing option The tourist potential of Coroico is based on its attractive scenery Statistical data shows the price of coffee from and bio-diversity. Yungas is “punished” in the international market due to its low quality. Production responds to a The strategy of the MAPA-Yungas Projects has been pattern of small producers, associations, and designed to enhance the understanding of small coffee politicised unions that process coffee with scarcely growers on the importance of quality control and to any quality control. provide incentives to good quality coffee harvests;

AGOSTO 2002 19 Coffee production in the Yungas of La Paz. train coffee growers and improve their income, made up of public and private members of entities support them by providing infrastructure and involved in tourism and will be in charge of equipment for the processing of coffee, as well as promoting the implementation of projects that have technical assistance to optimise harvest and post- been agreed upon on the basis of established harvests processes. priorities. At present, high-quality speciality coffees have a premium The Municipality of Coroico is emphasised over other price on the international market, with the consequent municipalities in the region due to the fact that the benefit for the economy of the producers and all other new Cotapata-Santa Barbara roadway will soon be stakeholders involved in the activity. Organic coffee, completed. This new roadway will make the area one shade coffee and fair commercial coffee (“café de sombra of the most attractive and accessible tourist destinations y café de comercio justo”), known as sustainable coffees, from the city of La Paz, increasing the flow of internal have a niche in the market, perceive a premium price tourism that will demand better services and quality and provide coffee growers higher environmental, options. economic, and social benefits. These advantages are the reason why the MAPA-Yungas Project supports the Within this context, the involvement of the MAPA- coffee option as one of the most important “generators” Yungas Project will focus on two important areas: of development in the Yungas of La Paz. 1) Support in Urban Planning for the Municipality of Coroico’s alternative: Coroico for the improvement of its urban structure Tourism and services. The MAPA Project seeks to improve the tourist industry in Coroico. The participation strategy is based on 2) Design and promotion of tourist projects to participatory planning, oriented towards identifying encourage the development of Coroico’s tourist and prioritising –through consensus with the principal industry, thus, benefiting the entire population. local and national stakeholders-- the actions and projects to be carried out in the short and medium term. New economic opportunities The MAPA-Yungas Project also encompasses other The creation of a Steering Committee of Tourism promising areas, such as tea, citrus, and annatto in Coroico is foreseen. This Committee would be crops.

20 AGOSTO 2002 Activities of the AD/BOL/97/C23 Project in the Yungas region Productive development for the Municipalities of Caranavi and La Asunta Management, conservation, and use of forestry resources, as well as coffee production and problems related with sales are the areas covered by the BOL/C23 Project.

Coffee production is the most important area in the Yungas region The Bolivian Government, in transition areas of the Yungas of La cooperation of the Municipality of coordination with the Municipal Paz, financed by ODCCP and La Asunta, and the following priorities Governments of La Asunta and implemented by FAO, with the Vice in production were identified: Caranavi within the framework of its Ministry of Alternative Development national policies in the fight against (VIMDESALT) as the national • Coffee plantations with low yields poverty and drugs, with the support counterpart, has since August 2000 due to the lack of proper of international cooperation, is participated in activities aimed at management. promoting a programme of integral productive development. These development in the transition area of activities have been defined together • Deficient handling in the pre- surplus coca leaf cultivation in the with the Municipal Governments of processing phase of coffee has an Yungas of La Paz. Caranavi and La Asunta, on the basis incidence on the quality of the of agro-ecological, socio-economic product. To this effect, the AD/BOL97/C23 and institutional conditions. Project, Management, Conservation • Absence of sales mechanisms and and Use of Forestry Resources in the A diagnosis of the sector made at the lack of transparency in coffee markets Cochabamba Tropics and in the onset of activities with the close are detrimental for the producer.

AGOSTO 2002 21 Forestry resources of the Yungas of La Paz must have adequate handling and conservation techniques to prevent depletion due to high deforestation rates. • Absence of peasant organisations Exporters and Coffee-Growers of • High indiscriminate deforestation for economic development Bolivia (FECAFEB): rate • Poorly diversified production and • Coffee plantations with average • Absence of infrastructure and food security problems. yields. policies for the transformation of timber-yielding resources. • Exhaustion of soil fertility, • Coffee pre-processing and especially in the highlands. especially its handling and • Weak coordination among marketing --as beans-- have institutions. • High rates of indiscriminate incidence on the quality of the deforestation. product and consequently the On the basis of these limitations price of Bolivian coffee is affecting the productive chain, the • Absence of infrastructure and “punished” in the international Vision and Objectives of the Project policies for the transformation of markets. were prepared. These can be timber-yielding resources. summarised as follows: • Weaknesses in the coffee • Migration from the highlands exporting chain. a) Increase in the income of the facing soil degradation and population spontaneous settlement in • Absence of capitalization and isolated areas of the lowlands. strengthening of groups of b) Provide sustainability to peasant economic producer productive development. • Scarce institutional presence and associations. capacity. Absence of groups of • Consolidate institutionality, economic producer associations. • Poorly diversified production participation, and social control and isolated food security in the Municipality The following priority problems in problems the area of Caranavi were identified Among the most important jointly with the Municipality of • Inadequate management of soil results achieved to date are the Caranavi and the Federation of fertility. following:

22 AGOSTO 2002 La Asunta association started the process of In the forestry area, plans were The most important sector of incorporating added value to the made for clearing in two participation is coffee production region with the Manufacture of communities, and management and management. Four plants with school benches and tables for US$ plans in Fortin Nanahua, UCBE-500 (Ecological Processing 5,000. Chamale and El Sillar are Coffee Growing Units) for expected to be completed and processing and exporting coffee Important progress was made with implemented. were put in place. One of these respect to training human resources units, in the San Pedro de Quinuni and the strengthening of Peasant A monitoring and expansion Association, operated during 70% Economic Organizations (OECAs). system is in place in the of the harvest, and despite In the Municipal Training Centre communities with the assistance management problems, benefits of La Asunta, a course was given in of 70 promoters who participated were obtained in the end. The other seven 5-day modules, with follow- in different courses on internal plants are fully operational and are up in the respective communities control, bio-pesticides, expected to begin operations during and 50 promoters were trained, 20 management, and gender the 2003 harvest. of them were women. This policies. mechanism encouraged the In the area of diversification, 35,000 consolidation of OECAs. Through the Coffee Sales Service seedlings of improved citrus were (SECO CAFÉ) 3,000 quintals of planted, i.e. late Valencia oranges, Caranavi “pergamino seco” were sold. This native tangerines, as well as lemons. Consolidation of organic coffee is the most significant impact in Apicultural production was production was supported in the coffee production chain since expanded, supported and improved Caranavi by the certification of 1,137 the transformation of coffee and its organisation was new hectares of organic coffee beans into “pergamino seco” has strengthened, therefore reaching a achieved by means of a letter of started as a means to improve the yield in the honey harvest of 1,327 agreement with the NGO DED and quality and eliminate the kg. the cooperation with 14 “punishment” to the price of organisations of the FECAFEB and Bolivian coffee. The beneficiaries With respect to food security, 200 its 1,700 producer members. Eight of this process include 250 new vegetable gardens were UCBE-500 pre-processing machines families who do not belong to implemented throughout the and 75 individual pulping machines FECAFEB organisations, but who region, in some cases these are were installed. These facilities will also increased their income by community gardens, but most of permit the homogenisation and 20%. them are family gardens. Egg-laying quality processing of coffee that can fowl were also distributed and were compete in the international market. The multiplying effect on the sector very well received by the The strengthening of the OECAs is in economic terms was beneficiaries. sought through the creation of a demonstrated by a US$ 5,000 Revolving Fund that will act as investment for the purchase-sale of Forestry development was an area counterpart in order to enable the coffee that generated US$ 50,000. that faced certain restrictions. C23 Project to deliver ownership This activity, however, still requires Notwithstanding these restrictions, documents for the machines to each the guarantee of its the first forest management plan of the organisations. institutionalisation and in the Yungas was implemented. sustainability. This plan took place in the “10 de The C23 Project transferred Febrero” region of the Municipality technology for processing annatto, Two workshops were held with of La Asunta, and the first income starting with the fruit up to the the economic agents of the coffee obtained amounted to US$ 4.000, selection of seeds, thus, improving chain on the transparency of the representing 35% of the total, the process of recovery in terms of market and the need to sell dry proving the potential of this time and in the quality of the coffee. A debate began based on activity. product, by producing greater this topic and actions were percentage of bixine, thus increasing coordinated with the different Two clearing plans were also productivity from 2 quintals/day to stakeholders regarding its implemented in Villa Nueva 20 quintals/day. production: farmers, exporters, Potosi and two management plans intermediaries, Central and are being completed in the With respect to food security, 150 Municipal Government officials localities of Chaqueta and vegetable gardens were for the Reconversion of the coffee Coroiquillo. implemented, with the full industry. For this reason, the C23 participation of women Project is an indispensable speaker The creation of a carpenter’s producers from different in the coffee- reconversion process association was promoted. This communities. in the region.

AGOSTO 2002 23 MMicronewsicronews The AD/BOL/01/F57 Soil All this work is supplemented by Management and Monitoring TheThe SoilSoil ManagementManagement SystemSystem on-site verifications. The results System Project in the Yungas of obtained from the classification La Paz financed and ProjectProject inin thethe YungasYungas ofof LaLa PazPaz of satellite images are introduced implemented by ODCCP, is an into a geographical information instrument for institutional system. This technology has been strengthening within the Vice Ministry designed to produce large-scale maps in of Alternative Development digital format, which can also be used to (VIMSALT), that generates digital carry out multi-temporary monitoring databases to monitor different crops, as surveys on the use of soils. well as the implementation of modern geographical information systems that The system can also de used to simulate allow for the storage, analysis, and scenarios, and the information generated production of basic information for can be cross-referenced with other data, e.g. decision-making with respect to plans hydrographic infrastructure, or modelling for the use of soil and improvement of the terrain. agricultural production. The project expects to complete a map Technology of the present use of the land in the The project bases its activities on the Yungas of La Paz within its short-term intensive use of satellite images, classified activities. It also plans to prepare maps through highly technological procedures quantifying the specific crops and to determine the characteristics of the monitoring temporary changes in the present use of the land. use of the soil.

The Vice Ministry of productive organisation, and Alternative Development NewNew OfficesOffices ofof thethe VIMDESALTVIMDESALT inin thethe others. (VIMDESALT), seeking to have greater presence in the region YungasYungas ofof LaLa PazPaz PDAR of Yungas La Paz within of the Yungas of La Paz, and as the Alternative Development a response to the requirements system coordinates its of the inhabitants of Yungas, satisfying the local demand for activities with DIRECO’s local office that also has offices in the Alternative Development plans and projects has set up its office cities of Caranavi, Coroico and Km. 52. for the Regional Alternative Development Programme (PDAR) for Yungas, La Paz. The objective of PDAR Yungas is to coordinate with public and private institutions related to regional and alternative This Programme has offices in the city of Caranavi with development. Another activity that it will carry out in the area officers specialised in social and productive infrastructure, is monitoring, follow-up, validation, and evaluation of agricultural and livestock production, agribusiness, socio- alternative development projects. NEW PUBLICATIONS ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND GUIDE ON THE PRINCIPAL NON-TIMBER- ERADICATION OF COCA LEAF CROPS YIELDING FOREST SPECIES OF THE COCHABAMBA TROPICS Publication prepared by the Vice Ministry of Alternative A publication prepared by PRAEDAC through its Natural Resources Development analysing with a component. It is an illustrated guide for the identification of the broad vision, the efforts carried flora in secondary forests of the Cochabamba Tropics, emphasising out in the alternative the importance of development process and the awareness of non-timber eradication of coca leaf crops. yielding forestry product This publication proposes a series resources in order to of thoughts on the topic and encourage their documents the experiences of this sustainable use. This process. document facilitates the visual identification of the The analysis included in this species and contributes to publication attempts to systematise the better use of their relevant aspects on this very botanical descriptions important subject that has become facilitating their a policy of the State. classification.