Tag Archive for: Poverty In Bolivia

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Bolivia

Poverty Eradication in BoliviaBolivia faces major economic and rural development challenges. After the pandemic, the country experienced economic recovery and poverty reduction. However, it still faces high public debt, declining natural gas production, lower international reserves and strong exposure to droughts, floods and wildfires.

Innovations in poverty eradication in Bolivia focus on practical solutions that connect rural communities with markets, energy, water, training and more resilient agriculture.

Agricultural Innovation and Market Access

One major initiative is the Innovation for Resilient Food Systems (Rural Alliances – PAR III) project. In 2022, the World Bank approved $300 million in financing to benefit nearly 130,000 rural families in Bolivia. The project aims to increase food security, improve market access and expand the use of climate-smart agricultural practices. 

It also supports at least 1,000 rural community associations and 1,270 rural producer organizations through productive alliances, technology, training and technical assistance. This model matters because it does not treat small producers as passive beneficiaries. It connects farmers with buyers, associations and institutions through business plans designed to improve efficiency, profitability and market access. 

Since 2006, the Rural Alliances Project has helped small producers access financing, technology and training, three key tools for improving productivity and quality of life.

Rural Solutions With Real Impact

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights Apiguardia, a beekeeping alliance in San Ramón made up of 18 men and 10 women. With technical support, the group improved hive management, adopted migratory beekeeping practices, increased honey quality and entered more formal and stable markets. This example shows that innovation does not always mean complex technology. 

It can also mean specialized training, community organization and better production tools. The results of the Rural Alliances Project highlight the importance of this approach. According to FAO, the first phase benefited more than 28,000 rural households and established 768 alliances. 

The second phase reached more than 23,000 families in 120 municipalities. In addition, the market value of certain products increased by 35%, while moderate poverty fell by 11.7% and extreme poverty fell by 10.1% among lower-income beneficiaries.

Sustainable Energy for Rural Communities

Another key aspect of innovation in poverty eradication in Bolivia is access to sustainable electricity. In 2023, the World Bank approved $125 million to expand and improve electricity service in rural communities. More than 141,000 people will receive new or improved access to electricity through grid extensions, mini-grids and individual solar systems.

These solutions will benefit households, schools, health centers and small agricultural, commercial and industrial production units. Electricity can reduce poverty by improving living conditions and boosting productivity. In rural areas, it can support food preservation, tool use, nighttime study, health center operations and the creation of small businesses. 

The project also includes solar systems, renewable mini-grids and training in efficient energy use, helping support a cleaner transition that depends less on polluting fuels.

Water, Irrigation and Climate Resilience

Access to water is also essential for reducing rural poverty. In 2024, the World Bank approved $150 million to improve water resource management, irrigation and climate resilience in 15 basins and 256 municipalities. The project will benefit about 30,000 rural families, especially subsistence farmers in upper-basin areas affected by drought, deforestation and soil erosion.

The project focuses on three main areas: protecting water sources through reforestation and native grassland recovery, optimizing household and community irrigation systems and building flood- and erosion-resistant infrastructure. It also includes automated irrigation to improve crop productivity, diversify production and improve household income. 

These investments can help rural families adapt to climate instability while strengthening agriculture.

A Practical Strategy Against Poverty

These initiatives demonstrate that Bolivia is combining agricultural innovation, basic infrastructure and climate adaptation to address rural poverty. These are not immediate or perfect poverty eradication solutions, but they target concrete problems in Bolivia: low productivity, limited market access, water insecurity, power shortages and vulnerability to climate change.

The strongest part of these strategies is that they strengthen rural communities as producers, entrepreneurs and participants in value chains. When a rural family gains access to irrigation, electricity, training and stable buyers, it has more opportunities to increase income, diversify production and withstand climate crises. Bolivia still faces major economic and social challenges. 

However, these projects show that innovation can be a real tool against poverty when it responds to concrete needs. The Bolivian experience shows that reducing poverty depends not only on large national plans but also on practical solutions that reach rural communities and improve their ability to produce, sell and live with greater stability.

– Adriana Carolina Herrera

Adriana is based in Painesville, OH, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia

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How Mobile Clinics Are Expanding Dental Care in Rural Bolivia

Dental Care in Rural BoliviaLimited access to dental care is an often overlooked public health challenge in rural Bolivia, particularly for low-income and geographically isolated communities. Untreated tooth decay and gum disease can lead to chronic pain and infection, making it harder for children to concentrate in school and for adults to work consistently. In a country where household budgets are often tight, delaying care can also lead to higher costs later, especially when treatable problems become emergencies. Mobile dental clinics are one approach to helping close these gaps by bringing preventive and basic restorative services directly to underserved communities.

Why Dental Care Is Difficult To Access in Rural Bolivia 

Bolivia’s geography and settlement patterns create real barriers to routine care. Rural communities may be located far from clinics, with travel costs and time away from work making a dental visit impractical. Where dental services exist, they may be limited to urgent pain relief or extractions rather than preventive treatment or restorations. 

At the national level, the WHO’s Oral Health Profile for Bolivia highlights the economic impact of oral disease. It estimates per-capita spending on dental care at approximately $4.20 and productivity losses from five untreated oral diseases at $152 million. This is an indicator of how oral health problems can translate into missed work and reduced earning capacity. 

What Mobile Dental Clinics Do Differently

Mobile dental clinics reduce access barriers by bringing equipment and staff directly to remote areas, often in coordination with local schools and community authorities. Depending on the program, services may include examinations, cleanings, fluoride applications, sealants, basic restorations (fillings) and extractions, along with hygiene education. This approach is important because it shifts care upstream, preventing decay and addressing early-stage problems before they develop into infections that require more complex interventions.

Evidence From Mobile-Clinic Programs Operating in Rural Bolivia

One example of measurable outcomes comes from the Suyana Foundation. It operates mobile dental clinics in the Department of La Paz and tracks multi-year data on service delivery and oral health indicators in the communities it serves. In a program summary covering Bolivia, Suyana reports that between 2021 and 2023, its mobile dental clinics provided approximately 38,000 dental consultations. 

Over the same period, the foundation recorded improvements in standard oral health indices. These included a 21% drop in the CPOD/DMFT index (from 6.7 in 2021 to 5.3 in 2023) and a 44% reduction in the simplified oral hygiene index (IHOS) (from 2.5 in 2021 to 1.4 in 2023). Suyana also reports child-focused results: the incidence of new caries among 10-year-old children fell by 38% from 2022 to 2023 in its Bolivian program. 

Additionally, the number of students rehabilitated to “zero cavities” status increased from 296 in 2021 to 1,229 in 2023. These figures reflect the impact of a single organization rather than the entire country; however, they provide concrete evidence that mobile, prevention-oriented dental services can improve outcomes in areas with limited baseline access.

How Public Nonprofit Partnerships Expand Reach

Mobile-clinic models often depend on partnerships because logistics and sustainability are as important as clinical work. Public authorities can support coordination with schools, referral pathways into local health establishments and alignment with national standards. Nonprofits can add specialized staff, equipment, outreach capacity and external funding.

In Bolivia’s health ecosystem, organizations like Fundación ProSalud have a national presence, providing lower-cost health services through a network of clinics. These clinics help complement public provision and support broader access goals. Volunteer-based outreach models also operate in rural areas. 

In Cochabamba and surrounding regions, the nonprofit Mano a Mano runs “jornadas”—weekend medical and dental trips where teams travel to remote communities to provide care. This shows how mobile or pop-up services can reach areas that permanent facilities do not consistently cover.

Why Dental Access Matters for Poverty Reduction

Dental care can look “secondary” compared to infectious disease or maternal health, but it has direct poverty links. Pain and infection can reduce school attendance and workplace productivity, while delayed treatment can force families into higher-cost emergency care. The WHO’s estimates of productivity losses from untreated oral diseases underline that oral health is not only a clinical issue but also an economic one, especially for households living close to the margin.

Mobile dental clinics address this problem by reducing the time and travel costs of seeking care and emphasizing prevention. When clinics provide sealants, fluoride and early restorations, they can reduce the likelihood that a child needs repeated extractions or that an adult loses workdays due to avoidable infection.

The Future of Dental Care in Rural Bolivia

Mobile clinics are not a substitute for long-term investment in permanent facilities and the oral-health workforce. But in rural Bolivia, they can function as a practical bridge, expanding coverage now while building community habits around preventive care. Evidence from programs such as Suyana’s mobile clinics suggests that sustained outreach can improve measurable oral-health outcomes, particularly for children. 

As government standards, local coordination and nonprofit delivery capacity align, mobile dental services can continue reducing preventable pain, missed school days and productivity losses in underserved regions. 

– Tom Basu

Tom is based in Buckinghamshire, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Seeds of Sustainability: Reducing Food Insecurity in Bolivia

Planting Seeds of Sustainability: Reducing Food Insecurity in Bolivia Landlocked in South America, Bolivia has a population of about 12.5 million. It is considered one of the most food-insecure countries in South America. According to the World Food Program (WFP) USA, 16% of Bolivian children under 5 years old are malnourished due to food insecurity.

One of the biggest factors affecting food insecurity in Bolivia is extreme weather conditions. The country faces recurring droughts and floods that heavily impact its agricultural sector. One organization, Fundación Patiño, demonstrates that reducing food insecurity across the country can be addressed through practical solutions.

Fundación Patiño

Fundación Patiño, established in 1931, aims to make a lasting impact by providing young Bolivians with the tools to build stronger and safer communities. In addition to providing direct care for more than 2,000 malnourished children each year, it also carries out projects and initiatives in education, agroecology, pediatric health and culture to address challenges that hinder progress.

Agroecology is a discipline that combines science and society to implement farming techniques that are sustainable and resilient. Fundación Patiño has undertaken multiple projects to promote and apply these techniques, including the Cochuna Project, its haciendas and the agroecology farm and seed center in Pairumani.

Education and the Cochuna Project

In the mountains of the Yungas region, a remote location, Fundación Patiño built and maintains a boarding school. Now accessible to small, isolated communities, teenagers in the region can continue their general education while deepening their farming and agricultural knowledge to develop sustainable practices for the future. The school currently hosts and educates 120 teenagers.

The Haciendas

The two haciendas located in Pairumani and Santa Cruz consist of large agricultural estates that serve as open-air laboratories combining science, society and pedagogy. Their focus is to promote economic independence by training farmers and researchers in sustainable techniques through hands-on practice and experimentation.

Each year, they organize “Field Days,” where community members are invited to learn about agricultural developments taking place. The foundation estimates that seeds improved through experimentation at the haciendas have benefited more than 10,000 farmers.

Food Sovereignty and the Seed Center

Fundación Patiño also runs an initiative that preserves and nurtures local seed varieties in its seed center located in Pairumani. This directly addresses food insecurity in Bolivia, as these local seeds are suited to Andean ecosystems. As a result, they are more resilient to weather conditions such as droughts and floods that affect Bolivia’s agricultural sector.

By prioritizing local and indigenous seed varieties over imported or hybrid ones, the seed center supports food sovereignty in Bolivia. Communities rely less on expensive imported foods when they can grow, sustain and sell their own produce.

In addition to strengthening food autonomy, training farmers to grow crops using techniques that reduce vulnerability to climate shocks supports local economic activity. Surplus food can be sold in markets and potentially exported.

Fundación Patiño’s model is designed to be replicable. Its initiatives have benefited more than 50,000 individuals, contributing to efforts to reduce food insecurity in Bolivia by promoting food sovereignty through education and community engagement.

– Brittany Buscio

Brittany is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything To Know About HIV/AIDS in Bolivia

HIV/AIDS in BoliviaHIV/AIDS in Bolivia affects less than 1% of the population. The U.S. Agency for National Development reports that this puts the country at the lowest in HIV prevalence within Latin America and the Caribbean region. Officials reported the first diagnosis of HIV in 1985. Although HIV prevalence has remained low, it disproportionately affects marginalized populations. Two populations that are disproportionately affected are men who have sex with other men (MSM) and transgender women. Societal stigma and prejudice against these groups have resulted, necessitating a response that addresses these specific issues. According to UNAIDS, infection rates have steadily declined since 1993 and reached about 0.16 per 1,000 people as of 2024. Death rates have also steadily declined since 2011. As of 2024, the death rate is about 0.04 per 1,000 people.

Background on HIV/AIDS

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), HIV is a virus that targets the immune system by attacking white blood cells. Bodily fluids from an infected person can spread HIV. This can include blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids. Antiretroviral therapy treats HIV. Without treatment, HIV can develop into AIDS.

The Response

The United Nations developed UNAIDS, the Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS, to lead the global effort to eradicate it. UNAIDS’ main focus is to advocate for affected communities, provide technical support, collect data on the illness and assist countries that are most affected. The joint program in Bolivia has carried out various efforts to address HIV through prevention, testing and treatment. Community-based programs, supported by the Joint Programme, have provided access to HIV prevention packages in 2023 to MSM and transgender women. Furthermore, the Triple X (Xpressa, eXplora and eXige) campaign has run a social media initiative aimed at increasing condom usage. It has reached 111,000 young people and resulted in a 12% increase in condom distribution within the public health system in one year. Additionally, the government has developed national guidelines for pre-exposure prophylaxis with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) following its adoption of the preventive drug regimen.

Impacts of People in Poverty With HIV

People who live with HIV/AIDS in Bolivia face conditions conducive to poverty, such as food insecurity and unstable livelihoods face major obstacles in managing their treatment, indicating a connection between economic struggle and HIV-related health outcomes, according to a study performed by Palar and a team. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) states that more than a third of Bolivia’s population lived below the national poverty line in 2021, indicating economic strain that reflects the hardships patients described in the study.

Palar’s team determined that time conflicts with their jobs prevented many participants from getting their doses, the stigma of HIV caused the loss of jobs and that many HIV patients struggled to balance their treatments with expectations from informal or unpredictable employment. The study observes that these conditions directly impact antiretroviral adherence, especially for those who lack a stable income or consistent access to food. The team also notes that a food-assistance pilot program has helped ease these pressures through improving patients’ nutritional stability. This has helped patients take their medication correctly.

Addressing Disparities and Prejudices

Fighting HIV/AIDS in Bolivia importantly involves addressing the disparities within the populations it affects and the prejudices surrounding the disease. Capacity-building training and catalytic funding have supported civil society organizations in Bolivia to strengthen the HIV response, address stigma and discrimination and protect human rights. As UNAIDS reported, the Bolivian Network of People Living with HIV and the Ministry of Health have introduced a pulsometer, a pilot stigma and discrimination self-assessment tool, to gather data on stigma and discrimination directed toward people living with HIV and key populations within the healthcare system. This aims to address barriers to accessing services.

In 2022, officials created an essential care standard for vulnerable communities and integrated it across 3,000 health facilities. As UNAIDS outlined, this protocol includes guidelines that prevent stigma, ensure adherence to care and diagnosis standards for HIV and promote condom use. In an effort to decriminalize HIV transmission, REDBOL and the community-centered organization Asociación Un Nuevo Camino have created a project to modify the 2008 HIV law. Advocates organized social dialogues to pressure Congress.

Looking Ahead

Although HIV is not an epidemic among the general population in Bolivia, it is prevalent within concentrated communities. The government and external organizations have made consistent efforts to address and treat this disease. HIV carries significant societal stigma and prejudice; as such, the response has acknowledged discrimination against marginalized groups. The response has addressed the disease itself and has also worked to undo prejudice and discrimination toward marginalized communities.

– Sasha Banaei

Sasha is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Digital Midwifery in Bolivia: Rural Mothers and Mobile Tech

Digital Midwifery in Bolivia

In the remote highlands of Bolivia’s Andes, where health care facilities are scarce and distances vast, accessing postpartum care has long been a challenge for new mothers. However, since 2023, a transformative initiative has been underway: midwives equipped with mobile devices and WhatsApp provide virtual postnatal check-ins. They offer guidance on breastfeeding, wound care and infant development, all from the comfort of home.

Bridging the Gap With Technology

Bolivia’s mountainous terrain often makes traditional health care services inaccessible to rural populations. For mothers in these regions, reaching the nearest clinic can mean walking across rugged landscapes for hours or even days. Recognizing this challenge, the Bolivian government, in collaboration with organizations like the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Plan International, has been integrating traditional midwives into the formal health care system.

This integration involves training midwives and equipping them with tools to enhance maternal and neonatal care in indigenous communities. For many, this training includes learning how to use mobile technology as a bridge to connect isolated mothers with professional advice. By introducing WhatsApp consultations, midwives can now conduct remote check-ins, answer urgent questions and provide ongoing support to families who would otherwise remain cut off from timely medical care.

A New Era of Maternal Care

The use of mobile technology has revolutionized postpartum care in these communities. Midwives, who are often deeply rooted in the culture and languages of the Indigenous populations they serve, are uniquely positioned to build trust and reduce barriers to care. WhatsApp has become a lifeline for mothers, allowing them to communicate efficiently through voice notes, video calls and photos.

Through these platforms, midwives provide personalized advice on topics such as breastfeeding techniques, recognizing the early signs of postpartum depression, monitoring wound healing after childbirth and ensuring proper infant nutrition. These conversations go beyond clinical checklists—they validate traditional practices while introducing evidence-based recommendations, striking a balance that resonates with local families.

Importantly, this method of care strengthens emotional bonds. Mothers report feeling less isolated and more confident, knowing someone is “just a call away” to answer questions or provide reassurance. This culturally sensitive approach, rooted in both tradition and innovation, ensures that health advice is not only accessible but also trusted.

Impact and Future Prospects

The early results of this initiative are promising. Communities that once faced high rates of postpartum complications are seeing improvements in maternal and infant health. Mothers express greater confidence in caring for themselves and their babies. They report that quick access to midwife guidance helps them resolve health concerns before they become emergencies.

Beyond individual families, the ripple effect is significant. Fathers and extended family members are also included in digital consultations, learning how to support new mothers more effectively. Midwives are gaining professional recognition and increased status within the health care system, bridging the divide between traditional knowledge and modern medicine.

This initiative also reduces the financial burden on families. Without the need to travel long distances, mothers save time and money, resources that can instead be directed toward food, childcare or household needs.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite its successes, digital midwifery in Bolivia still faces challenges. Connectivity remains unreliable in some areas; not every household can access smartphones or stable electricity. Training programs will need to be ongoing to ensure midwives are confident using digital platforms and adapting to updates in technology.

Nevertheless, the growth potential is substantial. Policymakers and health organizations are considering ways to expand this model to other rural regions of Bolivia and even across neighboring countries in Latin America. By continuing to blend traditional midwifery practices with digital health tools, Bolivia is setting a precedent for culturally sensitive, accessible and scalable maternal health care.

If successful, digital midwifery could serve as a blueprint for addressing maternal health gaps in other parts of the world with similar geographic and cultural barriers to Bolivia. The initiative highlights how low-cost, user-friendly technology, when placed in the hands of trusted community leaders, can reshape health care systems and save lives.

– Marina Martin

Marina is based in Rapid City, SD, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Electricity in Bolivia is Lifting Rural Communities Out of Poverty

Electricity in BoliviaBolivia, a country with a poverty rate of 36.4% as of 2021, has been experiencing a difficult period regarding its poverty issues. One of the many ways Bolivia has been working to combat this issue is by providing electricity nationwide. In 2023, rural electrical coverage reached 85.1%, meanwhile urban coverage reached 99.3%.

The main goal for the Bolivian government is for the country to get 100% coverage by the end of 2025. Access to electricity benefits those living in poverty by providing a higher quality of life, creating jobs, better access to education and advances in health services.

Electricity Program for Living With Dignity

In 2008, Bolivia launched the Electricity Program for Living With Dignity (PEVD) initiative to expand nationwide access to electricity, focusing on the poorest communities. Rural areas faced the greatest challenges: electricity and food access rates lagged far behind urban centers. According to the WFP, 75% of Bolivian families lack regular access to food. The PEVD program has since made a significant impact in remote and rural regions.

According to the World Bank Group, Bolivia advanced this effort through a series of projects, including an expansion model for a “national decentralized service framework.” Between 2014 and 2019, the government implemented eight grid-extension subprojects with notable outcomes: 4,300 households were connected to the power grid, providing electricity to 20,200 people; 708 kilometers of distribution lines were installed; and training events benefited multiple institutions.

International partners such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) also provided financial support to fund these initiatives. In 2023, the IDB approved a $2 million grant to support the Bolivian program of increasing electricity access in rural areas.

Challenges Ahead

Key challenges remain for Bolivia’s electrification projects, including long-term sustainability and reaching areas still without power. The World Bank plans to train users on efficient and sustainable electricity use to address sustainability. While millions have already been invested in expanding the grid, difficult geography continues to limit access.

As a result, not all Bolivians are yet connected. However, the government aims for full national coverage by the end of the year. Bolivia is exploring renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to complement these efforts, particularly in rural areas where extending the grid remains economically and logistically difficult.

What’s Next?

The main goal for Bolivia is to expand electricity across the country so 100% of the population can access it. This effort helps a large portion of people living in poverty move out of it. Access to electricity brings better health care, technological advances, economic growth and improved education. Bolivia can serve as a blueprint for other developing nations facing similar challenges.

– Pablo Roque

Pablo is based in McAllen, TX, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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How Partners of the Americas is Fighting Global Poverty

How Partners of the Americas is Fighting Global Poverty Partners of the Americas is bridging gaps in opportunity and access across borders and cultures. This organization has dedicated decades to empowering communities in countries like Bolivia and Mexico through education, economic development and public health initiatives. The organization’s people-to-people partnerships have developed sustainable change for individuals in developing countries. It continues to connect volunteers, experts and funding to fight and promote equality, with various local leaders serving as the driving force behind it all.

About Partners of the Americas

Partners of the Americas is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of volunteers and development officials committed to serving people in developing countries. It was founded in 1964, inspired by the Alliance for Progress initiative launched by the United States (U.S.) President John F. Kennedy. The organization’s reason behind forming partnerships is to “create opportunity, foster understanding and solve real-life problems” for those in need. It has established international offices across the globe to achieve those results, with offices opening in regions like the Caribbean and Central America.

Partners of the Americas Projects

Partners of the Americas performs several initiatives across the globe to help empower communities in developing countries. These initiatives focused on strengthening agricultural productivity and sustainability, empowering people and institutions to create sustainable solutions to meet local needs, promoting education in developing countries and strengthening labor rights abroad to ensure fair competition for workers and businesses.

These initiatives have proved effective, each with success stories in countries across the globe. Examples include the Empowering Women in the Mexican Workplace project, which seeks to improve labor conditions for women in Mexico and the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, which aims to expand opportunities for higher education institutions to launch innovative student exchange and training programs.

The organization also conducts lobbying initiatives, aiming to educate the Members of Congress and the executive branch on its work and impact across the Americas. Partners of the Americas worked with Bridge Consulting in 2024 to achieve this feat and properly educate the Members of Congress and the executive branch.

The Impact

Partners of the Americas has made a notable impact in empowering communities across the globe for nearly six decades. Its wide-reaching programs have supported thousands of individuals in gaining access to education, food security, economic opportunity and fair labor practices, all while centering the voices and leadership of local partners. The organization continues to make an impact worldwide through its 60 chapters established in more than 30 countries. It brings together communities, individuals, organizations and volunteers across borders to serve people in developing countries. 

Getting Involved

Partners of the Americas is actively creating ways for individuals to become involved in its organization. The organization has volunteer opportunities for those who want to get involved, hosting events to engage with their members and stakeholders and even has internship positions for those wanting to make a change in the Americas. With a legacy rooted in service and collaboration, Partners of the Americas remains a beacon of hope for communities striving toward a better future. Its work continues to prove that lasting impact begins with people coming together across borders to create meaningful change.

– Jaden Hartfield

Jaden is based in Charlotte, NC, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Bolivia’s Ineffective Education System Is Failing Its Children

Bolivia’s Ineffective Education SystemIn the heart of South America, Bolivia faces a profound education crisis that threatens its youth’s future and the nation’s economic stability. Despite minimal efforts to reform and invest in education, systemic barriers, poverty and inequality continue to prevent millions of Bolivian children from accessing quality schooling. Only one in seven children completes their education. Additionally, more than a million Bolivians aged 15 and above remain illiterate. Hence, the country is grappling with a cycle of underdevelopment that could deepen if left unaddressed.

The Roots of the Crisis

Bolivia has the lowest GDP per capita in South America, at just $4,000. This economic reality directly impacts education, especially in rural and indigenous communities. Students in rural areas complete an average of only 4.2 years of schooling before dropping out to support their families, compared to 9.4 years in urban areas.

Data from the Bolivian Campaign for the Right to Education (CBDE) shows that most students struggle with basic literacy and comprehension. About 70% of third graders and 80% of sixth graders cannot interpret or reflect on written texts. Math and science performance is similarly low, with most students scoring at the lowest levels and unable to apply fundamental concepts.

Data from the World Bank shows that over time, Bolivian children are not completing secondary education courses, while fewer and fewer students enroll in primary education. Bolivia’s ineffective education system fails to equip students with even the most basic skills, leaving them unprepared for higher education and the workforce.

The country’s education system also suffers from a mismatch between what students learn and what the labor market demands. This makes it one of the significant catalysts for an ever-growing wealth disparity. Many graduates find themselves ill-equipped for Bolivia’s dominant agriculture, mining and construction industries, which favor hands-on experience over formal education.

Poverty and Education: A Repeating Cycle

The lack of education in Bolivia is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. Children who leave school early often enter informal labor markets with little opportunity for upward mobility. This keeps a cycle going where families stay trapped in poverty, unable to invest in their children’s futures and it continues for generations. Similar patterns are seen in other countries facing economic struggles.

Several studies have found a strong correlation between education and poverty reduction. Higher levels of education significantly decrease the probability of being impoverished and reduce income inequality. Yet, Bolivia’s ineffective education system fails to deliver these benefits to its vulnerable populations.

Government Efforts and Community Initiatives

Bolivia has tried to make notable efforts to reform its education system. The 1994 education reform aimed to decentralize funding, improve teacher training and expand intercultural bilingual education. These reforms were designed to address the diverse needs of Bolivia’s population, especially in rural and indigenous areas. While efforts to mainstream Indigenous languages in education and reform teaching methods yielded encouraging results, other challenges hinder broader school progress.

In 2010, the Bolivian government enacted the Avelino Siñani–Elizardo Pérez Education Law. This law redefined the country’s educational framework by establishing an educational system rooted in cultural diversity, social inclusion and lifelong learning principles. Rather than using the term “lifelong learning,” the law emphasizes “alternative education,” which serves youth and adults seeking to continue their studies outside the conventional educational system given to them.

The law also promotes education as a fundamental human right and an integration into intercultural and multilingual approaches to strengthen social cohesion, especially among indigenous communities. The holistic approach aimed to democratize access to education and align learning with Bolivia’s social and cultural realities.

Organizations like CHOICE Humanitarian have also taken action to fill gaps. CHOICE Humanitarian has built schools with solar panels, internet access and ecological classrooms that double as greenhouses, providing education and nutrition to students in remote areas. Despite these efforts, Bolivia’s ineffective education system struggles with implementation, consistency and scalability, especially in underserved regions.

The Path Forward

Bolivia’s ineffective education system is complex, rooted in historical inequalities and economic hardship. Yet, the country can pave the way for a brighter future with sustained investment, community involvement and policy reform. In this future, every child can learn, grow and contribute to a prosperous Bolivia.

– Dylan Fly

Dylan is based in Detroit, MI, USA and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Chagas Disease in Bolivia: A Public Health Crisis in Rural Areas

Chagas Disease in Bolivia: A Public Health Crisis in Rural Areas Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America, bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south and Chile and Peru to the west. With a population of more than 12 million people, Bolivia is one of the most culturally diverse nations on the continent, home to numerous Indigenous groups. Politically, it is a presidential republic and around 78% of its population identifies as Roman Catholic. Despite progress in democratization and economic development, Bolivia still grapples with poverty, limited access to health care in rural areas and stark regional inequalities.

When it comes to public health, Bolivia faces a unique and often overlooked challenge: Chagas disease. Caused by a parasite transmitted by blood-sucking insects, this tropical disease has quietly affected hundreds of thousands, particularly in impoverished, rural communities. Bolivia has one of the highest rates of Chagas infection in the world, making it both a public health burden and a social justice issue. This article explores the reality of Chagas disease in Bolivia and the ongoing efforts to fight it.

Chagas Disease in Bolivia

Chagas disease in Bolivia, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, continues to pose a serious public health challenge across Latin America and Bolivia remains one of the most affected countries. The disease is widespread across Bolivia, with seven out of the country’s nine departments considered endemic, regardless of altitude. Although major international health efforts, especially those targeting insect vectors and the safety of blood transfusions, have led to a significant decline in infection rates over the past two decades, the burden is still considerable.

By 2005, Bolivia reported around 620,000 cases of infection, down from more than a million in the mid-1980s. Before large-scale control efforts began in 2000, infection rates in Bolivia were alarmingly high, with 90% of adults infected. In 2025, approximately 80% of Bolivian territory is considered endemic. Despite progress, health authorities still diagnose more than 10,000 new cases each year.

The Knowledge of Citizens

People living in rural parts of Bolivia are much more familiar with the insect that spreads Chagas disease. In many rural communities, more than 80% of people could easily recognize the vinchuca, a blood-sucking bug responsible for spreading the parasite. In contrast, only about half of the residents in cities like La Paz and around two-thirds in Santa Cruz were able to identify it correctly. Many rural communities know when it’s most active—often during hot and dry weather—and describe how it enters homes from nearby forests or hides near animal shelters. Locals also talk about its nighttime activity and blood-feeding habits. Interestingly, some communities have noticed a decline in the number of vinchucas in recent years, though the threat is still very real.

Fighting the Illness

Since 2015, Médecins Sans Frontières has been working with Bolivia’s Ministry of Health to improve care for Chagas disease, especially in remote rural areas. One of its most innovative efforts is eMOCHA, a mobile system that allows people to report sightings of triatomine bugs (vinchucas) via free SMS messages. The system uses GPS technology to send technicians directly to affected homes for fumigation and follow-up. Previously, this process could take up to a month—now it happens within days. The pilot project in Narciso Campero Province has shown promising results and may be expanded nationwide or adapted for tracking other diseases.

MSF has also provided training to rural health centers, donated medical supplies like electrocardiography devices and rapid tests and helped treat hundreds of Chagas patients in areas like Monteagudo. Its model suggests that it’s possible to deliver diagnosis and treatment at the primary care level—even in Bolivia’s most remote communities. MSF is now working on a comprehensive manual, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, to help scale the program to other endemic regions.

Looking Ahead

While often overlooked, Chagas disease remains a daily reality for many Bolivians—especially those in rural areas. With the impact of community knowledge, international support and smart technology, progress is underway. However, the road to full disease control remains long and sustained investment is essential.

– Julia Skowrońska

Julia is based in Wrocław, Poland and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Intercultural Education in Bolivia Can Help Alleviate Poverty

intercultural Education in BoliviaThere are 36 officially recognized Indigenous peoples in Bolivia, and according to a 2021 national survey, 41% of Bolivians over the age of 15 identify as Indigenous. Despite Bolivia establishing relative economic stability since the COVID-19 pandemic, native rural communities are still disproportionately affected by deprivation, with a poverty rate 20% higher than that of urban areas, as well as struggles with underrepresentation and exclusion from services. Cycles of poverty within Indigenous communities can often happen due to educational inequalities since there is not enough access to native language instruction.

Intercultural education recognizes cultural and linguistic diversity, as well as ensures all learners have the right to communicate in their native language. Thanks to various strategies, legal reforms and programs, the implementation of intercultural education in Bolivia helped improve outcomes, preserve identities and promote inclusion among rural communities.

Bolivia: A Plurinational Nation

Bolivia’s 2009 constitution declared the country a plurinational state and officially recognized 36 Indigenous languages. This signalled a step forward in the decolonization of Bolivia, as the document also guaranteed rights to “autonomy, self-government, their culture and recognition of their institutions” for Indigenous populations. The constitution also emphasises education in Bolivia as universal, intercultural and free in Article 17.

Following the 2009 constitution and its emphasis on education, the government introduced Law 070 in 2010 to promote multilingual, intracultural and intercultural education in Bolivia. This meant that a multilingual model replaced the bilingual model, so English, Spanish and an Indigenous language became part of the national curriculum.

However, the implementation of complete intercultural education in Bolivia poses a network of challenges. Some of these challenges include insufficient time allocated to native languages, a lack of native-speaking teachers and an inadequate understanding of socio-cultural and regional contexts.

Improving Educational Outcomes

In addition to constitutional and legal reforms, various organizations are working to improve opportunities for Indigenous peoples through multilingual and intercultural education in Bolivia. The Programa Amazónico de Educación Intercultural Bilingüe (PAEIB) has been promoting an intercultural bilingual approach to education in the Amazon and lowland region since 2006. PAEIB provides scholarships and supplies materials to primary schools across Indigenous regions, including dictionaries, learning units, songbooks and teaching guides. Not only does this supply of materials ensure that schools have the necessary equipment to teach native languages, but it also adapts and complements the curriculum towards Indigenous cultures.

Similarly, Fe y Alegría Bolivia promotes quality education for excluded populations. Fe y Alegría manages 398 educational centres across Bolivia (including specialised services for children with learning and hearing disabilities), benefiting 173,518 students and employing 9,384 teachers and administrators. The education centres focus on relevant and contextualised learning by adopting a learning model based on the knowledge and practices of rural Indigenous communities, meaning that the curriculum responds to the socio-cultural contexts of its students and helps to preserve their cultural identities.

Preserving Cultural Identities

With around 30 indigenous languages in danger of extinction, Bilingual Nests is preserving the identities of marginalized groups by revitalizing native languages nationwide. The program has been working since 2014 to prevent language extinction and impacted 2,314 children in 2021.

Bilingual Nests targets children under the age of four to maximise acquisition and adapt their approach depending on whether or not a child’s relatives or caregivers are native speakers. If they are, daily communication and instructions using the native language are encouraged, as well as family and community meetups, in order for the child to naturally build a linguistic foundation. If neither a primary caregiver nor a grandparent can oversee language transition, childcare facilities primarily use Indigenous languages during instructions and activities.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Bilingual Nests recognized inequalities regarding internet access and remote learning across Indigenous communities in Bolivia and subsequently developed both print and digital materials to continue running the program in rural communities. With the help of funding from UNICEF, Bilingual Nests hopes to continue expanding its strategies into more rural areas where native languages are at risk of extinction.

Funding and prioritization of native languages in the national curriculum are crucial in order for the 2009 Constitution’s promises of intercultural education in Bolivia to materialize.

– Clodagh Dowson

Clodagh is based in Wiltshire, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr