Túpac Katari 1 and Development

We visited the La Paz department of the UNDP, the United Nations Development Programme, yesterday. It was one of the most intriguing experiences I have had yet, as we were able to candidly discuss and learn about development in Bolivia. I expected to leave a little smarter, but as I should be acclimated to by now, I left with my head spinning:

What is development? How do we measure it? And in the case of the UNDP, how do we know when our development work is completed?

Something that struck me during our visit was when we started discussing the advancements Bolivia has recently forged –Túpac Katari 1 (a telecommunications satellite), better road networks, and Mi Teleférico are a few among a myriad of others. By any standard, this is development, modern and innovative and telling of a society surely coming to join developed ranks.

I definitely think these things are good and congratulations to Bolivia; however, I couldn’t help but think of conversations I have had over the six weeks I have been here, the conversations about healthcare and public education and gender inequity and censorship of the press –

And, in stark contrast to a telecommunications satellite, these things do not seem to lend themselves to such a developed, as we understand the term, country anymore.

Sure, Bolivia’s parliament is half-composed of women, but as of 2007, only 24.6 percent of Bolivian women were formally employed, meaning 75.4 percent of Bolivian women lack access to social security and health benefits (UN Women). And, sure, Bolivia is now formally named the Plurinational State of Bolivia; however, extreme poverty still disproportionately affects rural areas. In turn, the majority of persons living in extreme poverty are indigenous groups (UNICEF).

Granted, the statistics used are getting old, and we do know there has been an expanse of the middle class under Morales' administration; however, as of now, I am unconvinced, however, I am hopeful – while Bolivia has yet to use its robust economic growth to create solid social programs, it has not lost its opportunity to. Yes, there are many challenges, like rapid urbanization, and the general difficulty of social development, but there is time. And for the sake of marginalized groups that the current government claims to represent, it has got to happen.