The WB and Bolivia: a Long-Term Strategic Alliance

 
In December 2011, the World Bank Board approved a Strategic Alliance with Bolivia for the next four years (2012-2015).

The following is a highlight of the main points of the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS).

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                                 The WB and Bolivia: a Long-Term Strategic Alliance

In order to continue to support the struggle against poverty and after two interim strategies (2007-2009) and (2009-2011), the World Bank and the Plurinational State of Bolivia have agreed to engage in a broader strategic alliance (2012-2015) – a testimony to the cooperation of both partners in promoting the development process.

World Bank Resident Representative for Bolivia, Faris Hadad-Zervos, said: "The World Bank has had a very good relationship with the government and I have a desire to remain first order members on the way to achieving inclusive development opportunities for all. The Strategic Alliance will be a good guide in this direction."

Bolivia currently has a diversified, 13 investment-project program totaling US$445 million, together with nine donations and a series of analytical and technical assistance activities. The new Strategy involves a sum of US$530 million, including the current project portfolio with US$353 million yet to be disbursed, plus fresh resources worth at least US$177 million. Out of this total, close to 60% (US$ 308 million) are geared toward rural development.

The Partnership Strategy proposes a program of financial and knowledge operations in four priority areas:

• Sustainable Product Development
This pillar focuses on supporting agricultural transformation initiatives to lower rural poverty. Promoting the sustainability of small-scale producers will be achieved through better market access, the provision of advanced production technology, improved infrastructure and the promotion of agricultural productivity through innovation.

• Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management
The World Bank supports disaster risk management and climate change adaptation with donations, concessional credits and technical assistance. These activities fall under the framework of existing plans to mitigate the impact of natural disasters on agriculture, water and health, among others, as well as contingency plans for events such as droughts, floods and fires.

• Human Development and Access to Basic Services
The new strategy envisions a great effort to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable with programs that promote human capital. In particular, it will back the efforts of national institutions to reduce infant and maternal mortality, chronic malnutrition, increase school enrollment and reduce dropout rates by extending education and health services, as well as the provision of water, electricity and basic sanitation.

• Supporting Public Sector Efficiency
As a result of a new and complex regional context with greater requirements for timely and trustworthy statistical information for policy-making within a decentralized and results-based framework, the World Bank will support the execution of two National Censuses in 2012, one of population and households, the other agricultural, as well as improvements to the Continuous Household Survey.