Socio-economic investigation in Achocalla

LOCATION: 31 villages in the municipality of Achocalla
PROJECT PERIOD: July - December 2007
DESCRIPTION: A participative investigation in the rural communities of Achocalla, with the objective to identify the needs and potentials in these communities and the design of demand-driven projects.

The 1st of July started the big-scale investigation of Chakana in the region of Achocalla. This region is situated between 3.400 and 4.000 meters next to the cities of El Alto and La Paz. The population has little economic means to survive and is mainly depending on agriculture and low-paid jobs in the city.

Because of the nearby city, there is a potential market for products made in Achocalla. Nevertheless, economic development is difficult because of a lack of means to invest and a lack of knowledge about entrepreneurship and better agricultural methods.

Chakana is already working in this area with irrigation and textile projects. Several villages have announced their hope to execute some bigger projects to fuel the local economy.

Motivated by this demand, Chakana formed an investigation team to execute a socio-economic analysis en 31 villages of the region. This analysis helps to identify projects: it tells about existing livelihood strategies, income-generating activities, the market demands in the city and therefore about the possibilities to give an impulse to the economy. The investigation provides us with project ideas with potential to improve the life situation of the indigenous population. These projects can consist of irrigation canals, tourism, micro-credits, handicraft centres or greenhouses.

The investigation team is international, consisting of two Dutchmen, a Spanish and two Bolivians. All have experience in doing field work in Latin America:
- Alex van der Meer (Spanish), expert in forestry. Investigation coördinator.
- Eefje Derix (Dutch), development expert
- Remco van der Stap (Dutch), commercial economist / development expert
- Pedro Mamani (Bolivia), agropecuarian tecnical
- Leiddy Marquez Saavedra (Bolivia), social worker
- Miguel Seláez Aspiazu (Bolivia), veterinary

Result

The report: Diagnóstico Achocalla (in Spanish)


FUNDING: Chakana