ScaleUp Bolivia

ScaleUp Bolivia

Project Background, Goals, and Objectives Bolivia has one of the largest informal economies in Latin America, with a significant portion of entrepreneurial activity occurring outside formal business structures. Many entrepreneurs operate small-scale businesses in sectors like retail, food services, construction, and personal services without formal registration, limiting their access to credit, legal protections, and growth opportunities. These informal businesses also face barriers to adopting modern business practices and technologies, including U.S.-based financial management tools and digital solutions that could enhance their competitiveness. By bringing businesses into the formal economy, ScaleUp Bolivia will expand the customer base for U.S. products and services, create more reliable supply chain partners for American companies, and open new markets for American technology providers and suppliers. The program will strengthen the rule of law and economic governance, reduce unfair competition in the marketplace, increase municipal tax revenues that support local development, and generate economic growth that benefits both Bolivian communities and U.S. commercial interests. Additionally, formalized businesses become better positioned to engage in international trade and adopt U.S. business standards, creating a foundation for sustained bilateral economic partnership. Project Audience(s): Primary beneficiaries should include: •Informal entrepreneurs currently operating outside the formal economy who are ready to legitimize their businesses. •Micro and small business owners in sectors such as retail, food services, construction, and personal services lack knowledge of formalization processes. •Entrepreneurs who face additional barriers to entering the formal market due to limited access to information, capital, and networks. Project Goal: The project goal is to transition 100 informal Bolivian businesses into the formal economy within 12 months by providing

Details

• Agency: U.S. Mission to Bolivia
• Department: Department of State
• Opportunity #: PD-LAPAZ-FY26-02
• Total Funding: $40,000
• Expected Awards: 1
• Instrument: cooperative_agreement

Eligibility

The following organizations are eligible to apply:• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations• Public and private educational institutions• Public International Organizations• Governmental institutions