ACTIVE PROGRAMS IN 2021
BOL-006-B: Support for the Urban Water and Sewage Programme (APAAP)
Thus, the intervention of the Support for the Water and Sewage in Urban and Peri-urban Areas Programme (BOL-006-B) is part of a broader initiative of the same name, which has been funded by multiple sources from various agencies. The Fund’s own intervention amounts to 5 million euros, and has two basic lines of action: improving access to sustainable water and sanitation services and strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management in National Policies, with the aim of reducing the impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable sectors of society.
This programme will operate specifically in the city of Cobija (where the drinking water system intake will be rehabilitated) and the communities of Chicani-Chinchaya (where both drinking water and sanitation systems will be built). It is hoped that it will provide over 2,700 people with access to sanitation and at least two health centres and a school in the area. At the same time, the programme will assist in the creation of warning systems and response plans for exceptional situations related to droughts and floods in the cities of Tarija and Cochabamba (Cercado province), Sucre (Oropeza) and Yacuiga (Gran Chaco), for which terms of reference were developed in 2021. It will also address the updating of the Master Plans for drinking water, sanitation and storm drainage in La Paz, Trinidad and El Alto (including their metropolitan area). It is expected that by 2022 work will begin on the Chicani-Chincaya project and progress will be made on the master plans. The Fund programme is currently scheduled to be completed in October 2023, although it is expected that an extension may be necessary to complete some actions.
This intervention is part of the overall operation, in which the Water Fund is also involved, with 15 million euros from the European Union, through the LAIF programme. These donations are part of a blending operation involving the IADB, with a credit of 55.5 million euros, the country’s own funds – with a contribution of 22.2 million euros – and Spain’s Contravalor programme, which contributes 27.7 million euros. In total, they make up an overall operation of more than 125 million euros. The following table shows how the funds provided by each funder are distributed:
| TYPE | PARTICIPATING ENTITIES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary entity | Ministry of Environment and Water (MMAyA) | ||||
| Implementing entity | Programme Coordinating Unit – Peri-Urban Water and Sewage Programme | ||||
| AMOUNTS | |||||
| Source of funding | Euros | ||||
| Support for the Peri-Urban Water and Sewage Programme and | FCAS Funds | BOL-006-B | 5,000,000 | ||
| Delegated cooperation (LAIF Funds) | 2018/SPE/000004000019 | 147,000,000 | |||
| 2018/SPE/00000400103 | 300,000 | ||||
| Subtotal | 20,000,000 | ||||
| Other funders of the overall operation | IADB Contribution | 55,555,556 | |||
| National Counterpart | 22,222,222 | ||||
| Spain-Bolivia Contravalor | 27,777,778 | ||||
| Subtotal | 105,555,556 | ||||
| Total | 125,555,556 | ||||
Among the activities foreseen in the LAIF programme, the final design of the International Wastewater Research and Development Centre (CIIDAR) has been completed. Throughout 2021, progress has been made in the pre-investment studies for several works (Cobija, Khaluyo-Achachicala, Tumpeka, Cobija sanitary sewage), and the participatory diagnosis of the integrated urban water cycle, tasks that will be carried out in the coming years.
In addition, projects will be launched to seek experimental and demonstrative solutions associated with water, sanitation and sustainable drainage; community development activities will be implemented; and support will be given to the institutional development of water and sanitation service providers (WSSP). The global programme will end its intervention in September 2024.
Integrated Water Management in Urban Areas Programme (BOL-007-B)
On the other hand, the Integrated Water Management in Urban Areas Programme (BOL-007-B) received a 3-million-euro donation from the Water Fund and is also part of a larger project in which the AECID participates through the delegated cooperation to it by the European Union, as well as other funders, such as the IADB and FONPRODE.
The Fund’s specific intervention commenced in July 2021 and is therefore in its very early stages. However, work has already begun on the development of sewage connectivity strategies, pre-investment studies and hydrometeorological monitoring systems. It has also started supporting the National Drought Strategy by generating and systematising information on water supply and demand and risk assessment processes in vulnerable areas in the context of the National Drought Monitor – Tarija, Sucre and Chiquitania.
Together, all actors generate a total amount of 129.1 million euros, divided as follows: 15 million euros donated by the European Union through LAIF – managed by the FCAS – and 3 million euros donated by the Fund itself. In addition, a credit of 85 million euros from the IADB and another 25 million euros from FONPRODE will be added. The following table shows how the funds provided by each funder are distributed:
| Type | Participating Entities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary entity | Ministry of Environment and Water (M MAyA) | |||
| Programme’s coordinating entity | Programme’s coordinating entity- Peri-urban Water and Sewage Programme | |||
| Amounts | ||||
| Sources of funding | Euros | |||
| Integrated Water Management in Urban Areas | FCAS AECID BOL-007-B funds | 3,000,000 | ||
| Delegated Cooperation | 15,000,000 | |||
| Subtotal | 18,000,000 | |||
| Other funders of the global operation | IADB credit | 85,470,085 | ||
| FONPRODE AECID credit | 25,641,026 | |||
| Subtotal | 111,111,112 | |||
| Total | 129,111,112 | |||
The final objective is to contribute to improving integrated water resources management in urban areas of Bolivia, and is expected to reach a total of 217,500 beneficiaries. The Programme will fund interventions for the extension and improvement of drinking water and sanitation services, especially those to mitigate water supply crises caused by droughts. In the long term, it will also contribute to improving the management of water supply and demand in a comprehensive manner, through actions aimed at improving the efficiency and operational management of providers, the resilience of systems and the proper management of wastewater, which will be enhanced by the increased availability of water in the systems
COUNTRY CONTEXT
In Bolivia, there are still major difficulties in terms of access to water and sanitation for some of the population. It is also one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of climate change, which causes cyclical water crises with recurrent droughts and floods. However, water and sanitation are a top priority on the national agenda, and relevant actions are being developed in this sector. As a result, there are initiatives for the elaboration of national strategies and plans in which most of the institutions and actors of the sector participate.
The Water Fund has extensive experience in the country, which has facilitated a smooth institutional dialogue that has enabled it to work on strengthening the sector and accompanying the development of public policies.
In the beginning, the Fund’s programmes were more focused on implementing water and sanitation access programmes in rural areas. Today, they have been expanded to support improved governance and to ensure sustainability and quality of services in peri-urban areas. In the lines of work, an approach to Integrated Water Resources Management is provided through the strengthening of water information management systems, drought management and urban drainage in the planning of the country’s main operators. Consistent with the sanitation coverage gap, improving wastewater treatment is another priority, and the Fund is supporting the establishment of a centre for experimental treatment solutions, the International Wastewater Research and Development Centre in the Altiplano – CIIDAR.
