Bolivia: Urban resilience and climate adaptation for a sustainable future

Bolivia, a country with unparalleled natural and cultural wealth, faces significant challenges on its path to sustainable development. In recent decades, economic growth and rapid urbanization have significantly transformed its landscape. It is projected that by 2030, 75% of the Bolivian population will live in cities. This rapid urbanization entails challenges such as adequate access to basic services, the growing demand for land and housing, the proliferation of informal settlements, and increased exposure to natural disasters.

Increasingly extreme climate events affecting much of the country exacerbate these risks. Between late 2023 and early 2024, Bolivia experienced floods and landslides impacting 317 of its 366 municipalities, leaving over 230,000 people affected. Additionally, one-fifth of the population—generating more than 20% of the national GDP—lives in highly vulnerable areas. These events disproportionately affect the poorest families, who face greater difficulties in resisting and recovering from disasters.

Urban resilience: An integrated approach

To address these challenges, the World Bank, in collaboration with the Swiss Government's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), is supporting the National Government and local governments through the Urban Resilience Program in Bolivia. This is an innovative program due to its multisectoral approach, integrating disaster risk management, urban planning, and climate action into a unified intervention framework. By fostering a participatory model, communities and local authorities co-design resilient solutions at the territorial level, driving strategic investments in urban infrastructure that not only mitigate risks but also enhance the quality of life for residents.

So far, the program includes the municipalities of La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, which together have a population of over 3 million inhabitants. The goal is to strengthen institutional capacity, develop climate planning tools, and promote inclusive strategies for resilience and urban development. These efforts aim not only to mitigate the impacts of climate phenomena but also to build stronger communities prepared to face future challenges.

Risk Maps: The foundation for action

One of the key components of the program is the development of risk maps, which provide a basis for decision-making with precise and reliable information. Santa Cruz de la Sierra now has risk maps and models that allow for better preparation for floods and urban heatwaves, and with the formalization of the Institutional System for Risk and Disaster Management, also with effective emergency response protocols.

In La Paz, vulnerability and risk maps have been developed, and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) have been implemented for slope stabilization. These maps identify high-risk areas but also encourage citizen participation in urban planning, ensuring more inclusive and effective risk management.

Early Warning Systems: The key to saving lives

Early Warning Systems (EWS) are essential to reducing the impact of natural disasters, as every second counts. In Santa Cruz de la Sierra, an EWS has been proposed as an integral part of its risk management strategy. Meanwhile, in La Paz, the existing EWS has been strengthened, improving its response capacity to geological threats and floods. These systems save lives, protect critical infrastructure, and reduce economic losses.

Climate Action Plans: A Milestone in the fight against climate change

For the first time in Bolivia, two municipalities have developed their Climate Action Plans (CAP), marking a significant advance towards local sustainability and setting a precedent for other municipalities. These plans include strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, supported by vulnerability studies and mitigation baselines. Additionally, potential sources of green financing have been identified to implement priority actions, ensuring the long-term viability of these initiatives.

Neighborhood improvements: Transforming communities locally

Through the neighborhood improvement project in vulnerable areas, the World Bank places people at the center of urban transformation and development. With the creation of the Neighborhood Improvement Guide (Barrios de Verdad and Barrios de Mil Colores), which promotes an inclusive and participatory approach, today the residents of selected neighborhoods have safe streets, green spaces, and quality facilities, designed with and for them. Beyond infrastructure, this methodology prioritizes community needs as the basis for urban design. This guide has improved the selection of beneficiaries, and the design of interventions aligned with relevance principles.

The Urban Resilience Program in Bolivia demonstrates that collaboration between local governments, communities, and international organizations can generate effective solutions to prepare for urban and climate challenges. As Bolivia moves towards more resilient and sustainable cities, these initiatives not only improve the quality of life for its citizens but also lay the foundation for a safer and more prosperous future for all.

This program is financed by the Sustainable Urban and Regional Development (SURGE) Umbrella Program, funded by its founding donor the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).