ICDF Quarterly Report (April – June 2011) ACDI/VOCA Bolivia

Of these, 409 projects fell under the community development component, while 279 projects fell under the economic development component. At the end of the quarter, 28 projects were in the design phase or under procurement, and 56 were in the implementation phase. To date, 604 subaward projects had been completed. During the reporting period, 16 community development projects were concluded in the areas of community infrastructure, sanitation, education, and institutional strengthening. Notable projects included the construction of Cotapata's main plaza in the Municipality of La Asunta and the El Paraiso sewage system in the Municipality of Irupana. The El Paraiso sewage system consisted of a network with 189 household connections and an anaerobic wastewater treatment plant, benefiting approximately 300 families with access to basic sanitation. The completion of these projects was marked by official inaugurations, attended by local and national leaders, as well as representatives from USAID. In April, Cotapata's main plaza and El Paraiso's sewage system were handed over to their respective communities during two such events. In the first week of June, an additional event was held for the official handover of the La Cascada teacher housing complex, attended by Vice Minister Germán Loza, Felipe Cáceres, Vice Minister of Social Defense, and USAID/Bolivia director Wayne Nilsestuen. Within the economic development portfolio, a total of eight productive projects in six different agronomy sectors were brought to a close. These projects were carried out in the Municipality of La Asunta, with the exception of the poultry project, which was also carried out in the municipalities of Yanacachi, Palos Blancos, and Alto Beni. Notable initiatives included those related to coffee, stevia, and plantain production, as well as projects to stimulate the horticulture, apiculture, and poultry sectors. These activities raised the income of more than 650 families in over 40 communities within the Municipality of La Asunta. In addition to concluding 24 subaward activities, the ICDF made progress toward the conclusion of several other projects. Notably, headway was made on infrastructure, sanitation, potable water, and health projects within the community development component. Construction continued on the potable water systems of San Miguel de Huachi and Alto Remolinos in the Municipality of Palos Blancos. Both communities took measures to protect their watersheds by purchasing significant portions of the land surrounding the water source intakes and turning them into protected areas. The ICDF also continued implementation of one of its activities within the health subcomponent, the construction of ecological "Malena" stoves, in the municipalities of La Asunta and Palos Blancos. The objective of the Malena stove project is to improve the health of more than 2,000 families across the municipalities of La Asunta, Palos Blancos, and Alto Beni by providing them with a kitchen environment free of smoke-related toxins.