2nd Intra-regional dialogue forum in Alternative Development

Start date: 20/11/17
End Date: 23/11/17
Place: Santa Cruz - Trópico de Cochabamba, Bolivia

Dialogue, exchange, and implementation of good practices and how to integrate them to development projects such as the reduction of poverty, equitable sustainable development, and the protection of the environment, are objectives of this forum.

Operative Dimension

Code

3.1.1.2

Year

2017

Component

C3 - Drugs Supply Reduction

Execution Level

Completed

Activity Types

Implementation

The "2nd COPOLAD II intra-regional Dialogue Forum on Alternative Development", held from 20 to 23 November 2017 in Bolivia, counted with the participation of 70 delegates from eleven CELAC countries. It sought to deepen the exchange of experiences, good practices and lessons learned from the implementation of alternative development and its mainstreaming into national drugs policies and major development strategies.

Participants of several countries gave inputs about their AD strategies, plans or experiences. Examples of AD approaches from the perspective of participating CELAC countries (Bolivia and Jamaica) and international cooperation (EU) were presented. Participants from GIZ, UNODC, Colombia and Peru contributed experiences with the implementation of the AD approach based on concrete examples.

In working groups, the participants reflected on topics related to the practice of AD. They exchanged on AD experiences with local populations and, on a second stage, deepened discussions on aspects of strengthening local institutions, the participation of communities and aspects of gender and territorial perspectives such as access to land and ecological aspects of AD.

Associated operational objectives

3.1 - Deliver a demand-driven capacity building strategy on Alternative Development (AD), build upon the needs identified during C1, facilitating intra-regional exchange of best practices and mutual learning, enlarging its coverage to new interested countries.

Results

The experiences presented and the reflections and contributions in the working groups show the tendency to focus on alternative development as comprehensive rural development, with the coordination of different sectors and actors. Participation of the local population and of producer organizations, including women, with the application of gender and income generating approaches within the framework of sustainable value chains, are key elements. In order to achieve sustainability of AD measures, it is required to reinforce citizenship with land sanitation, access to basic services and extension and mechanisms of participation and/or social control. The management of natural resources and the environment are critical factors to be accounted for.

The formulation and implementation of strategies and programmes is a complex process, due to the multiple existing processes of multisectoral coordination and cooperation, and should focus on strengthening local actors and institutions. An environment of violent conflict, the presence of drug trafficking or confrontational policies, reduce the possibilities of economic and social development, affecting the maintenance and expansion of illicit crops.

In the final reflections, some participants shared considerations regarding the concepts of AD, multisectoral coordination, and the integration of cultural peculiarities of aspects relating to gender and human rights. It was observed that there is a need to mainstream AD into major development strategies and to give a perspective of rethinking the concept of AD in broader and integral development dimensions, adapted to the specific context of each country.

Indicators

At least 2 dialogue forums held for intra-regional exchange of best practices and mutual learning. Delivered by a demand-driven strategy of Alternative development (AD), based upon the needs identified during C1.

Theoretical Dimension

Principles

Approaches

Institutions

GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH Germany

Leader

Institution Website

CONALTID - National Council for the Fight against illicit Drug Trafficking Bolivia

Leader

Institution Website

CONALTID - National Council for the Fight against illicit Drug Trafficking Bolivia

Host

Institution Website

FONADIN - National Fund for Integral Development Bolivia

Host

Institution Website

VCDI - Vice-ministry of Coca and Alternative Development Bolivia

Host

Institution Website

Participant Institutions

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Participation

Participation for regions

Participation of countries for region

Participants

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Programme

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Press Release

COPOLAD fosters intra-regional dialogue on Alternative Development among CELAC countries

Santa Cruz, 20 November 2017. 7 countries from Latin America and 4 from the Caribbean gather in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) during the second edition of the 2nd COPOLAD II Intra-Regional Dialogue Forum in the framework of the Cooperation Programme between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union on Drugs Policies (COPOLAD), programme funded by the European Union and managed by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP).

The event the objective of promoting the exchange of experiences, identifying lessons learned and working together on new approaches in the field of alternative and comprehensive development with representatives of public organisms and local organisations of countries participating in the programme

In the framework of COPOLAD, the Forum is led by the Plurinational State of Bolivia through the Coordination Secretariat of the National Council on the Fight against Illicit Drug Trafficking (SC-CONALTID), the Ministry of Rural Development and Land and the National Comprehensive Development Fund (FONADIN) supported by the German Agency of Technical Cooperation (GIZ)

The Minister of Rural Development and Land of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Dr Cesar Cocarico Yana, who welcomed the participants, was accompanied by the Head of the Delegation to the European Union in Bolivia, Ambassador León de la Torre Krais, and the GIZ and COPOLAD representatives.The forum has been officially opened by the Minister of Governance of the Plurinominal State of Bolivia, Dr Carlos Romero Bonifaz.

The Interamerican Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) and civil society through the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) also participated. The event counts on the presence of the Embassies of France, Italy, Ecuador and Peru, UNODC Bolivia y PNUD Bolivia.

Representatives of the institutions working on alternative and comprehensive development, representatives of organisations and associations of producers from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, México, Paraguay, Perú, Suriname, Trinidad y Tobago, will deepen their understanding about the objectives of alternative development based on specific projects in thematic areas identified by the participants in the first Forum for Dialogue held in Bogota (Colombia) in December 2016.

This is the second edition of the Forums for Dialogue on Alternative Development organised by the COPOLAD Programme, which will once again serve as a platform promoting dialogue, the exchange and implementation of good practices y and how to integrate them to greater development objectives like the reduction of poverty, equitable sustainability, and the protection of the environment.