Knowledge Integration Actions. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop with women entrepreneurs in Cliza, Cochabamba

This working paper details an innovation and entrepreneurship workshop conducted with a group of women entrepreneurs in Cliza, Cochabamba, Bolivia. The initiative was a collaboration between the NGO Ciudadanía and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The project is framed within "knowledge integration actions", an approach that proposes a paradigm shift in development cooperation. This model empowers communities to become protagonists of their own development by integrating valuable local knowledge with external tools and methodologies, rather than simply receiving externally designed solutions. Participants included women entrepreneurs from the Valle Alto region whose businesses cover sectors such as livestock, bakery and confectionery, fabrics, and gastronomy. Over two days, the workshop employed a participatory methodology using group work and guided tools. The activities guided the entrepreneurs through a sequence beginning with the analysis of their current production processes, identifying challenges, and defining their aspirations. The workshop also explored the use of digital tools, such as social media and generative AI, for research and commercialisation. As a principal result, each participant concluded the action with a "concrete, realistic and short-term oriented improvement plan" for their venture. These plans outlined specific actions in areas like product innovation, cost optimisation, and commercial strategies. The workshop not only generated practical solutions but also provided the entrepreneurs with a replicable method for analysis and planning, thereby strengthening their autonomy and the sustainability of their businesses.