Overview

Water management poses a critical development challenge in Bolivia, as highlighted by the 2017 water supply crisis in La Paz and by widespread flooding in Cochabamba in 2018. Limited access to safely managed sanitation services is also a major challenge in Bolivia, where only half the population had access to basic sanitation in 2015, and less than 15% of wastewater received any treatment. Bolivia, however, is well positioned to respond positively to these challenges because of the existence of a progressive and proactive Ministry of the Environment and Water (MMAyA for its Spanish initials).

The Bolivia WATCH program – or the WASH Thinking Connected to Hydrology program – supports ongoing efforts by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) to both promote innovative Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) solutions and implementation of Bolivia’s National Watershed Plan.

Over three years, SEI will coordinate these two lines of collaboration with MMAyA and work in strong and sustained partnership with other important organizations in Bolivia.

A misty morning in the Bolivian capital La Paz, surrounded by Andean mountains. Photo: Harri Jarvelainen Photography / Getty Images .