Bolivian democracy, education, culture and productive sector on the CAF agenda

The Andean Development Corporation signed four agreements with different institutions to stimulate a series of programs ranging from support for democracy, to the strengthening of the productive sector, including music education and support for new artistic expressions.

CAF Executive President Enrique García said that this set of operations was a privileged expression of a wide range of activities that the CAF was supporting in the Andean countries to strengthen democracy, national self-esteem, new initiatives that emerge in the productive sector, and stimulate human development.

He added that development was not only new roads and more factories, but also creating the conditions in which human beings could improve their standard of living, which essentially means eliminating poverty, improving the distribution of resources, working for wider access to health and education services; as well as creating mechanisms and spaces for citizen participation.

The agreement signed relates to the strengthening of the Bolivian democratic system, training human capital, the projection of a positive image of Bolivia, and a series of actions to set up the first company incubator in the country.

The first agreement, signed with the president of the Bolivian Foundation for Multi-Party Democracy, Guido Riveros, stimulates a process of reflection on the role of political parties and their contribution to the development and strengthening of democratic forms. The results will strengthen party institutions and contribute to the governance of the country.

The second agreement, signed with the executive director of the Arca-Irca Foundation Eduardo Arauco, continues the Music Initiation Program (PIM) using native instruments implemented with the Ministry of Education and the La Paz City Government. In the framework of this program, native instrument orchestras have been formed and it is planned to develop new workshops in barrios to expand the number of beneficiaries to 5,000 children and adolescents over five years. Teacher training workshops were also held to gradually transform the PIM into a content of the Education Reform, for eventual inclusion in the official school curriculum. The musical initiation practices allow the expression of musical ability, stimulate the development of abstract thought, and develop social belonging as a contribution to the training of human capital.

The third agreement, signed with Prisma Comunicaciones, promotes the Enterprising Ideas Competition with a view to starting a company incubator in La Paz department and creating a National Pre-Incubation System to strengthen the initiatives for the creation of companies. The agreement promotes the development of the Bolivian productive sector. Some 3,000 people participated in the Enterprising Ideas Competition, entering about 2,000 ideas, qualifying a total of 55 projects for the second stage. With CAF backing, training will be given to university teachers on preparation of business plans, and to professionals on the evaluation of ideas and business plans. This effort will prepare and strengthen the pre-incubation network for new companies in Bolivia.

The fourth agreement, signed with the promoters of the Amalgama Music Project, is conceived to create a new musical tendency in an effort to show that the harmonic co-existence of different cultural expressions is possible. Amalgama is the merger of two music groups: Coral Nova and Parafonista. Amalgama’s musical program mixes a beautiful choral repertoire with the enchanting notes of instrumental chamber music. An inspiring idea that expresses songs of optimism, hope and national conciliation after the social conflicts experienced by the Bolivian people.