CRS History in Bolivia

Bolivia takes pride in its indigenous identity, which is reflected throught the country in music, art, dance and even in political movements. Bolivia's population of 8.6 million people lives mostly along the central highland and valley regions from La Paz south to the border with Argentina. According to the United Nations Development Program 2004 Human Development Report, over 60 percent of Bolivia's population belongs to one of the country's three primary indigenous groups: Quechua, Aymara or Guarani. An additional 30 percent is mestizo, a mixture of indigenous and European descent. In spite of this rich cultural heritage, Bolivia has long been one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere, with life expectancy reaching only 64 years and per capita income of under $2,300 per year.

CRS has worked in Bolivia in collaboration with partner institutions since 1955, responding to the country's social and political challenges. The early years of CRS' work in Bolivia focused on delivering humanitarian assistance to poor communities, collaborating with the Bolivian government, the national Caritas and the U.S. government. In the intervening 50 years, CRS Bolivia has helped to improve the quality of life of thousands of Bolivians, shifting the focus from delivery of humanitarian assistance to an integral approach to development which strives to achieve long-term sustainability.

From its offices in La Paz, CRS Bolivia directs program activities is six departments as well as at the national level, and has one expatriate and 14 national staff members.