Applying the DCED Standard to an Environmental Project – The case of EcoVecindarios in Bolivia

This case study explores how SwissContact’s EcoVecindarios project in Bolivia adapted the DCED Standard for Results Measurement, originally developed for private sector development programs, to an environmental initiative focused on improved waste management. Working with municipalities, businesses, and communities, the project promoted waste separation, recycling, improved collection systems, and more sustainable environmental practices.

The case demonstrates how EcoVecindarios used results chains, environmental and socioeconomic indicators, and practical monitoring systems to measure changes such as reductions in CO₂ emissions, increased recycling, sustained waste-separation behavior, and the creation of decent jobs. It also examines ways to assess wider systemic change, including continued municipal investment and the adoption of improved waste-management practices by other municipalities.

Overall, the case shows that the core principles of the DCED Standard can be successfully applied beyond private sector development, providing environmental programs with a structured approach to understanding, measuring, and communicating their results.