Bolivia Winners of “Ideas for the Future” Essay competition Announced

CAF—development bank of Latin America—and the Central Bank of Bolivia presented the two winners of the 2nd Edition of the “Ideas for the Future” University Essay Competition. The first place was for Annet Irán Carrillo of Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), while the Special Mention went to Daniela Nicole Morales of the San Pablo Bolivian Catholic University (UCB). These essays also qualified for the regional stage of the competition, which will be held in November.

Irán Carrillo’s winning essay entitled “Aftermath of COVID-19 in Bolivia’s Economy: Unemployment and the informal Economy” analyzes the impact of the informal economy on Bolivia’s economic development. Based on a subject definition and its link to unemployment, the paper explains the data from the reports of institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, taking into account the variations observed after COVID-19. It also puts forward ways to improve Bolivia’s economic situation by proposing education as a priority strategy within the social-economic framework.

In addition, Morales’s essay is entitled “The Paradigm of the Circular Economy, an Opportunity for Organic Waste.” The text begins by questioning the concept of linear economy, i.e. a disposable economy, based on the exploitation of resources and the manufacture of products that then end up in landfills or dumps. Bolivia produces more than 7,000 tons of garbage per day, of which 55% is organic.

The Circular Economy proposes that products, after completing their lifecycle with consumers, can be reinserted as raw material, thus, eliminating the concept of “waste” and fostering a new culture of non-disposable and economical consumerism.

”In these complex times, one key task is to support young talent and help them come up with proposals that are part of our goals of contributing to the sustainable development and integration of our countries,” said Gladis Genua, CAF representative in Bolivia.

BCB Acting General Manager Abel Sanjinés Alvarez highlighted the effort made by the international body by launching this initiative, despite restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. “These papers are a contribution made by young people to find better paths in their countries, in the context of the pandemic,” she said.

CAF launched #IdeasForTheFuture in 2019, suggesting development-related topics such as Integration, Public Policy and Productive Innovation. Since last year, several universities in the country have participated, with hundreds of essays entered into the competition. In addition, award-winning papers may be eligible to compete against selected works from the other 19 member countries of CAF.