This paper describes the progress and the experience of the implementation of public policies in the Bolivian State linked to the social economy, identifying the levels of coordination and of responsibility shared with social actors, including “the state of the art” in which these policies are found. The research underlying this paper focuses on the reactions and the motivations of the social actors involved, in which there are approximately 150,000 associated producers. It identifies precedents of social economy, describes current policies in detail and discusses the results of public policies currently in place and their contribution to the objectives of national development, highlighting the voices of the actors involved.

The paper also identifies key weaknesses such as the lack of knowledge among members in productive organizations regarding the social economy; limited access to governmental economic resources and disincentives to approach government and equally inadequate engagement on the part of  banks. With few spaces of coordination between organizations, they are more vulnerable to the high prices of primary resources that are subject to market fluctuations.

Lastly, the author suggests the continuation of different policies such as the implementation of a specific vice-minister; that awareness and outreach must continuously promote ethical consumption and trade; deepening partnerships with  organizations working on related issues (food security, climate change, etc.) and the promotion of a national census of organizations and producers, among others.

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