This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the Dutch bilateral development cooperation with Bolivia carried out by the Policy and Operations Evaluation Unit (IOB).

The main objective of the study was to assess the policy relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the Dutch aid programme for Bolivia. In the period 1969-1996 a total of Dfl. 840 million has been disbursed to programme and project aid made available through the bilateral programme, as well as channelled through the co-financing agencies, the Netherlands Development Organization SNV and multilateral organizations. In 1996, Bolivia was the largest recipient of Dutch aid in South America.

The evaluation covered programme aid, agricultural projects funded under the Andes Programme, projects funded through the co-financing agencies, personnel inputs and projects by the SNV and the Local Fund for Women in Bolivia. There was also a study done on the perceptions of aid beneficiairies. A description of non-aid relations between the Netherland and Bolivia is included in this report. Both in Bolivia and the Netherlands, government authorities, representatives of non-governmental organizations and other experts have been involved in the various stages of the evaluation. Representatives of the Bolivian government and from civil society have formulated a reaction on the report which is included as annexe to this summary report.

Except part of the commodity aid, programme aid generally contributed to the improvement of Bolivia's macro-economic and social indicators, but the effects on the economic situation of the poor sections of the population have been limited. Project aid in general reached its direct objectives. It was less succesful in poverty alleviation in economic terms, but realized important effects in terms of institutional strengthening and civil society capacity building. Dutch aid also contributed to policy formation at national and local levels, among others in the field of Women and Development. Both programme aid and assistance to the non-governmental organizations facilitated Bolivia's democratization process and people's participation in development.

The report comprises three volumes. Volume I contains the Main Findings and the Summary. Volume II constitutes the Main Report, while Volume III deals with the Netherlands Programme Aid to Bolivia.