In 2008, Caritas Bolivia celebrated 50 years of service to the poor. Through 17 social-pastoral organisations in the nine departments of the country, it works in:

• Education;
• Capacity-building;
• Financial administration;
• Justice and peace;
• Advocacy for the poor and disadvantaged;
• Social and community development;
• Community health;
• Emergency and humanitarian assistance.

Bolivia is the poorest country in South America and has the most unequal wealth distribution in Latin America. Poverty is highest in rural areas, where 82 percent of the population live below the poverty line. Half of Bolivia’s poor live in cities such as La Paz and Santa Cruz.

Programmes

The work of Caritas Bolivia includes programmes that address:

• Emergencies – Bolivia is particularly vulnerable to floods, droughts and landslides. Caritas Bolivia focuses on the needs of women, children, the elderly and marginalised groups;
• Land – Caritas Bolivia helps rural people to defend their rights to land and promotes agricultural reform, workers’ rights, sustainable access to natural resources, women’s rights to land and participation in the design of rural development policies;
• Water – 15 percent of Bolivia’s population has no reliable access to water. Caritas Bolivia campaigns for equitable access to water for drinking, sanitation and agriculture;
• Micro enterprises – Caritas supports micro-enterprises for women and low-income families, promotes the production of food, textiles, leather and clothing and encourages business leadership training and the preservation of traditional crafts;
• Fair trade – Caritas Bolivia promotes the development of fair trade and economic solidarity, campaigning for transparency, fair prices, gender equality, good working conditions and environmental conservation.