Bolivia will implement a model program for early childhood development to improve access and quality of care for more than 25,000 children under 4 years old, with a $20 million loan approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Although it is still among the lowest-income countries in Latin America, Bolivia is substantially increasing its investment in programs to reduce poverty and inequality, and has been expanding access to social services for vulnerable segments of the population.
The program will contribute in a sustainable and culturally relevant way to cognitive, socio-emotional and physical development of children in Bolivia. By 2017, it is expected to enable at least 25,000 children to be covered by early childhood development services in high poverty areas. The program will focus on the health sector, with emphasis on attention in 90 child development centers with an estimated coverage of up to 3,060 children. It will also set up to 60 early stimulation rooms with a capacity to assist up to 9,000 children with development delays.
