Bolivia

Our impact

Context

Since 1987, Socodevi has been supporting the economic, social, and environmental development of rural — particularly Indigenous — communities in Bolivia. Over time, interventions have evolved from multisectoral approaches (health, water, hygiene, nutrition) toward the structuring of inclusive and sustainable value chains (spices, tara, llama meat), while systematically integrating gender equality, local governance, and climate change adaptation.

Before Socodevi’s interventions, rural families faced very low incomes, weak collective organization, limited access to markets and public services, and high climatic and social vulnerability.

Objectives and expected results

  • Sustainably increase rural families’ incomes and resilience.
  • Structure and consolidate competitive and inclusive value chains.
  • Strengthen women’s economic empowerment and youth inclusion.
  • Improve the governance and performance of co-operative and associative organizations.
  • Support climate change adaptation and sustainable natural resource management.
  • Strengthen a business environment and local public policies conducive to inclusive development.

Sectors of activity

  • Co-operative development and associative enterprises
  • Agri-food and agro-industrial value chains (tara, spices, llama meat)
  • Governance, organizational development, and market access
  • Health, drinking water, hygiene, and nutrition
  • Gender equality and women’s economic empowerment
  • Climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration
  • Local public policies and territorial governance

Results and impacts

Tara – Green value chain and climate resilience

  • More than 6,600 family enterprises have been engaged since PROMAVI and SAYARIY, with over 400,000 tara trees planted.
  • Family incomes have been multiplied by more than six, a processing plant (5,000 t/year) has been built, and a social enterprise (BOLTRADE SRL) as well as a national producers’ association (ANAPROD) have been created and strengthened.
  • Today, 50% of decision-making positions within ANAPROD and BOLTRADE are held by women, and 30 municipalities integrate climate adaptation and gender equality into their public policies.

Spices – Regional economic growth

  • In the departments of Potosí, Chuquisaca, and Cochabamba, 3,000 families significantly increased their incomes through the structuring of the spices value chain.
  • 446 hectares were planted, 662 tonnes of oregano were exported over 12 months, and the operator UNEC was consolidated with annual revenues exceeding CAD 3.3 million.
  • Women’s economic capacities improved substantially: 96% of women producers now master basic accounting skills.

Llama meat – Inclusive local development

  • In four municipalities of Potosí, 350 families were supported to structure the llama meat value chain (production, processing, marketing).
  • The project strengthened local governance, sustainable pasture management, and the economic participation of women and youth in a context of remoteness and high climate vulnerability.

Multisectoral approaches – Health, water, and dignity

  • Through multisectoral projects, more than 60% of supported families adopted drinking water treatment systems.
  • Thousands of people were trained in hygiene, nutrition, community health, and rights, contributing to sustainable improvements in living conditions.

Testimonials

The Family Enterprise (FE) of Elva Nina and Santiago Salazar, members of the Local Committee of Tara Producers (CLPT) of Chapini in the municipality of Anzaldo (Cochabamba), began planting 200 tara trees in 2022, seeing this productive alternative as an opportunity to strengthen their family economy and generate income.

 

From the beginning of the process, the family stood out for their active participation and commitment within the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and the activities promoted by the project. Mrs. Elva, in addition to being involved in tara production management, took on a leadership role as a delegate within her CLPT, encouraging the participation of other families and sharing her experience regarding the benefits of tara.

 

“Our tara trees are producing a lot. I have already sold three harvests and, with that income, I am supporting my children’s education and have also been able to buy food for my family. Tara production is very good and has a reliable market. I would like to continue planting more and improving my production so that I do not have to migrate elsewhere and can continue living here with my family.”

  • FE Elva Nina and Santiago Salazar
    CLPT Chapini – Municipality of Anzaldo

The Family Enterprise (FE) of Juana Velasco and Claudio Puma, from the CLPT La Piedra in the municipality of Samaipata (Santa Cruz), began cultivating tara in 2024 with 50 trees, motivated by the desire to find new alternatives to improve their household economy and by their entrepreneurial vision.

 

Thanks to the technical support and training cycles provided by Socodevi through the SAYARIY project, they have now increased their production to 350 tara trees, consolidating this crop as an opportunity to generate income and build a better future for their three daughters. Mrs. Juana also participated in the second edition of the Leadership and Business Management School, where she strengthened her leadership and participation skills within her CLPT.

 

“At first, we were curious and decided as a family to plant 50 trees because no one knew this plant. Now that we know tara works, we see it as a good alternative for generating extra income for our livelihood. It is also work that the whole family can do, from the oldest to the youngest. In rural areas, we live from what we produce, and now we are placing our hopes in tara.”

  • FE Juana Velasco and Claudio Puma
    CLPT La Piedra – Municipality of Samaipata

Projects in Bolivia

SAYARIY

SAYARIY means, in Quechua: to rise with strength and energy to consolidate our work and reach our dreams. This initiative builds on the efforts of the PROMAVI initiative in Bolivia (2017–2022) to consolidate inclusive development of the tara value chain. Tara is a shrub whose pod is used, among other things, for leather tanning and […]
  • Funded by:
    Global Affairs Canada
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Partners

Funders and co-financiers

  • Global Affairs Canada
  • MRECD (Canada)
  • Pan American Silver Bolivia

Key partners and organizations

  • ANAPROD
  • BOLTRADE SRL
  • UNEC
  • AGROCENTRAL
  • CCISD
  • Autonomous Municipal Governments (GAM)
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Contact

Bolivia Office
Calle 13 No 8142 Calacoto
Zona Sur, La Paz
(+591) 2211-3906

Countries where we operate

Peru

In Peru, Socodevi works in territories where rural families face multiple challenges: economic vulnerability, limited access to markets and services, persistent gender inequalities, climate and environmental pressures, and—in some regions—socio-economic impacts linked to extractive activities. In this context, our interventions aim to strengthen the capacity of families and collective organizations to build sustainable and competitive […]

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Honduras

Since 2003, Socodevi has been supporting the strengthening of the co-operative movement, sustainable forest management, and inclusive economic development in Honduras. Over time, interventions have evolved toward agroforestry, financial inclusion, and the economic empowerment of women and youth, particularly in the coffee and honey value chains. The projects implemented have improved the governance and performance […]

  • Funded by:
    Global Affairs Canada
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Colombia

In Colombia, Socodevi has been supporting for more than a decade the professionalization of rural economic organizations, the upgrading of the cocoa value chain, and the strengthening of agricultural and financial services, with a consistent focus on gender equality and the inclusion of Indigenous peoples. Our interventions cover the entire value chain—from inputs and production […]

  • Funded by:
    Global Affairs Canada
Learn more