FUNDACION UNIR BOLIVIA

Bolivia is living through a truly transcendental moment in its history and is looking forward to a horizon of change. Within this context, Fundación UNIR Bolivia is seeking to contribute to the unity of the country by helping to establish arenas for dialogue in different scenarios in order to resolve our differences peacefully. Change often brings with it controversy and conflict, which reflect the different currents of opinion or social demands on democracy; these are especially noticeable in a society such as ours that has such a long tradition of deeply rooted conflict. Coming from this perspective, Fundación UNIR Bolivia began its activities in the year 2004, with the desire to contribute to building a culture that is at once democratic, inclusive and deliberative. Its aim is to transform arenas of conflict into arenas that engender agreement between society and the State, and among all of society’s stakeholders. Based on this integral focus, we carry out a number of strategic initiatives in the areas of Information, Negotiation, Deliberation and Dialogue (INEDD), including the crosscutting issues of intercultural relations, participation and equity.

Four fields of work In the area of Information, we propose to improve the transparency, quality and accessibility of information on key issues; in order to do so, we have developed three initiatives

National Media Observatory (ONADEM). Formally began working in 2006 through an agreement between Fundación UNIR Bolivia and the Bolivian Association of Social Communication Faculties (ABOCCS), which is made up of three public and private universities. ONADEM performs periodic research work regarding the treatment of sensitive news issues in the media; it later shares its findings with media writers to try and foster a sense of self-critique regarding their role in creating a democratic and inclusive culture. Its monitoring, research and training work have a clear, pedagogical aim. Up to now, ONADEM has realized 18 research projects on the news coverage on strategic themes and has also published a Citizens Opinion Poll about the quality of the information they receive from mass media.

Competitive Grant Fund For Investigative Reporting Journalism is a field in which tight deadlines and overwork often affect the quality of the news. Through this Fund, the efforts of journalists and the media are supported so that they can provide in-depth information on radio, television and in the press.

Every year, three competitions are held and the issues selected receive financial support from UNIR and guidance from a group of experienced journalists, who make up the Selection Committee. Priority is given to themes and issues that do not currently figure into the media agenda, many of these projects have received national and international awards such as the “Ortega and Gasset International Award 2007” from the newspaper El Pais of Madrid, Spain given to a story on the Bolivia migrant to Brazil and Argentina.

Theme Bank Contrasted. Consistent Information is markedly different from that which is taken out of context. The Theme Bank is a virtual archive to which journalists throughout the country have access via the Internet web-page www.bancotematico.org.

In the area of Negotiation we work to strengthen arenas for conflict resolution and agreement between the State and civil society through the formation of local experts. This takes place through four initiatives:

Specialized Courses in Conflict Analysis and Management in Bolivia. This initiative deals with training human resources to become qualified in this field, which is so strategic to building a culture of peace. Building peace is possible when conflicts are facilitated and mediated by professionals with skills and knowledge that are rooted in the national reality. This specialized course takes aim at public officials and professionals involved in this conflict resolution and is taught in agreement with six public and private universities in La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Oruro, Tarija and Sucre. For 2008 it is planned to work in Potosí, Pando and Beni.

Institute for Democratic Training. Fundación UNIR Bolivia and the National Electoral Court have agreed to form the Institute for Democratic Training in order to promote democratic values. The Institute provides training to grassroots sectors, political parties, indigenous and other citizen’s groups in conflict management and negotiation. The curriculum includes political and social sciences, as well as public administration. Its actions will help to encourage political pluralism, critical thinking and precise detailed research. Since 2007 it is being held a Diploma-course on Negotiation, Democracy and Political Systems with intermediate leaders from different political parties recognized by the National Electoral Court.

Training for Civil Society Organizations. Knowing how to negotiate and dialogue is an indispensable skill for peaceful coexistence. Under this premise, UNIR is taking forward a series of efforts to train social organizations, and civil society in general, in this field. Through our specialized team, we have been working since November of 2005, giving intensive workshops in La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca; as a result, this program has 2000 qualified representatives from social organizations in conflict management and negotiation. We are looking to expand these activities into other Departments beyond those that we worked with during the first phase of operations.

Conflict Research. In order to generate knowledge about realities that are not always studied, UNIR promotes research and investigation on the national reality. Among priority issues in this area there is the idea of MORCs or Native Methods of Conflict Resolution, research carried out together with the Bolivian Strategic Investigation Programme (PIEB). The publication on MORCs has received an overall positive feedback and we are working now in sharing this knowledge with the indigenous population and in training public servants so that they could know better about their counterparts. We are also working in other thematic areas with support from field experts.

In the area of Dialogue we seek to give different sectors of the population tools for intercultural relations and awareness, both at urban and rural levels. Here, we work along three strategic lines:

Intercultural Collectives. In keeping with the transformations that the country is going through to include sectors that have traditionally been distanced from decision-making, UNIR Bolivia has devised the initiative of Intercultural Collectives. These groups include the following components: dialogue and cultural mobilisation - which become more dynamic through dialogue processes - itinerant, fixed and virtual expositions and other cultural elements that will encourage deep reflection about the roots of our nationality.

Through these collectives we are seeking to contribute to the development of an intercultural sense of citizenship, incorporating into it the country’s currently diverse range of visions and legitimate aspirations, while at the same time promoting dignified, equal and democratic relationships amongst our different cultural identities. The project is set to run for three years (2006-2008) in 100 rural and urban municipalities spread across the country’s five broad eco-regions: Altiplano, Valley, Eastern lowlands, Chaco and the Amazon. It will also facilitate 200 local dialogues and 10 inter-local dialogue processes.

Interculturality. The first two years showed us the necessity to develop the area of interculturality as a transversal axis of our work in each of our initiatives. We have also worked to position this subject through research and spaces of reflection. Within the first semester of 2008 UNIR will publish an Atlas of Cultural Diversity together with three books on identities and regions. This will be transformed in audiovisual products that will serve to begin a reflection on interculturality process with population.

Sustained Dialogues. Who are we as Bolivians? This is a question that deserves an answer, especially with the changes our country is going living at the beginning of the 21st century. To provide an answer to this, we need to create arenas for encounter, knowledge sharing and recognition in the heart of Bolivian society. The Sustained Citizen Dialogues initiative uses a specially prepared methodology to encourage encounters and help dispel prejudice and stereotyping; we wish to break down, little by little, the flawed communication that exists between social, regional and citizen’s groups.

Awareness-raising Campaigns. A number of awareness-raising efforts will be carried out that will serve to strengthen, on the one hand, the idea of the “Common Well-Being” (“Bien común”) and on the other hand, to diminish prejudice. With respect to the “Common Well-Being” Campaign, we are seeking to change discrimination, racism and other phenomenons linked to deeply rooted cultural standards that interfere Bolivians from coming to know and respect one each another; we wish to build a democratic society based on values such as solidarity, respect and equality. To provide background to this project, UNIR has performed a national research study. The campaign was launched in 2007 and because of its television and cartoons format, it is directed to a wide public but it is especially attractive for teenagers and children.

In the area of Deliberation, the Constituent Assembly (CA) is a key scenario for establishing a great social pact between the public and private sectors, which is why UNIR is driving a series of activities to permit citizen participation in large-scale national debates.

Information materials on strategic Constituent Assembly issues. UNIR Bolivia is seeking to create a citizenry that fully exercises its right to information and that can reflexively take part in the Constituent Assembly debates. In this regard, we have commissioned the production of radio and television documentaries with simple, contextualised information about a number of Assembly-related issues: Economic System; State System; Social System; Constituent Assembly; Autonomies and Decentralisation; Land and Territory; Human Rights and Equality; Indigenous Peoples; Intercultural relations; Oil and Gas; Water; and Mining. These documentaries will be broadcasted by the media (radio and television – in Spanish and the three main indigenous languages, aymara, guaraní and quechuas -) at national and international levels and is used in workshops with social organizations. These documentaries have experienced a wide demand and have a high relevance in the present Constituent Assembly process Bolivia is living (previous to the National Constitution Referendum).

“How do make the country into we want it to be?. On the way to the Constituent Assembly” This initiative, sponsored by the Social Pastoral Episcopal Commission (CEPAS - Cáritas Bolivia), received support from UNIR since its beginnings. The project’s purpose was to consult grassroots organizations and seek basic consensus (locally and nationally) within civil society. This was done through workshops given in all of Bolivia’s nine Departments between February 2005 and July 2006. More than 5500 people participated and, with the collaboration of over 250 individuals, managed to draft a consensus document to be presented to the members of the Constituent Assembly. This text will also be made available to the public through other publications.

Furthermore, through the Constituent Assembly Coordination Unit (UCAC) UNIR processed dozens of requests for the training of grassroots, indigenous and peasant organizations groups regarding the constitutional process. Workshops were carried out in Aymara, Quechua, Moseten, Leco and Tacana communities.

Institutional Foundations

UNIR is made up of an Institutional Assembly in which 18 people from around the country participate in an atmosphere of ethnic and gender equity. UNIR’s activities are backed by its Institutional Strategic Plan PEI 2005-2008, annual operations plans and a series of regulations that guarantee the achievement of our objectives and the transparent, accountable use of economic resources.

UNIR carries out its activities with support from several European countries. Among them are the United Kingdom (DFID), Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland (SDC) and Sweden. We also receive backing from Japan and are associated with international foundations such as AVINA. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) underpins a number of activities through its expert support in negotiation and dialogue.

In order to take advantage of existing experience and to create synergies that will strengthen the objectives we have set out to achieve, UNIR is establishing institutional relationships with field-related civil society and State organizations; we are seeking to bring about multiplying effects and to promote initiatives that will have truly strategic impacts.

Executive Director
Ana María Romero de Campero
(Journalist and Bolivia’s first Ombudsman)

CENTRAL OFFICE in La Paz: 2528 “6 de agosto” Avenue between Pedro Salazar and Lisimaco Gutiérrez Tel. (+591-2) 2117069 Tel./Fax: (591-2) 215 3021 Casilla 135 La Paz – Bolivia * Esta dirección de correo electrónico está protegida contra los robots de spam, necesita tener Javascript activado para poder verla
Santa Cruz: 23 Bolívar Street, half block of 24 de Septiembre Square Tel./fax (+ 591-3) 3115072 Esta dirección de correo electrónico está protegida contra los robots de spam, necesita tener Javascript activado para poder verla
El Alto: 52 Beltrán Street in the corner of Guaqui Street (near Cruz Papal) Telf/fax: (591-2) 2846484 Esta dirección de correo electrónico está protegida contra los robots de spam, necesita tener Javascript activado para poder verla Cochabamba: 772 Paccieri Street between Antezana and 16 de Julio Tel./fax (+591-4) 4110438 Esta dirección de correo electrónico está protegida contra los robots de spam, necesita tener Javascript activado para poder verla Sucre: 105 Olañeta Street in front of Don Bosco School Tel./fax (+591-4) 6449636 Esta dirección de correo electrónico está protegida contra los robots de spam, necesita tener Javascript activado para poder verla www.unirbolivia.org