Home
Lesson Browser
About
Feedback
UNDEF

Bolivia

Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation and Inclusive Local Development in Indigenous and Peasant Communities in Bolivia
Evaluation Date: August 2017
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Sustainability is the Achilles’ heel of democracy projects. To ensure the continuation of services beyond the end of project funding, projects need to plan for sustainability from the start, as design and implementation will require: creative partnerships with civil society and State organizations; careful analysis of the level of demand and willingness to pay; the creation of a cadre of competent professionals able to provide continuous service; and empowerment of community members to provide orientation or counsel, as feasible.

Theme: Rule of law

Bolivia partnerships, sustainability

Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation and Inclusive Local Development in Indigenous and Peasant Communities in Bolivia
Evaluation Date: August 2017
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Relationship building with State agencies must take place at different levels. While the grantee focused its advocacy activities on the high-level officials responsible for making policy decisions, it is equally important to work with staff of lower hierarchy given the important role they play in implementing policy. That is, enhanced trust and coordination with the lower level staff who work on identity registration processes on a daily basis helped facilitate the review process and improve the overall treatment of the community members.

Theme: Rule of law

Bolivia implementation, policy, state authorities

Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation and Inclusive Local Development in Indigenous and Peasant Communities in Bolivia
Evaluation Date: August 2017
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Alliances with law schools provide a number of win-win benefits. On the one hand, the CSO can lower costs, expand reach and improve service quality through recruitment of students who are motivated and familiar with the target communities. Additionally, the students are given the opportunity to test their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting as well as gain experience that can benefit their career prospects.

Theme: Rule of law

Bolivia law, network, outreach

Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation and Inclusive Local Development in Indigenous and Peasant Communities in Bolivia
Evaluation Date: August 2017
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

When properly designed and carefully implemented, legal services projects can combine sensitivity to traditional customs in this case of indigenous groups with principles such as human rights and gender equality. To a great extent, achieving this delicate balance hinges on the service provider’s local knowledge, respect for traditions, ability to build trust, and use of appropriate language and communication channels.

Theme: Rule of law

Bolivia culture, Legal identity, trust

Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation and Inclusive Local Development in Indigenous and Peasant Communities in Bolivia
Evaluation Date: August 2017
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Legal services projects can produce benefits both in terms of the “ends” – securing legal recognition- as well as through the “means” – process developed. Obtaining collective and individual legal identity is fundamental for human rights and democratic participation. At the same time, the process of applying for collective identity—through reflection and drafting of by-laws and internal regulation—can strengthen community organization, empower community leaders and open opportunities for socio-economic development.

Theme: Rule of law

Bolivia community, indigenous, Legal identity

Project: Representation and political participation of five urban indigenous populations in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Evaluation Date: June 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project did not treat these situations – conflicts and differences of opinion – as an educational exercise in acceptance, tolerance, and negotiation as well as it could have; had it done so, it might have fostered synergies and prevented the pointless weakening of indigenous populations committed to fighting for the defense and recognition of their rights.

Theme: Community activism

Bolivia conflict, indigenous, synergy

Project: Representation and political participation of five urban indigenous populations in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Evaluation Date: June 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Well-established indigenous organizations displayed some resistance to the founding of the grantee’s network, which was to serve as an umbrella group for all urban indigenous organizations.

Theme: Community activism

Bolivia collaboration

Project: Representation and political participation of five urban indigenous populations in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Evaluation Date: June 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Especially effective was the traveling photo exhibition, “Being Indigenous in the City,” displayed in 19 cultural centers, public and private, and visited by more than 10,000 people. One thousand copies of the exhibition brochure were distributed, and the initiative was followed by the media. A second showing of the exhibition traveled to six municipalities in Chiquitianía.

UNDEF/Bolivia

Theme: Community activism

Bolivia communication, media

Project: Representation and political participation of five urban indigenous populations in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Evaluation Date: June 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The attendees commented that it was symbolic that the university had participated in the process, since it normally did not get involved in this type of initiative. The professors were completely open and accessible, opening their classrooms on Sundays and assigning the instructors and researchers.

Theme: Community activism

Bolivia education, impact, institutions

Project: Representation and political participation of five urban indigenous populations in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Evaluation Date: June 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project had important sustainability components. The grantee’s track record and competence in fighting for respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, especially in urban environments, have given it credibility in the eyes of its public and private stakeholders.

Theme: Community activism

Bolivia credibility, sustainability, urban

Subscribe to UNDEF Newsletter

Privacy Policy
Terms of Use