Civic Engagement Alliance (CEA) in Bolivia

The change sought is the recognition and productive empowerment of indigenous organizations in the Bolivian Chaco, as platforms to ensure the full exercise of their rights (economic, social, cultural, territorial and environmental).

In the Chaco, problems of access to land and unsustainable management of natural resources are evident. In addition, indigenous people have little use of their land, weak political participation, often lack knowledge/techniques to optimize their resources, and live in very adverse conditions (lack of water, lack of basic services, supplies and inadequate tools). All of the above causes low volumes of food as weak public policy exacerbates their vulnerability. This also generates prejudice in urban society about indigenous culture and economy.

In recent years, agricultural and livestock initiatives have reached a higher degree of importance and dedication within indigenous families, and it has become evident that the recovery of land per se is not enough, so sustainable management is required to ensure welfare.

Indigenous people seek to ensure diversified ecological management and subsistence production to a lesser extent of small indigenous producers families that strive to produce, add value to their products and transform them to market products.

Indigenous people and small farmers of the Chaco are often forgotten by public policies in Bolivia and Paraguay. Therefore, government institutions and public policy measures are absent or inaccessible. Access to basic rights such as life, land, culture, language, food and water are also limited.