PROJECT INFORMATION DOCUMENT (PID)
                                        CONCEPT STAGE
                                                                                Report No.: AB660
 Project Name                    Community-Based Land Distribution Project
 Region                          LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN
 Sector                          General agriculture, fishing and forestry sector (75%);Sub-
                                 national government administration (25%)
 Project ID                      P087925
 Borrower(s)                     GOVERNMENT OF BOLIVIA
 Implementing Agency             To be determined
 Environment Category            [ ] A [X] B [ ] C [ ] FI [ ] TBD (to be determined)
 Safeguard Classification        [ ] S1 [X] S2 [ ] S3 [ ] SF [ ] TBD (to be determined)
 Date PID Prepared               February 3, 2004
 Estimated Date of               December 15, 2004
 Appraisal Authorization
 Estimated Date of Board         March 31, 2005
 Approval



1. Key development issues and rationale for Bank involvement

Bolivia faces many challenges related to land tenure issues, but these fall broadly under two
main categories: (i) Redistribution of lands and (ii) land administration. Government has been
considering at least two complementary mechanisms of land distribution, namely, human
settlements on public lands identified during the land title regularization (saneamiento) process,
and via land transfers with the direct participation of beneficiaries through the proposed project.
The project will support the new government's objectives of reducing asset inequality,
improving income-generating opportunities for the rural poor, and expediting land redistribution.
The Bank is uniquely placed to assist the Government given its experience with similar programs
in the region. Government has specifically requested the Bank to supports its efforts in this area,
as reflected in the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS).

2. Proposed objective(s)

The development objective of the proposed project is to establish a decentralized beneficiary-
driven mechanism that allows organized landless or poor farmers to acquire suitable agricultural
lands and implement investment subprojects which puts them on a sustainable, higher-income
pathway. At this point, it is estimated the proposed project would benefit between 1,500 and
3,000 poor rural families.

3. Preliminary description

It is expected that the project (estimated total cost: US$ 17 million) would have three
components: (i) land acquisition; (ii) complementary investments to enhance the productive
capacity of the acquired lands; and (iii) project management, technical assistance, and
monitoring and evaluation.

4. Safeguard policies that might apply

The project will trigger safeguard policies related to environmental assessment and indigenous
peoples, and may trigger those related to natural habitats, cultural property and involuntary
resettlement. An environmental and a social assessment will be carried out in the course of
project preparation. The project preparation team will incorporate representatives from key
stakeholders, particularly at the local level, early on in the preparation process. Detailed
discussions, again particularly at the local levels, on project operational modalities and eligibility
criteria are expected during project preparation.

5. Tentative financing
Source:                                                                             ($m.)
BORROWER/RECIPIENT                                                                     2
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION                                                 15
                                                                         Total        17

6. Contact point
Contact: Malcolm Childress
Title: Sr Land Administration Specialist
Tel: (202) 458-5847
Fax: (202) 522-0262
Email: Mchildress@worldbank.org