Care Systems in Bolivia and Latin America: A Strategic Agenda for Equity and Development by Fabiola Aguilar.
At Nexus for Social Advancement, we had the honor of participating in the International Forum on Building Care Systems in Bolivia, a strategic space for raising visibility and strengthening care as a structural public policy across the region.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Tania Sánchez, National Director of the Coordinadora de la Mujer in Bolivia, for her generous invitation and tireless leadership in defending women's rights and social justice, and to her entire team.
The forum was led by the Centro de Promoción de la Mujer Gregoria Apaza (CPHGA) under the leadership of Carla Gutiérrez, together with the National Platform for Social and Public Co-Responsibility in Care. It brought together national and international stakeholders, including UN Women, ECLAC, ILO, PSI, and organizations such as FENATRAHOB, CAMEBOL, IISEC, WSM, Ciudadanía, CPMGA, and the Technical Care Roundtable of El Alto.
🌎 Latin America: Care as a Policy for Equity
Care is increasingly recognized as essential social infrastructure. Countries like Uruguay, Mexico, and Colombia have shown that institutionalizing care systems reduces the feminization of poverty, boosts women’s economic autonomy, and generates employment. However, challenges remain in terms of investment, formalization, and coverage.
🇧🇴 Bolivia: Political Will and Participatory Innovation
Bolivia is moving toward a Comprehensive Care System with a rights-based approach. We highlight the commitment of Vice Minister Miriam Huacani, a key proponent of the draft law, which is the result of an articulated process involving civil society and key actors across the country.
📌 This participatory process is a concrete example of collaborative governance, where community knowledge, territorial needs, and intersectoral approaches are integrated into the design of a public policy critical to Bolivia’s present and future.
📚 We also celebrate the coordinated work of the Coordinadora de la Mujer in formulating the national agenda “For a Bolivia with Equality,” a political proposal built from the perspective and lived experiences of Bolivian women.
👉 We recommend reading the full proposal here:
At Nexus for Social Advancement, we reaffirm our commitment to Bolivia and to all countries in the Global South that are building care systems grounded in a rights-based approach.
Our work continues in:
🔹 Institutional and technical strengthening
🔹 Mobilization of international cooperation and applied knowledge
🔹 Global advocacy, highlighting local experiences as drivers of transformation.
