Project: “Empowerment of Women and Indigenous Communities in Moxos, Bolivia”
Project funded by the White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) that sought to improve maternal and child nutrition and self-care among pregnant and breastfeeding women in indigenous communities in the municipality of San Ignacio de Moxos, in the department of Beni, Bolivia.
Scope of intervention
11 indigenous communities
of San Ignacio of Moxos
Target population
families with children and adolescents, community authorities and local governments
Key allies: 21 indigenous women leaders
of the CPEMB, TIM and TIMI organisations, which were formed as agents of change in their own communities
How do we work?
The project combined communication for social change and adult education, with a participatory methodology focused on empowering women:
Diagnostic workshop
with indigenous women leaders, municipal authorities, health personnel, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, to identify problems and priorities.
Training for indigenous women leaders
Proper nutrition during pregnancy, the importance of prenatal care and warning signs, and care for the pregnant woman and newborn.
Educational and communication materials
Calendars and recipe books with healthy recipes, posters and radio spots on nutrition and warning signs, flipcharts and materials for leaders to conduct educational sessions themselves.
Educational fairs and group sessions
Home visits, led by indigenous women themselves, to support pregnant women and nursing mothers in making specific changes in nutrition, hygiene, and care.
Results and impact
Better informed and empowered indigenous women
- Twenty-one indigenous women leaders from 11 communities were trained as community leaders in maternal and child health.
- Over 180 pregnant and breastfeeding women participated in educational and demonstration sessions.
Communities organised around caring for mothers and babies
- Indigenous women leaders began conducting home visits and educational sessions in their own communities, acting as a bridge between families and the health system.
- Joint efforts were strengthened between indigenous organisations (CPEMB, TIM, TIMI), health personnel from Network 02 Moxos, and authorities from the municipality of San Ignacio de Moxos.
Greater access to maternal health benefits
- The project promoted the informed use of the Juana Azurduy Voucher and the Prenatal Subsidy for Life, bringing more pregnant women closer to prenatal check-ups and the financial benefits available to them.
- Municipal authorities and health personnel recognised the importance of investing in maternal and child nutrition as a basis for improving the well-being of indigenous families.
