VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0282/01 0421814
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111813Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0663
INFO RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000282 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPARTMENT FOR S/GWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KPAO PHUM BL KWMN
SUBJECT: S/GWI Project Proposal - Bolivia 
 
Embassy La Paz welcomes the Secretary's Office of Global Women's 
Issues' first small grants initiative and is pleased to submit two 
strong proposals in response. 
 
 
 
Our higher-priority proposal - Legal Reform: Strengthening Women's 
Rights in the Bolivian National Police Force - will address 
discrimination against female police officers in the Bolivian 
National Police (BNP).   In a recent study a staggering 76% of 
female Bolivian officers indicated that they have been victims of 
sexual abuse by fellow officers in the work place.  The Government 
of Bolivia has asked for our support to address this problem within 
the national police force, and Bolivian society as a whole.  This 
project will allow us to initiate a national training program for 
all BNP officers regarding equal employment issues within the 
police force and begin an initiative to write new legislation 
insuring equal employment rights for all women in the Bolivian work 
force.  The project will be managed by the Narcotics Affairs 
Section. 
 
 
 
Our second proposal - Reducing Gender-Based Violence in Indigenous 
Areas - will bring together community members, municipal 
authorities and other key actors to examine how gender-based 
violence (GBV) impacts indigenous communities socially, spiritually 
and economically and to then implement action plans to reduce such 
violence.  Working with an established Non-Governmental 
Organization, the program will advocate with authorities in the 
education, justice, health, and police sectors, since they are 
responsible for the implementation of relevant norms and laws 
related to preventing GBV, but often don't act due to lack of 
awareness of how the problem affects their communities.  The 
project will be managed by USAID. 
 
 
 
We would welcome any questions you may have regarding the 
proposals, and look forward to S/GWI's decisions regarding funding. 
 
 
 
 
 
PROPOSAL 1 - LEGAL REFORM: STRENGTHENING WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN THE 
BOLIVIAN NATIONAL POLICE FORCE 
 
 
 
The Issue 
 
 
 
The situation regarding women working in the Bolivian National 
Police force (BNP) requires special attention.  Although women 
police officers have existed in the BNP since 1976, their presence 
and numbers have increased significantly only during the last 
decade.  Currently, they represent approximately ten percent of the 
total institution.  The results of a survey for "Human Development" 
conducted by the UNDP in 2005 reveal that 55% of the current female 
police officers in the BNP entered after 2000.  Only 13% or 1300 of 
the 10,000 police women currently in the BNP have been in the 
institution for more than 25 years, most of them assigned to 
specialized units and functions, and in minor technical and 
administrative positions.  During the last 5 years there has been 
progress in the assignment of police woman to many different 
operational units within the institution; nevertheless they are not 
treated equally and do not receive the same rights, opportunities 
and promotions as their male counterparts. 
 
 
 
The topic of gender discrimination and equal rights in the Bolivian 
Police Force is important because it reflects the difficulties that 
women face daily in Bolivian society attempting to eliminate 
discrimination and enjoy rights and access to leadership positions. 
In addition, an extensive national study completed in 2009 by the 
Government of Bolivia's Human Rights Commission (Phase I of this 
project) has revealed that there currently exists, "significant 
discrimination and violence targeting females officers within the 
Bolivian Police Force." This includes, but is not limited to, equal 
employment opportunity discrimination, sexual harassment and, in 
some cases, physical abuse on the job.  For example, a staggering 
76% of female officers interviewed indicated they have been victims 
of sexual abuse by fellow officers in the work place.  In addition, 
there currently exists very limited promotion potential for BNP 
 
female officers, and quite often they are paid less than their male 
counterparts performing similar functions at work. 
 
 
 
Proposal Summary 
 
 
 
In late 2008 the Government of Bolivia's Congressional Human Rights 
Commission approved a multi-phase project to ensure all Bolivian 
women police officers have the same employment opportunities as 
their male counterparts.  A significant part of this initiative 
aimed to provide appropriate awareness and sensitivity training and 
seminars to male BNP officers.  The second major goal was to work 
with the GOB in the areas of legal reform creating new and/or 
revised internal regulations and guidelines which would ensure a 
workplace free of discrimination and violence, and establish gender 
equality for all employees of the Bolivian National Police force. 
Three phases of this initiative have already occurred: 1. An 
extensive national study of the issue 2. The first International 
Women's' Rights Conference and 3. National training programs for 
all BNP officers regarding Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) 
issues within the Bolivian Police Force. 
 
 
 
This project, "Legal Reform: Strengthening Women's Rights in the 
Bolivian National Police Force," will be a two part continuation of 
this Human Rights Initiative within the Bolivian police force.  The 
overall objective of the project will be to create appropriate 
institutional conditions for equal employment opportunities, and 
the reduction of discrimination and gender violence within the 
Bolivian Police Force.  Project partners will include the Ministry 
of Government, the GOB Congress (and specifically the Human Rights 
Commission), and of course the Bolivian Police Force itself. 
Although headquartered in La Paz, the project aims to target all of 
Bolivia's nine geographic departments. 
 
 
 
Project Description 
 
 
 
Part I of this project will educate and refocus the current 
mentality of existing male officers regarding their female 
counterparts.  Part I will involve conducting 50 workshops of 
awareness-raising and sensitizing for male officers only that will 
promote gender equality and a discrimination free workplace within 
the institution while at the same time allowing male police 
officers to assume a new masculinity role. 
 
 
 
Workshop agendas will include: 
 
 
 
*    The role and functions of the Bolivian Police Force in the 
current society 
*    The role of male officers in the institution 
*    The new male role in society 
*    The specific male role in a law enforcement institution 
 
 
 
Working groups within the workshops will include: 
 
 
 
*    A presentation of results of the national study regarding 
identified discrimination within the Bolivian Police Force and how 
the survey results might be applied 
 
*         Suggestions and possible actions to improve the gender 
equality and workplace conditions in the Bolivian Police Force 
 
*         Addressing the questions, "What do I do and how does that 
affect my actions?" versus, "What should I do and what effects can 
I achieve in my institution?" 
 
 
 
Part I will last 6 months, and will require one project director, 
two Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with a specialty in Masculinity, 
four consultant facilitators and one statistics specialist. 
 
Part II of this project will involve the compilation, from a 
variety of different sources, and systematization of Best-Practices 
for addressing the problems of gender inequality.  Part II will 
involve conducting 50 mixed (i.e. involving both male and female 
officers) workshops to increase awareness of and sensitivity to the 
problems.  The workshops will also provide training for personnel 
from each of the units of the Bolivian Police Force related to 
working together on ways of addressing the topic of gender equality 
and the reduction of violence and discrimination inside the 
institution. 
 
 
 
Workshop agendas will include: 
 
 
 
*    Presentation of the principal results of the comparative 
analysis of the diagnoses obtained in the project's earlier work 
*    In depth discussion regarding the existence of 
discrimination, violence and gender inequality problems and issues 
within the institution 
*    Presentation of documented advances in other countries' 
police forces, based on information compiled and experiences 
presented by the international participants at the "International 
Seminar of Women Police Officers" conducted in Bolivia during 2009 
*    Reflection on the values of equity, gender equality and 
respect, and on the problems of discrimination and violence in the 
Bolivian Police Force 
*    Role Play activities 
*    Development of a joint proposal on anti-discrimination 
efforts and treatment of violence problems 
 
 
 
Part II will last 6 months, and will require one project director, 
five consultant facilitators, and one psychologist. 
 
 
 
Outcomes and Performance Measures 
 
 
 
Part I of the project aims to: 
 
 
 
¶1.       Disseminate the values of gender equality and respect and 
refocus the culture of machismo among male officers in the Bolivian 
police force 
 
¶2.       Complete a diagnosis and provide a baseline on the topic 
of violence and discrimination against policewomen from a male 
perspective 
 
¶3.       Educate and provide awareness training to Bolivian 
National Police male officers 
 
¶4.       Work with the Bolivian National Police command staff to 
ensure appropriate regulations are in place to provide a 
discrimination free workplace 
 
 
 
Part II of the project aims to: 
 
 
 
¶1.       Integrate the values of equity, gender equality and 
respect into the police force and to alter the institution's 
accepted values to strengthen the specific rights of women police 
officers 
 
¶2.       Define a space for both men and women within the 
institution, and support the promotion of the values of fairness, 
equality and respect within the Bolivian National Police 
 
¶3.      Create institutional responsibility for guaranteeing the 
enforcement of equal rights regulation and for tracking complaints 
due to discrimination and violence against women up to the 
resolution of the cases 
 
 
 
In addition to the specific objectives of Parts I and II, the 
project also aims to create a mixed and inter-generational team of 
officers (selected based on availability and commitment) who are 
 
interested in promoting the values of equity, gender equality and 
respect in the Bolivian Police Force.  This team will: 
 
 
 
¶1.       Establish an appropriate timetable for the implementation 
of changes within the institution 
 
¶2.       Ensure appropriate actions are in place to guarantee a 
discrimination free work place 
 
¶3.       Achieve internal support within the Bolivian police force 
to promote workplace equality 
 
 
 
Budget 
 
 
 
 
Item 
 
$US 
 
 
Administrative Costs (office expenses, materials, reproduction of 
material, communication expenses) 
 
23,000 
 
 
Tickets and Per Diem (100 Workshops - 9 Provinces - Country of 
Bolivia) 
 
21,800 
 
 
Human Resources (Subject matter experts and 
Facilitators/Instructors)* 
 
55,200 
 
 
Total 
 
100,000 
 
 
 
* Human Resources - Part i: 
 
-          One Project Director 
 
-          Two Specialists (Subject Matter Experts) in Masculinity 
 
-          Four Consultants Facilitators 
 
-          One Statistics Specialist 
 
 
 
* HUMAN RESOURCES - PART II: 
 
-          One Project Director 
 
-          Five Consultants Facilitators 
 
-          One Psychologist 
 
 
 
Recipient Organization - technical and management capacity 
 
 
 
The recipient organization for this project is "Wara Wara," a 
foundation with a vision emphasizing the anthropological knowledge, 
cultural, ethnic and linguistic development within Bolivian 
society.  Wara Wara uses technical sciences to promote and exploit 
both material and economic assistance, as well as implementing 
advances in knowledge of human nature and the solutions that ensure 
better and optimal results in promoting equity, equality and 
respect. 
 
 
 
Wara Wara's capabilities include: 
 
*    Business planning, implementation, administration, 
counseling, monitoring and evaluation of programs, projects and 
actions in support of human rights specific to women, children and 
youth 
*    The development of the population and communities to have 
awareness of the value and use of human and natural resources in 
the country.  This is accomplished through the application of 
social, humanitarian, and cultural integral developmental programs 
and initiatives to promote the development of nations, peoples and 
communities 
 
 
 
Wara Wara is staffed with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), who are 
professionals specialized in areas such as political sciences, 
communication sciences, statistics, marketing, gender and human 
rights, and psychology.  This team has partnered with the 
Government of Bolivia (GOB), and other public and private 
organizations to implement various Human Rights programs in 
Bolivia.  Wara Wara, its facilitators and its SMEs have also worked 
closely with a number of international donors, including previous 
work with the U.S. Embassy and its Narcotics Affairs Section in the 
area of human rights. 
 
 
 
 
 
PROPOSAL 2 - REDUCING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN INDIGENOUS AREAS 
 
 
 
The Issue 
 
 
 
The roots of gender-based violence (GBV) are founded in uneven 
power relationships and discrimination, and gender-based violence 
is reinforced through the promotion of traditional gender roles in 
personal and public relationships. 
 
 
 
Bolivia's 2008 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) indicates that 
in rural areas of Bolivia, 35% of women have suffered from some 
form of psychological violence and 23.8% have experienced physical 
and/or sexual violence.  Since nearly 8% of women surveyed 
responded that being a victim of violence is normal, it is not 
surprising that only 20% of victims seek help. 
 
 
 
Poor, indigenous women in Bolivia suffer from violence at a higher 
rate than other groups of women.  The lack of institutional 
capacity among local governmental and social organizations, and the 
fact that existing systems are unable to respond to GBV in a 
consistent manner, has created barriers to the introduction and 
implementation of effective GBV prevention policies and care 
programs. 
 
 
 
Given the prevalence of discrimination and the tendency to 
disregard and marginalize women in rural areas, emphasis should be 
placed on approaching community decision makers and making 
communities aware of the problem, thus opening the way for an 
effective response to this public health issue.  This will also 
make it possible to apply social norms found in more progressive 
societies, as well as to execute regulations regarding sexual and 
reproductive rights. 
 
 
 
The ultimate goal is that women should have the right to live 
without the fear of being victims of gender-based violence.  This 
project therefore seeks to educate women about their rights and to 
help foster an environment in which Bolivians understand both their 
rights and their personal responsibility to contribute to helping 
create such an environment. 
 
 
 
Proposal Summary 
 
 
 
This project aims to bring together community members, municipal 
 
authorities and other key actors to examine how gender-based 
violence impacts indigenous communities socially, spiritually and 
economically and to then implement action plans to reduce such 
violence.  Operating in the rural municipalities of Monteagudo, 
Villa Vaca Guzman, Sopachuy, Azurduy and Tarvita in Chuquisaca, the 
project will advocate with authorities in the education, justice, 
health, and police sectors, since they are responsible for the 
implementation of relevant norms and laws related to preventing 
GBV, but often do not act due to lack of awareness of how the 
problem affects their communities. 
 
 
 
The project proposes applying a well-established 
community-mobilization and advocacy methodology called 'Avances de 
Paz' or 'Advancing Peace.'  The methodology has already been 
successfully applied in similar areas, although efforts to expand 
the program were hampered due to lack of financing.  The 'Avances 
de Paz' methodology involves three core phases, as well as a 
closure period.  Importantly, each phase of the methodology employs 
two types of activity - communitarian and parallel - aimed at 
addressing different target groups.  Communitarian activities aim 
to directly target members of the community, with activities 
structured around a series of workshops.  Meanwhile parallel 
activities target key community actors and authorities, to prepare 
the local political scene for changes proposed by the communitarian 
groups. 
 
 
 
Phase I involves self-diagnosis and allows participants to examine 
their own behavior, values and relations regarding gender-based 
violence, identifying the problem from their own point of view. 
 
 
 
Phase II involves analyzing the information gathered, and the 
initial development of community action plans.  Through a process 
of analysis, participants question their preconceived ideas and 
positions, determine whether they wish to change, and if so, how. 
Joint deliberation at the municipal level, along with local 
analysis of real experiences of the problem, leads to the 
development of proposed solutions. 
 
 
 
Phase III involves further development of community action plans, 
as well as the evolution of these plans into a political action 
strategy.  The methodology creates a mechanism for change, designed 
to meet the needs of both the community and the authorities, and 
after a process of political discussion new policies may be adopted 
and executed by the local authorities. 
 
 
 
Project Description 
 
 
 
The project will be developed and executed with the support of 
consultants who will provide technical assistance and training in 
the 'Avances de Paz' methodology to both community groups and 
specifically-targeted community actors and authorities. 
 
 
 
Phase 1: Community self-diagnosis regarding gender-based violence 
 
 
 
Community process:  a methodological guide is applied during 12 
workshop sessions, each of approximately 3 hours duration 
 
 
 
Parallel process:  a series of focus groups is convened, and 
in-depth interviews are conducted with key actors and authorities 
 
 
 
Phase 1 therefore includes: 
 
 
 
¶1.       Preparation for the process development / meetings with 
CIES technical teams 
 
¶2.       Training of CIES technical teams according to the concept 
frame, and development of the 'Avances de Paz' methodology (one 
week) 
 
 
 
WORKSHOP 1 
 
 
 
¶3.       Introduction to Phase 1 methodology by CIES technical 
teams for municipal community groups (maximum 5 groups per 
municipality) and parallel process participants 
 
 
 
¶4.       Follow-up and monitoring by consultants of Phase 1 
development (review of workshop facilitators' reports, feedback, 
and three visits by the municipality) 
 
 
 
¶5.       Phase 1 systematization by CIES technical team and 
production of report, with consultants' support 
 
 
 
¶6.       Development of "First Workshop - Avances de Paz" progress 
report by consultants for submission to CIES staff 
 
 
 
Timeframe: 6 months (including preparation/planning) 
 
 
 
Phase 2: Analysis of information gathered on gender-based violence 
in the specific community, and initial development of community 
action plans to respond to each specific problem 
 
 
 
Community and parallel process:  a methodological guide is applied 
during 10 sessions, each session lasts approximately 3 hours 
 
 
 
Phase 2 therefore includes: 
 
 
 
¶1.       Training to CIES technical teams in 'Avances de Paz' 
methodology, Phase 2, and in depth development of concept frame 
(one week) 
 
 
 
WORKSHOP 2 
 
 
 
¶2.       Introduction to Phase 2 methodology by CIES technical 
teams for municipal community groups (maximum 5 groups per 
municipality) and parallel process participants 
 
 
 
¶3.       Follow-up and monitoring by consultants of Phase 2 
development (review of workshop facilitators' reports, feedback, 
and three visits by the municipality) 
 
 
 
¶4.       Phase 2 systematization by CIES technical team and 
production of report, with consultants' support 
 
 
 
¶5.       Development of "Second Workshop - Avances de Paz" progress 
report by consultants for submission to CIES staff 
 
 
 
Timeframe: 3 months 
 
 
 
Phase 3:  Further development of action plans and incorporation of 
these plans into a political strategy 
 
Community Process:  workshops on incorporating community action 
plans into the political environment are organized for those 
participants that are interested and involved in the development of 
action plans.  Other activities aim to stir up the interest of 
authorities and key authors in these issues.   Several planning and 
evaluation meetings take place, as required by the plan.  The 
number of meetings and activities with the groups depend on the 
size of the action plan. 
 
 
 
Parallel process:  the political strategy is developed with the 
corresponding key authorities and actors 
 
 
 
Phase 3 therefore includes: 
 
 
 
¶1.       Training to CIES technical teams in 'Avances de Paz' 
methodology, Phase 3, and in depth development of concept frame 
(one week) 
 
 
 
WORKSHOP 3 
 
 
 
¶2.       Introduction to Phase 3 methodology by CIES technical 
teams for municipal community groups (maximum 5 groups per 
municipality) and parallel process participants 
 
 
 
¶3.       Follow-up and monitoring by consultants of Phase 3 
development (review of workshop facilitators' reports, feedback, 
and three visits by the municipality) 
 
 
 
¶4.       Phase 3 systematization by CIES technical team and 
production of report, with consultants' support 
 
 
 
¶5.       Development of "Third Workshop - Avances de Paz" progress 
report by consultants for submission to CIES staff 
 
 
 
Timeframe: 2 months 
 
 
 
Closure: Participatory Process evaluation.  An evaluation process 
is conducted with participants who were involved in the community 
and parallel processes.  Evaluation guidelines are developed for 
each of the actors. 
 
 
 
The closure process therefore involves: 
 
 
 
¶1.       Assessment by CIES technical team, with involved community 
group participation, key community persons  and  authorities 
 
¶2.       Follow-up and monitoring of consultants in assessment 
development (one visit per municipality, to organize) 
 
 
 
¶3.       Final process report writing 
 
 
 
¶4.       Consultants' support to write the progress process report 
of the Final 'Avances de Paz' Workshop for CIES staff (including 
results and process assessment) 
 
 
 
Timeframe: 1 month. 
 
Outcomes and Performance Measures 
 
 
 
This project targets (i) key personnel within local and regional 
authorities, (ii) rural community groups, (iii) public networks, as 
well as, (iv) CIES staff, and aims to: 
 
 
 
¶1.       Increase indigenous-community awareness of the issue of 
gender-based violence, as well as foster development of a culture 
that questions such violence, recognizes that it can change it, and 
articulates a desire for equity in relations between men and women 
 
 
 
¶2.       Develop and empower decision-making actors within the 
community, and encourage such actors to accept the adoption of 
public policies and actions that contribute to addressing and 
preventing gender-based violence 
 
 
 
¶3.       Create five strengthened / fully developed municipal 
networks dedicated to working against gender-based violence (one in 
each municipality) 
 
 
 
¶4.       Develop five completed gender-based violence prevention 
plans, one in each municipality, to be submitted for inclusion in 
each municipality's Plan of Action 
 
 
 
¶5.       Strengthen the capabilities of CIES technical teams in 
gender-based violence prevention methodologies in five rural 
municipalities of Chuquisaca 
 
 
 
Budget 
 
 
 
 
Item 
 
$US 
 
 
Consulting Fees (Technical Assistance) 
 
16,000 
 
 
Staff Wages and Benefits (7 educators x 12 months) 
 
35,101.39 
 
 
Material and community services (Communication - $100 / 
municipality / year x 5 municipalities) 
 
500 
 
 
Food, accommodation, travel expenses to the community (Snack: 42 
sessions x 650 participants (EU process) x $0.50 / participant. 
 
13,650 
 
 
Materials and community service ($5 x 650 participants) 
 
3,250 
 
 
Food, accommodation to the community, travel to the community 
(educators, consultants) 
 
28,498.61 
 
 
Tickets facilitator-participants 
 
1,000 
 
 
Other expenses 
 
2,000 
 
 
Total 
 
100,000 
 
 
 
Recipient Organization - technical and management capacity 
 
 
 
The recipient organization for this project is CIES (Research 
Center for Education and Services), a non-profit group dedicated to 
social development.  CIES provides services to men, women and young 
adults, as well as to vulnerable groups, within the frame of 
integral health, through the promotion of the full exercise of 
sexual and reproductive rights.  It offers a medical-educational 
program and prides itself on its 'quality and warmth'.  CIES 
operates four clinics, five health posts in department capitals, 
three in intermediate cities and mining towns, and three Itinerant 
Health Units in the rural area of the Department of Chuquisaca. 
 
 
 
CIES developed the "Avances de Paz" participative methodology 
during 2007 and 2008 to address gender-based violence in the rural 
populations of the Bolivian Chaco area, as well as the cities of 
Oruro and El Alto.  In Machareti (the Chuquisaca Chaco area) this 
project is being implemented under the support of the Municipality, 
with UNICEF financing and the active participation of local persons 
and organizations.  In Villa Vaca Guzman, in light of the results 
achieved in past years, the Mayor requested CIES support to 
implement this project under the local municipality.  Although the 
municipality itself has allotted funds to implement the process, 
CIES was not able to meet the request for additional funds and 
hence the effort was not able to proceed. 
Creamer