Challenges

The Cono Sur region of Cochabamba, Bolivia, is one of the country’s most drought-prone areas, marked by fragile ecosystems, land degradation, water scarcity, and high rural poverty. Local livelihoods depend heavily on natural resources, yet the communities and institutions lack the strategies, methodologies, tools and capacities to adapt to climate change. The region represents a broader challenge faced across Latin America’s drylands: how to empower rural actors and restore degraded environments through inclusive and sustainable strategies. Through a trilateral partnership, COTRIAbE combined Brazil’s technical expertise and Germany’s strategic support to foster community and institutional resilience in Bolivia’s vulnerable regions.

Toward a Solution

COTRIAbE  was launched under the framework of the Regional Fund for Triangular Cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean, and is a triangular cooperation initiative between Bolivia, Brazil, and Germany that supports climate-resilient rural development in Bolivia’s semi-arid landscapes. It focuses on empowering rural communities and local institutions to develop innovations and research to restore degraded ecosystems and manage natural resources sustainably through adaptive and community-centered solutions.

The project contributes directly to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), while also advancing SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 17 (Partnerships).

Implemented in the municipalities of Aiquile, Pasorapa, and Omereque, in Bolivia’s Cono Sur region, Department of Cochabamba, the project brought together complementary strengths from each partner country. Bolivia contributed deep territorial knowledge and strong local ownership. The Vice Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (VRHR) ensured national alignment to public policies, while the The Forestry Research Center (CIF) and the Center for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology (CByN) led and developed applied participatory research on the recovery of native forage species, implementation of silvopastoral systems and ecological restoration, in addition to generating a study to identify native forage species that reached more than 300 species identified in the area.

The local governments played a pivotal role in mobilizing producers, facilitating access to territories, and integrating project outcomes into municipal planning. Brazil offered technical excellence in agroecological restoration and silvopastoral systems through Embrapa, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA), and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC). German cooperation, coordinated by GIZ teams in both Bolivia and Brazil, provided financial support, strategic coherence, and methodological expertise, ensuring the initiative’s integration and long-term impact. This balanced and collaborative structure was key to translating shared goals into tangible, locally grounded results.

Activities included the establishment of 35 demonstration plots to test native forest restoration, silvopastoral systems, forage cactus propagation, and rainwater harvesting. Three research plots managed by CIF tested soil recovery, rotational grazing, and multipurpose tree species like Tipa. One hectare around a strategic water spring was fenced and reforested, helping recharge aquifers and stabilize the surrounding ecosystem.

To empower local communities, over 240 producers (including 85 women) and 60 technical staff were trained in ecosystem-based adaptation, forage conservation, agroecological production, and participatory planning. Brazilian instructors also recorded testimonial videos and guides to facilitate knowledge transfer. Bilateral technical missions ensured continuous support and mutual learning.

COTRIAbE’s innovative element lies in its systemic, place-based approach that combines scientific evidence, traditional knowledge, and territorial governance. Local stakeholders participated in diagnosing problems, co-designing solutions, and validating practices adapted to their own environmental and socioeconomic realities. This enabled a deep sense of ownership and increased the likelihood of long-term sustainability.

Municipal governments began integrating project practices into their medium-term development plans and the inclusion of resources in their Annual Operating Plans,while research centers and local universities have taken steps to replicate protocols such as forage cactus management. The project also fostered partnerships with complementary initiatives, such as pedagogical watershed management (VRHR), food security programs by Radio Esperanza and Misereor, and agroecological extension services by UMSS.

COTRIAbE illustrates how triangular cooperation can deliver inclusive, climate-resilient, and scalable solutions for ecosystem restoration and rural development. Its participatory approach, institutional anchoring, and adaptable technologies make it a replicable model for other vulnerable regions. By combining triangular expertise with long-term, trust-based partnerships, the initiative adds concrete value to global sustainable development efforts.