HELVETAS Bolivia and the regional project Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático played a crucial role in updating Bolivia’s Plurinational Climate Change Policy (Política Plurinacional de Cambio Climático, PPCC).  This policy, whose previous version covered the period from 2016 to 2020, has been extended until 2025. 

In a highly significant event, the Minister of Environment and Water, Rubén Méndez Estrada, presented Ministerial Resolution (RM) No. 369/2023 on August 11th. This resolution approves the updated document of the PLURINATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY (PPCC), a roadmap aimed at addressing the climate crisis in all areas of the State. This version of the policy is characterized by four strategic pillars, including actions related to adaptation mechanisms, promoting climate resilience, and a gender perspective as part of the PPCC’s development guidelines.

This update aims to promote mitigation, adaptation, and resilience actions, as well as strategies to respond to the impacts, damages, and losses resulting from this issue within the framework of integral development for “Living Well” in harmony with Mother Earth. The RM establishes that the Plurinational Authority of Mother Earth (Autoridad Plurinacional de la Madre Tierra, APMT) assumes leadership in its implementation and enforcement.

During his address, Minister Méndez expressed his concerns about the challenges posed by the climate crisis, with an emphasis on the water crisis and food insecurity. He also called for reflection and responsible action, urging an end to deforestation and practices that exacerbate this situation.

The PPCC updating process involved not only governmental bodies but also key stakeholders in society. In this context, HELVETAS Bolivia, with support from the Global Climate, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Environment Section of the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) in the Embassy of Switzerland in Bolivia, and in coordination with the Directorate of the Adaptation Mechanism of the Plurinational Authority of Mother Earth (APMT) led by Germán Quispe, developed different programs presented at the event.

Among the programs presented are the Resilience of Livelihood Systems for Food Security with Sovereignty (Resiliencia de Sistemas de Vida para la Seguridad Alimentaria con Soberanía) program, and the Prevention and Reduction of Risks due to the Impact of Climate Change (Prevención y Reducción de Riesgos por impacto del cambio climático), both supported in their development by Andes Resilientes. The Integrated Water Management program (Gestión Integral del Agua), supported by the Integrated Water Management project (Gestión integral del Agua, GIA) project, is also included. These programs will be implemented within the framework of Supreme Decree 1696/2013.

“I want to thank our partners at UNICEF and Helvetas because it hasn’t been easy. We conducted a diagnosis, had to systematize, and then we had to write and socialize the plan until completion,”

Germán Quispe, from the Plurinational Authority of Mother Earth

Additionally, the Andes Resilientes project contributed to the policy development in two ways:

• In 2022, a participatory process was carried out that culminated in the inclusion of gender guidelines in the PPCC. Over 200 women representatives from producer organizations provided valuable perspectives during the “Building Paths for Life: Women Facing Climate Change (Construyendo caminos para la vida. Mujeres frente al cambio climático)” meeting.  This process, promoted by Swiss Cooperation, COSUDE, reflects the importance of addressing climate change from an inclusive perspective.
• It ensured that the policy update was based on a rigorous analysis of coherence and consistency with other key international framework documents, such as the Paris Agreement, and the implications of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

You can learn more about the work and support provided by the Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático regional project to Bolivia’s Plurinational Climate Change Policy on the Andes Resilientes website. Please click on the image.

The announcement of the new Plurinational Climate Change Policy not only demonstrates Bolivia’s determination to tackle climate change but also its commitment to safeguard ancestral values and Mother Earth. The presentation, held in La Paz and attended by the Minister of Environment and Water, Rubén Mendez, the Vice Minister of Environment and Biodiversity, Magín Herrera, the Executive Director of the APMT, Angélica Ponce, and indigenous leaders, peasants, and social organizations from across the country, marks a solid step toward a future of resilience and harmony.

Information extracted from the Minister of Environment and Water (MMAyA) and Helvetas Bolivia website. 

Source: Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático / Autoridad Plurinacional de la Madre Tierra

The Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático project, led by the HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation-Fundación Avina consortium and implemented by Swiss Cooperation SDC, supports the Plurinational Authority of Mother Earth (APMT), an entity of the Ministry of Environment and Water (MMAyA) in Bolivia.  The support aims to integrate adaptation needs to climate change among vulnerable rural populations into policies, regional plans, and the work plans of thematic technical groups with competencies in rural areas.

Further Information:
Regional Project Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático Brochure (Span)
Brochure Bolivia – Regional Project Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático (Span)
Fact Sheet Bolivia – Regional Project Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático (Span)

Fact Sheet Regional Project Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático
Facebook Regional Project Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático
Andes Resilientes al Cambio Climático Regional Project Website