Technical capacity of environmental inspectors in Bolivia strengthened

(La Paz, June 20, 2011) .- As part of its Environmental Strategy and to strengthen the institutions and actors with responsibility in this area, CAF - Latin American development bank – granted non-reimbursable funds to the Ministry of Environment and Water (MMAYA) for implementation of Technical Capacity Building workshops for environment inspectors as part of their Regular Training Program.

The program, which consists of a series of courses, is designed to improve the technical knowledge and skills of the staff of national and departmental environmental authorities, local governments in various regions of the country, state institutions and sectoral agencies responsible for the environment, as well as members of social organizations, native indigenous peoples and campesino communities involved in control, monitoring and oversight of infrastructure activities, works and projects.

"CAF is committed, in an ongoing and coordinated effort with its partner countries, to preserving natural capital and the environment as the support and basic source of their development. In this respect, non-reimbursable funds were approved for training and dissemination of best practices as a contribution to monitoring projects funded by the institution," CAF director representative in Bolivia Emilio Uquillas said.

The first phase of the program was implemented in April with a workshop course held in La Paz department, with the participation of 45 technicians and others who work in the environmental area in national, departmental and municipal bodies. Over the next few months, similar courses will be held in Cochabamba (second phase) and Santa Cruz (third stage) departments, training a total of approximately 120 people.

The 40-hour training course is given by teachers from San Pablo Catholic University and national and international experts, who provide sound knowledge of procedures and use of instruments for inspection, evaluation and supervision of works with environmental impact in the framework of sectoral legislation.

The activity will also improve skills in the use of equipment and tools in industrial safety, risk management and training methodologies (to replicate the content) in the areas of Mining, Hydrocarbons, Transport, Telecommunications, Industry and Energy.

The initiative came about after identifying opportunities to improve the institutions responsible for enforcing environmental legislation at administrative and judicial level; the shortage of environmental technicians and inspectors with experience of procedures and use of instruments for inspection of activities with environmental impact; obsolete or non-existent manuals and procedures for inspection, control and surveillance; and the lack of a budget for training professionals as inspectors of projects with social and environmental impact.

The CAF Environmental Strategy aims to permanently create and improve the frameworks, spaces and processes which guarantee responsible environmental and social action, and to support shareholder countries with conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, introducing criteria and principles of long term sustainability.