01.31.95.IDB PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT INDIGENOUS GROUP IN COLOMBIA

AT1034
NR-019/94                           Carlos Brezina  (202) 623-1360


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    January 31, 1995


           IDB PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT INDIGENOUS GROUP IN COLOMBIA

       Resources for windmills, drilling wells, improving animal
husbandry


      The Inter-American Development Bank today announced the approval of
$285,000 in nonreimbursable financing to benefit the Way£u indigenous
community of Colombia's Guajira peninsula.
      The resources, provided by the Japan Special Fund, will be used for
investments in water supply systems and consulting services that will
improve agricultural and sanitation practices.
      Animal husbandry, especially goat raising, is the main economic
activity of the Way£us, who depend on hand-driven wells and windmills for
water supply during the prolonged dry season.
      The IDB program provides for digging new wells, installing new
windmills, repair of existing windmills, and building new reservoir tanks
and drinking troughs.
      Consulting services will improve animal breeding, marketing and
other agricultural activities, as well as waste disposal.  Instruction
will be offered on maintenance of the wells.
      The project is intended to serve as an example to other communities
on the Guajira peninsula, one of the poorest areas in Colombia, on how to
improve living standards through better agricultural and sanitary
practices while utilizing scarce natural resources in a sustainable
manner.
      The total cost of the program is $410,000, with local counterpart
funding totaling $125,000.  The Fundaci¢n para el Desarrollo Industrial,
Comercial y Artesanal de la Guajira will carry out the project.  Local
counterpart funding amounts to $125,000.



* Fundaci¢n para el Desarrollo Industrial, Comercial
    y Artesanal de la Guajira (FUNDICAR)
  Roberto Barliza, director 
  Calle 7Ï,  No. 3-75
  Riohacha,  Colombia
  Tel. (57-54) 27-3908;  fax 27-3932