Empowerment Hub: INNOBUC Support NGO's Development

During this reporting period, our organization continued strengthening its mission of promoting innovation, sustainable development, education, and community empowerment through the implementation of strategic projects and the development of new institutional partnerships at both the national and international levels.

One of the main initiatives we have continued supporting is the “Turismo que Transforma” project, implemented in collaboration with Pan American Development Foundation. Through this initiative, we have been contributing to the promotion of sustainable tourism, local economic development, and community participation in different regions of Panama. The project has allowed us to engage with local actors, entrepreneurs, and community leaders while identifying opportunities to strengthen tourism as a tool for positive social and economic impact.

At the same time, we have continued advancing the IHCAVA project together with Japan International Cooperation Agency, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, and Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. Through this collaboration, we have maintained coordination efforts focused on innovation, education, and the strengthening of technical capacities. The project has also created opportunities to connect different sectors, including academia, international cooperation agencies, and local stakeholders, with the goal of generating long-term impact and sustainable development opportunities.

In addition, our organization has held several meetings with Instituto Panameño Autónomo Cooperativo to explore future collaboration opportunities aimed at supporting communities and organized groups throughout the country. These conversations have focused on identifying areas where entrepreneurship, training programs, innovation initiatives, and community development projects can be implemented to create sustainable impact and strengthen local capacities.

Another important area of work during this period has been our collaboration with American University and Caja de Ahorros on an initiative related to school gardens. This project seeks to promote education, sustainability, food awareness, and community participation through the development and strengthening of school garden programs. Through these discussions and coordination efforts, we aim to create opportunities for students and communities to better understand sustainable practices and environmental responsibility while encouraging educational engagement.

Furthermore, we have actively worked on expanding our network of partnerships and institutional relationships with embassies and international stakeholders interested in supporting social innovation, education, sustainability, and community-based initiatives in Panama. These efforts are intended to strengthen the long-term sustainability of our current projects while also opening opportunities for new collaborations, technical support, and future regional initiatives.

Overall, this reporting period has been focused on strengthening partnerships, building new opportunities for collaboration, and continuing to position our organization as a platform that connects communities, institutions, international cooperation, academia, and the private sector to generate meaningful and sustainable impact.

Organizational Progress Update – INNOBUC

During the final months of 2025, INNOBUC has continued to strengthen its role as a catalyst for innovation, sustainable development, and community-based impact across the region.

During this period, INNOBUC has been actively working in partnership with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) on the project “Turismo que Transforma”, focused on strengthening local tourism ecosystems and generating economic opportunities through community engagement and capacity building. This collaboration has allowed INNOBUC to support territorial development initiatives aligned with sustainability and inclusive growth.

At the same time, INNOBUC successfully established a strategic alliance with the University of Cuenca in Ecuador, aimed at developing joint projects focused on innovation, applied research, and knowledge exchange. This partnership expands INNOBUC’s regional reach and reinforces its commitment to cross-border collaboration in Latin America.

In recent weeks, INNOBUC also launched a new project in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with a focus on agriculture and agri-innovation in the province of Chiriquí, Panama. This initiative seeks to promote sustainable agricultural practices, technological innovation, and capacity building to strengthen the competitiveness of the sector in the region.

Overall, INNOBUC continues to advance projects throughout Panama, working with the right partners and building multi-sector collaborations that bring together local governments, the private sector, and educational institutions. This integrated approach enables the organization to design and implement initiatives with long-term impact, scalability, and strong local ownership, aligned with national and regional development priorities.