Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Increased Access to Water, Improved Livestock Production and Post-drought Food Security
Overview
The project increased access to water for the rancher associations and indigenous farming communities to improve their livestock production, livelihoods and food security. Water wells were drilled to strengthen the Beni cattlemen’s capacities to face drought, safeguard their herds through extreme weather events and therefore increase food security in their rural and indigenous communities.The project overcame challenges and delays resulting from the rainy season, socio-political strife linked to COVID-19 response measures and equipment maintenance. It completed the well-digging within the framework of the national strategy to fight COVID-19.
Beneficiaries
Rancher associations and indigenous farming communities
Partners
Ministry of Rural Development and Land, Autonomous Departmental Government of Beni, Federation of Ranchers of Beni (FEGABENI), municipalities, indigenous peoples, UNDP Bolivia (Plurinational State of).
Budget
$500,000
Duration
March 2018–August 2021
Mostly contributing to
Key Results
Results highlights
• 14 wells were drilled during the year, which included rehabilitating a well and replacing another which did not produce water.
• 20 water wells, with depths between 20 to 118 meters, have been drilled in five municipalities of Trinidad, San Andrés, San Javier, Huacaraje and Baures benefiting a total of 11,416 people in these communities with safe access to water for human consumption and livestock, and agricultural production.
• Predictable access to water led to increased livestock circulation near those areas; improved artisanal productive activities such as food processing, and hygiene conditions for employed personnel; and facilitated laundry and better hygiene in educational institutions given the impact of COVID.
• The increased production of vegetables in the community and family gardens contributed to food security and generated extra income for families from the sale of surpluses, also providing a supply to the Center for Genetic Improvement of the José Autonomous University Ballivian del Beni for socio-educational purposes.
• A collateral result was the increase in the production of milk provided to the community collection centers that process the delivery of school breakfast in public schools, indirectly contributing to the local economy.
Lessons learned
When the need is vast there is a tendency to be quite ambitious in project design, institutional capacity for implementation and project timelines should be taken into account, and options such as outsourcing of specialized services or creation of specialized technical units need to be considered.
It is important to ground the initiative in well contextualized technical specifications with supported cost structures. Budgeting for technical expertise and periodic training sessions in the local language can significantly enhance the project timeline, scope and results.
Changes in those in authority made e it challenging to follow up on the commitments assumed by various actors. While the continuous nurturing of alliances materialized in successful public-private technical engagement, the investment of economic resources was challenged owing to the prioritization of Government resources for COVID response.
Formal agreements with the municipalities could facilitate guaranteed access to project funds. In addition, technical assistance from UNDP can help to strengthen capacities to implement concurrent fund initiatives to finance these projects.
Way forward
The drilling of water wells is a priority activity for the Department of Beni to increase safe access to water for human and productive consumption and combat recurrent supply issues. Moving forward, FEGABENI has an important opportunity to seek strategic alliances with the other project stakeholders for the benefit of the municipalities and rural and indigenous communities in Beni.
The sustainability study for the project from the year 2022, updated from the version presented at the request of the IBSA Fund in November 2020, will enable the development of a business plan that adapts to the local market and focuses on growth opportunities while contributing to the development of the livestock sector and the population itself in addition to fulfilling the commitment assumed with the IBSA Fund to complete in the next three years the goal initially established by the project. The outsourcing of services will be considered where it has proven to be an effective strategy to obtain efficient results and guarantee long-term operation.