Bolivia – Integrated Community Development Fund (ICDF)

Improving Social and Productive Infrastructure

Since 1972 ACDI/VOCA has been a leading provider of long- and short-term technical assistance in Bolivia, the poorest country in South America. Over the years, 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 been implementing community development programs in Bolivia, beginning with the USAID-funded Yungas Community Alternative Development Fund (YCADF). The project improved the social and productive infrastructure of more than 200 communities throughout the Yungas region. 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 after assistance ended.

Continuing this work with a new project in 2005, ACDI/VOCA has built on its successes through the USAID-funded, $34 million, 5-year Integrated Community Development Fund (ICDF) to create community and economic development opportunities in the Yungas and Tropics of Cochabamba (TC) regions. The general objective of the ICDF project is to meet basic human needs and alleviate poverty by improving social and economic conditions in the Yungas and TC regions of Bolivia.

More specifically, ICDF has a two-pronged approach to this objective: 1) strengthen community development through the intruduction 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 June 2008, 245 community development and 236 economic development projects have been implemented. Of the total 481 projects initiated, 159 were completed as of June 2008, resulting in the creation of 766 permanent jobs, training 30,293 people and benefiting 22,098 families between both regions of the country.

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 June 2008, ICDF had completed 95 community development infrastructure projects. Projects that have been completed recently include schools, health centers, a footbridge, community centers and potable water and sewage systems. Along with 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 from these two areas of Bolivia, 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 helped develop business plans, supported academic exchanges, strengthened value chains, and provided small grants to business owners. Recently, ACDI/VOCA assisted a carpenter from the Yungas with a small business grant from the ICDF. The grant allowed him to expand his production and, because of this, he expects to hire an additional six workers. This is just one example of the 236 economic development initiatives that the ICDF is supporting.

The economic development programs under ICDF effect change in a variety of areas, including introducing improved agricultural production techniques, building bus terminals, training business owners in accounting and financial management, etc. All activities are implemented to improve the economic conditions of the communities in which they operate. By creating economic growth, community members have greater access to resources, are less likely to emigrate and will contribute to their respective communities. This in turn promotes strengthened communities and sustainable community development.

Community Contribution

As part of ICDF’s strategy, communities and beneficiaries are required to contribute to investments towards the community and economic development initiatives. This contribution comes in many forms from a citizen donating a few hours of time to dig ditches to the local municipality contributing to the cost of building a new school to a local business donating supplies to build a community center. As of November 2008, ICDF has registered more than $1.35 million in community contributions for community and economic development initiatives, with much more expected by the end of the program in 2010.

Volunteer Technical Assistance

An integral part of ACDI/VOCA’s approach, in Bolivia and worldwide, is to support programmatic initiatives with short-term technical assistance from volunteer specialists and professionals. This assistance is generated by community-identified needs and, generally, the assignments last between two and four weeks. Most recently, this assistance has included technical assistance on stevia (a sugar substitute) production, ecotourism and tropical animal health. By November 2008, the ICDF has carried out 12 volunteer assignments covering both community and economic development. These 12 volunteer assignments total 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: 11/08

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