Three Bolivia ministries draw up water strategy

Bolivia, which is bracing for the effects of climate change in its arid highland areas, has hammered together a national water strategy for rural communities, a senior government official said.

The plan, drafted by the health and environment and water ministries, involves 4,700 potable water and sewerage projects in 10 government programs as part of a drive to extend water services to 100% of the country's 11mn population by 2025, the environment ministry said.

The water strategy received backing from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Caracas-based lender CAF and Spanish cooperation agency Aecid, according to the ministry.

"The issue of sewerage and access to potable water will take a significant turn from now on," deputy water minister Julia Collado said in a statement. "In the medium term, we hope to achieve real changes in the lives of many Bolivians in rural areas."

Morales' government has invested 13.669bn bolivianos (US$2bn) in the country's water sector since 2006, more than tripling the amount spent from 1997-2005, according to the environment ministry.

The eastern Andean region over the past two years suffered the effects of both global warming and the La Niña phenomenon, where cooler ocean temperatures cause drought in the highlands. Morales is seeking US$500mn in international emergency aid to invest in potable water and irrigation infrastructure.