Sustainable Digital Economies in the Bolivian Yungas

In 2024, Bolivia’s long-standing economic model, which relied heavily on hydrocarbon exports, ended abruptly as the country’s gas reserves were depleted. The government turned to alternative sources of income, such as gold mining and large-scale soy monoculture, both of which had extreme environmental impacts. In parallel, the management of Bolivia’s lithium reserves was handed over to political allies of the government, primarily companies from Russia and China.As the country faces the threat of a deep recession, it is estimated that about half of the population could soon be living below the poverty line. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to support Bolivia’s most vulnerable communities by helping them build sustainable livelihoods. The project focuses on strengthening local productive capacity and unlocking new opportunities through the digital economy. 
 

This initiative aims to foster the digital and sustainable transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises within indigenous and campesino communities in the Bolivian Yungas. The focus lies on one key sector: organic coffee production in the highlands of La Paz. The ambition is to support these local producers and communities to make greater use of digital tools in order to strengthen their economic opportunities. This involves enhancing access to information, using data strategically, adopting alternative payment and banking methods, and building a stronger presence in online markets. By improving access to new markets and fostering inclusive economic participation, the initiative seeks to contribute to long-term resilience and social equity.
 

To achieve its goals, the initiative collaborates closely with one key group: the BIO ARCOIRIS coffee cooperative, which has over 300 members, most of whom are young women. Over a period of two and a half years, this partnership focuses on four main areas:

• Building digital skills: Tailored training and mentoring programs help local producers and community members gain the knowledge and confidence to use digital tools effectively.
• Creating a self-managed open data and e-commerce platform that will provide transparent information about organic coffee production.
• Strengthening local governance: Community leaders and local authorities receive advice and technical support to help shape technology policies that serve local needs and priorities.
• Ensuring shared decision-making: A coordinating committee will be established to guide and oversee the activities. This committee will ensure that at least half of its members are producers and community representatives chosen according to local traditions.