The Los Valles Macro-region in the landlocked, South American state of Bolivia is threatened by increasing temperatures and precipitation instability. Furthermore, frost intensity and hail events have put pressure on the delicate water systems in the valley. Climate change increases the vulnerability of water systems and the agricultural sector in the region, particularly smallholder farmers whose crop yields are already at a very low level compared to regional standards. Poor management and unsustainable agricultural land use practices exacerbate the impacts of the climate crisis.

As GCF’s first project in Bolivia, the RECEM-Valles project aims to enhance the climate resilience of smallholder farmers, ecosystems, and infrastructure in the Valles Macro-region by scaling-up the Bolivian government’s pre-existing Mi Riego initiative. It will implement integral and participatory micro-watershed management activities, including building farmers’ capacities to manage their agroecosystems sustainably and providing them with access to credit allowing them to invest in modernized on-farm climate-proofed irrigation systems. The project will also strengthen national and sub-national governance systems to support climate risk management by smallholder farmers and their communities.