By Fabiola Aguilar – Founder and Executive Director of Nexus for Social Advancement

Abstract

This article analyzes the transformative potential of social innovation and co-creation as key tools for building sustainable, just, and resilient societies. Based on the Bolivian case and the experience of the Managerial Innovation Workshop promoted by the Sweden Alumni Network Bolivia and the Embassy of Sweden, it reflects on the role of collaborative ethics, scientific evidence, and territorial leadership as drivers of structural change. The proposal is articulated around the principles of the TWI2050 framework, combining contextual analysis, regional data, and collective impact strategies. Ultimately, it argues that moving from cooperation to collaborative creation is essential to address the challenges of sustainable development in the 21st century.

Keywords: social innovation, co-creation, structural transformation, sustainable development, TWI2050, Bolivia, institutional resilience.

Introduction

Humanity is facing a convergence of crises that challenge current social, environmental, and political structures. In this context, social innovation emerges not only as a technological alternative but as an ethical and organizational path to rethink development through a systemic and collaborative lens. Bolivia offers a unique opportunity to explore territorially rooted solutions aligned with global frameworks like The World in 2050 (TWI2050), which promotes comprehensive transformation toward planetary sustainability.

Social Innovation as a Structural Imperative

The inefficiency of traditional development models is evidenced by stagnation in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the TWI2050 report (2018), more than 70% of SDG targets will remain unmet under the current paradigm. In Latin America, social innovation has improved access to services for over 15 million people (Inter-American Development Bank, 2021), while in Europe, investment in social innovation tripled between 2016 and 2022, with positive impacts on youth employment, the circular economy, and social cohesion (European Commission, 2022).

Co-creation has also been identified as one of the most effective strategies for implementing social solutions, increasing project success rates by up to 60% (Nesta, 2020). The current challenge is not only to identify problems but to collectively rebuild the paths toward sustainable solutions.

Co-Creation: Transformative Ethics and Social Legitimacy

Co-creation implies a profound ethical shift: moving from symbolic consultation to active co-responsibility in designing solutions. Far from being a superficial participatory technique, it represents a development approach where communities lead the construction of their futures by integrating technical, local, and ancestral knowledge (Puerari et al., 2018).

According to the Stanford Social Innovation Review (2021), co-created projects are up to 50% more likely to secure sustainable funding and form effective multilateral alliances. This approach generates legitimacy, contextual innovation, and organizational sustainability.

From Personal Transition to Structural Vision: The Origin of Nexus for Social Advancement

The founding of Nexus for Social Advancement was neither an individual decision nor an impulsive one. After more than two decades supporting development projects in multilateral organizations, UN agencies, the private sector, and international cooperation institutions, I realized that many well-intentioned interventions lacked sustainability, community ownership, and technical rigor. That was when I decided to shift course: I didn’t leave cooperation; I’m reinventing it.

However, this reinvention has never been a solitary journey. Nexus is the result of converging paths: a core team of high-level professionals who, like me, have walked similar roads and share the conviction that systemic change requires collaborative, interdisciplinary, and ethically committed approaches. This team includes both experienced leadership and emerging young voices who bring transformative energy, situated experience, and critical creativity.

We believe that all lasting social innovation results from the combination of vision, evidence, and co-responsibility. As I emphasized during the Managerial Innovation Workshop: success in social innovation is not measured by awards but by sustainable transformations.

Our methodology is structured around four strategic pillars: leadership development, transformative territorial alliances, solution prototyping based on research and narratives, and strengthening organizational resilience.

Diplomatic Platforms as Engines of Change: The Managerial Innovation Workshop

The Managerial Innovation Workshop held in La Paz, Bolivia, was an exemplary case of transformative diplomacy. Organized by the Sweden Alumni Network Bolivia and supported by the Embassy of Sweden, the event demonstrated the power of aligning ethics, knowledge, and purpose.

Ambassador Johanna Teague led with human-centered diplomacy and visionary leadership, accompanied by Embassy officials Karen Velasco and Rebeca Borda, who embodied a commitment to human rights and participatory dialogue. Equally noteworthy was the leadership of Gissel Cabrera, president of the Sweden Alumni Network Bolivia, who effectively mobilized a cross-sectoral network with deep social sensitivity.

It was a true honor to participate as a speaker, sharing the stage with colleague Alejandro Zegarra Saldaña, Deputy Vice Chancellor of UNIFRANZ, during a day that was much more than an academic gathering: it was a collective incubator for social innovation.

Recognizing Bolivian Talent and the Participatory Community

I express my deepest gratitude to the audience and participants of the workshop who made a meaningful co-creation space possible during my presentation. Engaging with Bolivian alumni trained at top academic institutions in Sweden—who now lead transformative processes in diverse sectors—was a deeply inspiring experience.

These alumni, from fields such as public health, engineering, education, social sciences, and technology, demonstrate the value of national talent when quality education becomes a strategic investment. Their leadership and commitment position them as key agents of change for Bolivia’s future.

Conclusion

Social innovation and co-creation are not just viable strategies—they are urgent and necessary to confront the global development challenges of the 21st century. Bolivia has the human, institutional, and cultural capacity to lead this transition toward a model grounded in ethics, knowledge, and inclusive participation.

The future will not be built by preserving the status quo but by collectively reimagining public policy, diplomacy, and development. The time to act with rigor, courage, and hope is now.

If we accept that institutional resilience is as crucial as operational efficiency, then we must seriously ask ourselves: are our organizations prepared to manage conflict and disruption, or are they still anchored in paradigms designed only for conditions of stability?

References

Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID). (2021). Innovación social en América Latina. https://www.iadb.org

Brown, T., & Wyatt, J. (2010). Design thinking for social innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review. https://ssir.org

European Commission. (2022). Social Innovation Reports. https://ec.europa.eu

Kania, J., Kramer, M., & Senge, P. (2014). The dawn of system leadership. Stanford Social Innovation Review.

Mulgan, G. (2019). Social Innovation: How Societies Find the Power to Change. Policy Press.

Nesta. (2020). Co-Creation in Social Innovation Projects. https://nesta.org.uk

Nicholls, A., Simon, J., & Gabriel, M. (2015). New Frontiers in Social Innovation Research. Palgrave Macmillan.

Puerari, E., et al. (2018). Co-Designing Sustainable Urban Futures. Springer.

TWI2050 – The World in 2050. (2018). Transformations to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. IIASA. https://twi2050.org

Westley, F., McGowan, K., & Tjörnbo, O. (2013). The Evolution of Social Innovation: Building Resilience Through Transitions. Edward Elgar.