Integrated Community Development Fund (ICDF)
The ICDF is a fund granted by USAID and implemented by ACDI/VOCA Bolivia from 2005 until 2010.
The main goal of the ICDF is to support the join efforts of the United States Government (USG) and Government of Bolivia (GOB) to establish a sustainable licit economy in Bolivia's coca-producing regions. The strategy to meet basic human needs and alleviate poverty by improving social and economic conditions to discourage the expansion of illicit coca within and beyond these regions.
The objectives of the ICDF are to:
- Strengthen social capital and community development through increased access to public goods and services for communities and smalholder-farmer organizations that are vulnerable to the coca-cocaine economy;
- Increase participation oflocal leaders, local governments, and citizen organizations in community development processess to strengthen ownership, sustainability, and support for licit economic activities;
- Improve the welfare of poor rural families in isolated areas so that they do not need to participate in the illicit coca economy; and,
- Support emergency and immediate-impact activities to mediate conflict, preserve social peace and respond to crises related to the coca-cocaine economy.
The ICDF resources will be targeted to assist the inhabitanta of remote monicipal districts in the Yungas of La paz (Yungas) and the Tropics of Cochabamba (Chapare) where poverty levels are highest, and coca reduction or containment is of highest priority.
The ICDF is implemented through a four-component approach:
- Component 1 : Community Development, will increase family participation and improve community social conditions through the provision, operation and maintenance of schools, water and sanitation systems, health facilities, other social infrastructure and scholarships; emphasis will also be placed on utilizing this component to strengthen local governments and civil society organizations
- Component 2: Economic Development, will respond to economic and productive opportunities in the targeted areas by supporting the establishment and strengthening of small-scale projects such as livestock production, small enterprises, agro-forestry plots, and others.
- Component 3: Support of Coca Rationalization will channel approximately 45% of ICDF pass-through resources through this component in order to implement punctual, immediate impact projects in response to coca control and reduction initiatives in eligible communities, and geo-political areas.
- Component 4: Emergency Response, enables the ICDF to respond immediately to litigate the effects of natural disasters and catastrophes.
The ICDF will foster beneficiary participation to identify priorities for social infrastructure maintenance, thereby creating local ownership. To respond flexibly to GOB and USAID/Bolivia strategic priorities, ICDF investments will target selected municipal districts while working through municipal governments. The ICDF will have entrance, execution and exit strategies for each component, enabling long-term planning and sustainability. The ICDF will respond flexibly and rapidly to social crisis, natural disasters and food security needs through efficient administrative and financial mechanisms. Environmental considerations will be incorporated into all ICDF activities in compliance with USAID and Bolivian environmental regulations.
