Waging Peace: Bolivia

Conflict Management Training

The Center has worked since 2007 to build capacity for conflict management by providing comprehensive training to government officials from different levels of the national administration as well as to subnational dependencies and other social and political actors. The Carter Center aims to broaden spaces, enhance capacities, and increase political will for dialogue and tolerance.

In January 2008, The Carter Center signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institute for Agrarian Reform (INRA) to provide technical assistance to establish and strengthen a conflict transformation unit and institutional policies to be applied during daily activities. Under the agreement, workshops and training in conflict management tools have been given to INRA functionaries in all nine departments of Bolivia.

The Carter Center also established cooperative alliances with various social organizations, government, and multilateral agencies and is a founding member of the Community of Practice on Deliberation and Dialogue, which is composed of international and domestic organizations such as the U.N. Development Program, the National Democratic Institute, International IDEA, UNIR Foundation, the Ministry of Social Movements, Fundación Jubileo, Instituto Nacional de Reforma Agraria (INRA), and the Ombudsman's Office. On Feb. 21, 2008, The Carter Center and its partners held a major conference with 850 participants, led by conflict transformation specialist John Paul Lederach. Professor Lederach also conducted a two-day training seminar for 150 representatives of civil society organizations and officials of INRA from all nine departments. This activity was then replicated in the eastern department of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in December 2008.

The Carter Center field representative in Bolivia has provided training in conflict management tools under various programs with the mentioned partners to approximately 3,000 participants from different civic organizations, social groups, departmental authorities, and young political leaders across the country.