IICD supported project: Information System on Public Investment for Small Producers in Agriculture

Countries: Bolivia [BO]
Sectors: governance

Summary

The office for coordination of the integration of farmer organisations in Bolivia (CIOEC) aims to strengthen the position of farmer organisations by means of institutional support, support in the production and marketing and lobby activities towards the government. The project is to enhance the support to the organisations in terms of access to public funds for productive investment. Organisations are provided with information on the funding opportunities, guides in the submission process and will lobby to overcome obstacles in the submission process. For this an electronic information (database) system in CIOEC is developed and the communication (e-mail) system between CIOEC and organisations is improved. Both CIOEC and organisations are trained in basic ICT skills and in the related information processes. Initially the project will work with 34 farmer organisations out of the 300 affiliated organisations around Bolivia, which can be expanded over time if successful.

Update

Updated: 2006-01-18

The project has until now strengthened 16 information centres reaching a total 145 representatives of 55 farmer organisations. Several organisations have effectively participated and won tenders for the delivery of various products to municipal governments and exporters. At the lobbying level, CIOEC has been able to pass law that favours buying national products over foreign products, increasing the competitiveness of their affiliated Organisations.

Objectives

This project empowers farmer organisations by means of informing and lobbying on public investment funds available for small producers. Farmer organisations will have increased access in rural areas to public funds by means of improving access to public investment funds.

Planned outputs

· Development database on public funds
· Development website
· Integration database with website
· Strengthening ICT facilities at CIOEC
· Strengthening ICT in participating farmer organisations
· Training CIOEC
· Training participating farmer organisations - Information Services
· Inform farmer organisations on public investment programs
· Monitoring of process of access to public investment programs
· Description of experiences
· Evaluation of opportunities and problems limiting access to public funds
· Distribution de bulletins
· Lobbying for access to public funds

Development Impacts

The project is highly innovative in terms of the type of info services provided and may have a considerable impact on empowerment and access to public funds by small farmers. Will provide an interesting example of a governance project. The project owner plays an important political role in Bolivia and has strong support of the affiliated farmer organisations. The main risk is found in the weak institutional capacity of the project owner and limited possibilities of finding financial sustainability. It is expected that the project can help the project owner to enhance its institutional capacity and to bring a clearer focus in the service package offered to affiliated organisations.

Project Owner : CIOEC-Bolivia (Coordinadora de Integracion de Organizaciones Economicas Campesinas de Bolivia)

Project Contact : IICD