Oxfam America

Background


INTRODUCTION

The countries in Oxfam Americas South America regional program are the poorest in the Andes. Indigenous people, who make up 46 percent of the population, are victims of social and racial discrimination, and are routinely denied access to government services. Most live on ancestral lands that are biologically diverse and fragile.

Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru cover 2.7 million square kilometers (1.7 million square miles). Oxfam divides our regional program there into two geographic areas: the Andean highlands and the Amazon lowland areas.

In the highland zones, the peaks and altiplano extend from Bolivia into southern Peru, and range as high as 15,000 feet above sea level. In both the highland and intermountain valley zones, indigenous people grow crops suited to the high altitude, raise livestock, and fish for their livelihood. Water is scarce, and the altitude makes growing crops a challenge.

The South America regional program also spans the western Amazon Basin, which includes rain forests, the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains, and the dry tropical forests of Bolivia. Lowland people in the Amazon Basin are traditionally hunters and gatherers, but are currently learning new ways to earn their living, including farming and forest products. 

Regional Facts

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America. The indigenous people constitute 80 percent of the total population and are the most impoverished. During 2004 protests against natural gas export policies, they forced the president, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, to resign.  Activists hope future gas exports can be used to benefit the poorest in the country.

Ecuador is shouldering a huge debt--more than $12 billion in a country with a total GDP of about $24 billion. The country is attempting to increase oil exports to pay it off, and is using a small fraction of the revenues for social spending. Little money goes to the 10 largest indigenous groups, which make up 45 percent of the population. 

Peru is the fastest growing economy in South America.  Over the last 10 years, Peru has prioritized mineral exports, and is now the world’s eighth largest producer of gold. Almost half of the indigenous communities are affected by mining, but see little of the revenues.