Organization: Fundación SODIS, with SDC, the Carl Hirschmann Foundation, the Opel Foundation and the Solaqua Foundation

Bolivia is among the poorest countries in Latin America. Four out of 10 Bolivians live in extreme poverty. This means there is often no access to basic drinking water supply and basic sanitation facilities. This and the existing hygiene practices means a high risk of water-borne diseases and high mortality rates. Respiratory illnesses, mainly pneumonia, diarrhea and malnutrition or a combination of these cause 7 out of 10 deaths of Bolivian children.

In Cochabamba, in some municipalities such as Arque, Tacopaya, Bolívar and Sacabamba the under-five mortality rate is higher than the national average. Women are hit especially hard with water-related problems such as scarcity, pollution and the increasing needs of households and the community.

The poverty and marginalization of women is linked with their lack of training and empowerment. This is a barrier to expressing their problems and expectations in water, sanitation and hygiene services.

The objective of the Project was to increase access to safe water, improve hygiene and sanitation in the municipalities of Arque, Tacopaya, Bolivar and Sacabamba, in Cochabamba, through the participation and empowerment of the community. This with a gender and rights approach to ensure a change in three key hygiene practices handwashing with water and soap, consumption of safe water (treatment, management, and house storage), and adequate disposal of excreta and use of existing services in the four municipalities.

Keywords: access to water, empowering communities, gender and water, participation, sanitation, water and health.

Location: Bolivia, Latin America and the Caribbean

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