CRS Work in Bolivia
To help improve the lives of the country's most impoverished communities, Catholic Relief Services Bolivia and our partners employ a holistic approach of development that focuses not only on building livelihoods but on building civil society. Inspired by the principles of Catholic social teaching, our work fosters community organization and citizen participation, while providing technical assistance in the areas of HIV , health, education, agricultural development, emergency response and prevention, microfinance, peacebuilding, and civil society and governance. The combined approach strengthens the ability of our partners and the communities where we work to jointly develop and ultimately carry out projects that will have the most lasting impact on the lives of poor Bolivians.
Livelihoods Program
In areas as diverse as agriculture and home building, the CRS Bolivia Livelihoods program empowers poor Bolivians to earn more money, prepare for the future and climb out of poverty. Key to the program's success is community organization. Whether we're building new houses or helping communities in flood zones prepare for disaster, CRS Bolivia's projects foster community participation. Members of the community, working closely with local government and civil organizations, are key partners in every step of the process. They help to identify problems and develop and execute solutions. Activities in this area of programming strive to:
- Build new and improve existing housing in communities affected by Chagas disease.
- Provide safe water and basic sanitation.
- Increase and diversify agricultural productivity, while enabling farmers to better access existing markets.
- Train and organize communities to better prepare for and respond to emergency situations.
- Teach responsible management of natural resources and protection of the environment.
Civil Society and Citizen Participation Programs
These programs aim to strengthen civil society, build peace, and assist in the areas of migration and human trafficking. Fundamentally based on justice and solidarity, the goals of these projects are to:
- Help educate the youth and promote leadership in the department of Chuquisaca as a means of promoting local development.
- Encourage citizen participation and environmental stewardship in the department of Santa Cruz.
- Promote research and accountability for civil society organizations.
- Ensure transparent and responsible management of the Millennium Challenge Account by the government of Bolivia's National Development Plan.
- Support grass-roots democratic initiatives in the country's new Constitutional Assembly.
- Combat human trafficking practices in Bolivia's border cities.
- Train marginalized communities on citizenship and democracy.
