Bolivia – Integrated Community Development Fund (ICDF)

Improving Social and Productive Infrastructure

For over 37 years, ACDI/VOCA has been a leading provider of long- and short-term technical assistance in Bolivia, the poorest country in South America. To complement robust systemic projects, ACDI/VOCA volunteers and consultants have completed more than 500 technical assistance assignments in Bolivia in all aspects of agriculture, agribusiness and enterprise development.

Since 2001, ACDI/VOCA has implemented community development programs in Bolivia, beginning with the USAID-funded Yungas Community Alternative Development Fund (YCADF). This project improved the social and productive infrastructure of more than 200 communities throughout the Yungas region. Working with Bolivian partners, ACDI/VOCA provided or improved 55 potable water and sanitation systems, 38 schools, 12 agricultural processing facilities, 57 grants for agricultural production equipment and/or training, 13 roads or bridges and 2 regional bus terminals. Through training and technical assistance, ACDI/VOCA ensured each community’s ability to operate and maintain its infrastructure upon project completion.

Building on this success, a new project, the USAID-funded, $34 million, 5-year Integrated Community Development Fund (ICDF), was launched in 2005 to create community and economic development opportunities in the Yungas and Tropics of Cochabamba (TC) regions. It is designed to meet basic human needs and alleviate poverty by improving social and economic conditions.

More specifically, ICDF takes a two-pronged approach: 1) strengthen community development through the introduction and improvement of social infrastructure and community participation and 2) strengthen economic development by providing new economic opportunities that create employment and generate income.

As of December 2009, 318 community development and 267 economic development projects have been implemented. Of the 585 total, 409 were completed as of December 2009, resulting in the creation of 2,956 equivalent employments, training 37,394 people and benefiting 30,093 families in the two regions combined.

Community Development Programs

ICDF has built on its precursor’s community development programs in the Yungas, as well as expanded them into the Tropics of Cochabamba. By December 2009, ICDF had completed 338 community development infrastructure projects. Projects that have been completed recently include schools, health centers, a footbridge, community centers and potable water and sewage systems. Besides gaining the infrastructure, communities benefit from training in protecting the environment, health and sanitation, and community and municipal strengthening. ICDF also operates a scholarship program for underprivileged students, affording those selected the chance to study at local, national and international universities. These investments respond to short-term community needs while ensuring sustainable, long-term community stability and development.

Economic Development Programs

ICDF economic development programs have assisted with the development of business plans, supported academic exchanges, strengthened value chains, provided technical training, constructed productive transportation infrastructure and provided small grants to business owners. These 267 projects have ranged from agriculture, beekeeping, poultry and animal husbandry to focusing on preserving the environment and tourism.

The economic development programs under ICDF affect change in a variety of areas, including introducing improved agricultural production techniques, building bus terminals and training business owners in accounting and financial management. All activities are implemented to improve the economic conditions of the communities in which they operate. As a consequence of economic growth, community members have greater access to resources, are less likely to emigrate and more likely to contribute to their respective communities. These combined effects strengthen communities and result in sustainable community development.

Community Contribution

As part of ICDF’s strategy, the communities and beneficiaries themselves are required to invest in community and economic development initiatives. Their contributions come in many forms, from a citizen donating a few hours of time to dig ditches, to a local municipality contributing to a school’s construction cost, to a local business donating supplies for a community center. As of December 2009, ICDF has registered more than $1.5 million in community contributions for community and economic development initiatives, with much more expected by the end of the program.

Volunteer Technical Assistance

An integral part of ACDI/VOCA’s approach, in Bolivia and worldwide, is the support of long-term programmatic initiatives with short-term technical assistance from volunteer experts. Assignments, which typically last between two and four weeks, are developed to meet specific community-identified needs. Most recently, this assistance has included technical assistance on citrus, stevia (a sugar substitute) production, ecotourism and tropical animal health.

By December 2009, the ICDF had carried out 13 volunteer assignments devoted to both community and economic development. These assignments represent over $120,000 in donated time and benefitted over 14,000 community members.

For more information, contact Nicole Chao-Villegas at nchao-villegas@acdivoca.org.

Updated: 3/10

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