Assessment of the Integrated Rural Development Programme in water catchment areas in Bolivia

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, 39% of the population live below the poverty line. Furthermore, while Bolivia is one of the richest countries in the region for water resources, the annual precipitation in the Andean valleys does not provide enough water to meet the population' demand, and the deficit is increased by climate change as longer dry periods alternate with shorter, heavier periods of precipitation. Soil erosion and depletion, deforestation, desertification and the associated loss of water regulation capacity in the catchment areas are negative impacts caused by climate change. The country faces major challenges in managing water and land resources in catchment areas, which threaten food security, especially for poorer rural populations.

In the period from mid-August to mid-October 2017, adelphi consultants carried out an assessment for the planned "Integrated Water Catchment Management" technical cooperation measure of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Bolivia. The assessment served to prepare the content and organisation of the technical cooperation measure planned by the GIZ on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and to prepare a proposal for a new module within this measure. The module is intended to contribute to the objectives of sustainable management of natural resources as well as to improve the political and institutional framework conditions for integrated river basin management, which are anchored in the country strategy. This will create the conditions for the sustainable development of rural catchment areas. Addressing the issue of water scarcity is an important criteria for economic development, the protection of ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity.