Strengthening of the Ministry of Sustainable Development

                                    BOLIVIA



SECTOR:               Environment

PROJECT NAME:         Institutional Strengthening of the Ministry of
                      Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection
                      (MDSMA)
                      (929/SF-BO)

TOTAL COST:           $23  million

FINANCING:
      IDB             $19  million
    LOCAL             $ 4  million

DATE OF APPROVAL:     November 2, 1994

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:  The general objective of this project is to help the
                      government of Bolivia develop an effective capacity to
                      manage sustainable development.  The specific objectives
                      are to: (a) strengthen MDSMA's (Ministerio de Desarrollo
                      Sostenible y Medio Ambiente's technical, regulatory and
                      administrative capacity and establish its presence on the
                      departmental level; (b) improve the cartographic and
                      biophysical databases on the country's forest resources
                      and propose ecological and economic zoning for priority
                      watersheds; (c) establish a program to monitor and
                      control the quality of the environment and natural
                      resources; (d) promote the inclusion of sustainable
                      development concepts in formal and informal education, as
                      well as public participation in sustainable development
                      programs; and (e) evaluate the feasibility of private
                      sector participation in providing certain public
                      environmental services.

                      The project, which comprises technical assistance and
                      training, has been organized into five components:
                      (a) institutional strengthening; (b) development of
                      information and decision-making criteria; (c) control
                      of environmental quality and evaluation of environmental
                      impacts; (d) promotion of community participation in
                      sustainable development; and (e) studies of the
                      feasibility of privatizing three environmental services.

CONSULTANTS:          The services of international consulting firms,
                      individual consultants and a group of 20 local
                      technicians will be used.  The latter will gradually be
                      assimilated into the staff of MDSMA and the beneficiary
                      entities at the end of the project through the Civil
                      Service Program.

GOODS AND EQUIPMENT:  Bank funds will finance miscellaneous equipment, and
                      local funds will be used to rent office space and
                      logistical facilities, and pay import duties on equipment
                      and vehicles, as well as communications and equipment
                      maintenance.

EXECUTING AGENCY:     Ministry of Sustainable Development and Environmental
                      Protection (MDSMA)
                      Avenida Arce 2147 Casilla 3116/12814
                      La Paz, Bolivia
                      Telephone:    (591-2) 354-522, 372-070
                      Fax:          (591-2) 391-071 
                      Contacts:     Jaime Muñoz Reyes 
                                    Secretario de Recursos Naturales

                                    Alfonso Kreidler