Swiss Development Cooperation in Bolivia focuses on governance, economic development, climate change and the environment. Bolivia's increasing urbanisation is posing new challenges. Thus, besides rural development, the focus is also on improving the delivery of services in peri-urban areas.
Bolivia

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Embassy |
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Mission / Delegation / Permanent Representation |
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Consulate general |
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Honorary representation |
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Cooperation office |
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Contribution Office |
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Embassy with Cooperation Office |
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Embassy with Regional consular center |
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Swiss Business Hub |
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Swissnex |
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City |
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Capital |
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Disputed border |
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River |
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Lake |
From 2005 to 2014, Bolivia experienced economic and income growth attributable to exports of natural gas, oil and mining products. Since the end of the commodity boom in 2014, the country’s revenues have fallen by 25%. The government’s income redistribution programmes during the growth years reduced poverty. Nonetheless, Bolivia remains one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Its economic challenges comprise a heavily overvalued currency, underemployment, low productivity, insufficient diversification (e.g. in terms of products and especially regarding its economic sectors), lack of international competitiveness and a large shadow economy.
Switzerland is helping to ensure that the additional public resources benefit the poor and particularly vulnerable groups – especially young people and women. Its efforts are focused on rural and peri-urban areas in the highlands and in the Andean valleys. Switzerland coordinates its activities with national and international organisations and other countries that are active in Bolivia.
Swiss Bilateral ODA |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 * |
---|---|---|---|
mill. CHF |
mill. CHF |
mill. CHF |
|
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) |
|||
Bilateral development cooperation |
23.43 |
13.76 |
14.60 |
Humanitarian aid |
1.64 |
-0.09 |
– |
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) |
|||
Economic Cooperation and Development |
0.54 |
1.14 |
2.31 |
Human Security Division (HSD) |
|||
Conflict transformation and human rights |
– |
0.04 |
0.10 |
Total SDC/SECO/HSD |
25.61 |
14.85 |
17.01 |
Other Federal Offices |
|||
Network of FDFA representations abroad |
1.34 |
1.91 |
.. |
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) |
0.02 |
0.02 |
.. |
Total other Federal Offices |
1.36 |
1.93 |
– |
Cantons and municipalities |
0.71 |
.. |
.. |
Total |
27.68 |
16.78 |
17.01 |
* planned; total based on available data
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Governance
Promoting the rule of law and strengthening civil society
Swiss Development Cooperation projects include targeted measures to improve access to justice for broad sectors of the population, especially in rural areas. The programmes designed to promote the rule of law also focus on reducing violence towards women. The framework conditions for a freely emerging civil society have become appreciably more difficult in recent years. Switzerland and the international donor community support constructive dialogue and a culture of compromise between civil society and government.
Economic development
Economic and productive development with greater inclusiveness and equality
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) primarily works on vocational skills development, while the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) mainly promotes sustainable trade. Switzerland is able to draw on its own experience of vocational training for disadvantaged groups as well as the know-how it has acquired in various Latin American countries. The aim of the projects in this area is to improve access to financial and non-financial services or new markets for vocational college graduates, producer families and micro-sized and small enterprises. Furthermore in this regard, alliances are to be set up between Swiss companies in Bolivia and the SDC in order to advance sustainable development within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. In addition, Swiss projects promote the expansion of production and increased productivity.
Climate change and the environment
Risk prevention and improving resilience
Switzerland supports the sustainable use of natural resources. The Swiss contribution to combating climate change lies mainly in adjustment mechanisms centred on water management, land use and disaster risk reduction through prevention and disaster preparedness. SECO contributes to that by supporting sustainable urban development measures. Growing urbanisation brings environmental challenges. In this regard the SDC focuses mainly on wastewater and waste treatment.
History of cooperation
Switzerland's long-standing commitment is highly appreciated
Switzerland's long-standing and successful development cooperation efforts are held in high regard in Bolivia. Since 1968, Switzerland has been active in the area of development cooperation in Bolivia, since 1981 Bolivia has been one of the SDC's priority countries and since 2017 it has been a country for SECO complementary measures. The programme is adjusted on an ongoing basis to reflect the country's changing social and economic conditions.
Links
Swiss Cooperation Office in Bolivia
Climate change and the enironment
Bilateral relations Switzerland-Bolivia
Blog: Experiences from editorial departments
The SDC and the Swiss journalism school, MAZ, give Swiss media professionals the chance to get to know editorial teams in southern countries. In their blog, the journalists and photographers relate their experiences in Bangladesh, Nepal, Laos, Bolivia and Tunisia.
Documents
Current projects
Andean Forest and Climate Change Programme (ANFOR) – Phase II
01.09.2019
- 31.08.2021
The second and last phase of the Andean Forest and Climate Change Programme (ANFOR) will consolidate, share and scale-up validated best practices on how to safeguard mountain forest ecosystems to further shape national forest policies aiming at enhanced resilience of Andean mountain forest ecosystems and increased human wellbeing. The Programme will inform the concerned regional and global dialogue and contribute to an effective implementation of national policies related to environmental integrity.
Diálogo y apoyo colaborativo (DAC)
01.07.2019
- 31.12.2023
The project aims to strengthen Bolivian civil society organisations, with a view to them engaging in dialogue incl. conflict resolution on a more equal footing and a relationship of shared responsibility with the state and the private sector, through collaborative interaction between them on key inclusive development issues (added value of Swiss support). Emphasis will be placed on the three domains of the current Cooperation Strategy: governance, economic development, and climate change and the environment.
Municipal environmental management
01.04.2019
- 31.03.2023
Based on its significant expertise in the field of sustainable waste and wastewater management Switzerland supports Bolivia in addressing its environmental challenges by consolidating models of sustainable management of wastewater treatment services and solid waste management for small and intermediate cities. In coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Water, it contributes to the implementation of public policies reinforcing the quality and efficiency of environmental services, involving local populations and institutions. This will reduce harmful effects on the health of the population.
Gestión integral del agua
01.01.2019
- 31.12.2022
In Bolivia, Switzerland has been supporting the Ministry of the Environment and Water in improving integrated water and watershed management for several years. In this last phase of the project, support is given to the consolidation and implementation of the “Plan Nacional de Cuencas” (National Watershed Plan) to ensure water security and increase the climate resilience of vulnerable populations. Consolidation includes better coordination among various state levels, sectors and institutions and the systematization and capitalization of experiences and results.
Rural Markets
01.01.2018
- 31.12.2021
Rural Household Production Units experience various difficulties preventing them from establishing themselves sustainably and competitively in the market. The Rural Markets project successfully applied the market systems development approach. It now aims to induce systemic changes and a scaling up of markets for producers in new regions of productive potential. Support of non-financial services combined with financial services will establish synergies between public and private actors.
Formación técnica profesional
01.05.2017
- 31.01.2023
Vocational skills development is key for improving production and expanding opportunities for employment and self-employment. The project aims to reduce poverty and inequality by enhancing access to the labour market. It seeks to strengthen vocational skills and certify competences with an emphasis on young people and adults, promote the quality of training centres, and the shared responsibility of public/private stakeholders. Strategies cover both the national and the local level.
Scaling-up SuizAgua Peru and Chile
01.10.2016
- 31.08.2021
Corporate Water Footprint (WF) frameworks in Chile and Peru animate private companies to use and manage water in a sustainable manner. Civil society is made aware of sustainable water cultures by behavioural change campaigns and by being part of watershed collective actions with the private sector. Cooperation among SuizAgua Colombia, Peru and Chile and with other partners ensures further outreach of the project in Latin America with the help of an active community of practice sharing gained knowledge.
Planned project
Jiwasa Programme – Strengthening urban MSEs
01.04.2015
- 31.03.2024
Poverty and vulnerability have increased among the urban population due to the surge in rural-urban migration. The project contributes to a National Programme that focuses on poverty reduction and improvements in employment conditions by providing financial and non-financial services required by urban Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). The support focuses on processing activities of several productive sectors, benefiting 15,000 MSEs.
Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership (GWSP) - Phase II
01.11.2019
- 30.06.2023
The GWSP is a leading global "think tank" of the World Bank to address the water and sanitation challenge in an integrated manner, as set out in the Sustainable Development Goals. GWSP advances innovative global knowledge production and exchange as well as builds capacity through country-level support across regions.
Global Trade Facilitation Program
17.12.2018
- 16.12.2022
Trade is a key stimulus to economic growth and fundamental to the competitiveness of developing country firms and industries. With appropriate policies and programs, trade is a major source of employment and enhanced consumer welfare for the poor.
Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises SCORE, Phase III
01.10.2017
- 31.12.2021
SCORE is one of SECO's flagship programmes to foster more & better jobs in small and medium enterprises (SME) in partner countries. SCORE provides on-the-job training for workers and managers to improve productivity and working conditions in SMEs and help them to participate in global supply chains. SCORE is a joint programme with Norway and ILO.
World Bank City Resilience Program
01.07.2017
- 31.12.2021
The City Resilience Program is a project preparation facility, which aims to enhance capacity and consolidate city engagement on urban resilience.It will support the establishment of comprehensive engagements in selected cities as well as the foundation of strategic partnerships in order to unlock new sources of capital for building up resilience.