Innovation and technology, driven by evidence and collaborative work, have become key catalysts for social and educational transformation in Colombia. When applied across diverse contexts, these tools help identify specific gaps, adapt strategies, and produce reliable data to inform public policy decisions.
Why are local actors essential?
United Way Colombia develops and implements evidence-based educational solutions tailored to the unique realities of each region. In this context, technology enhances various processes, enables agile decision-making, generates tangible metrics, and helps prioritise actions where they are most needed.
Those who know the community realities firsthand become vital allies in designing effective educational strategies. Local actors like teachers, families, community leaders, municipal governments, and corporate partners, understand the specific challenges and can adapt solutions to their own environments.
This localised approach has led to measurable results. Initiatives like Urban95 in Barranquilla and Cartagena, the Buen Comienzo programme led by the Medellín City Hall, and our support for the Early Childhood Ecosystem in Manizales all demonstrate that transformation happens when local actors are genuinely involved. For instance, in parks revitalised by Urban95, 82% of families now spend over two hours a week playing with their children, and daytime safety perception has reached 88% in some areas.
In Medellín, collaboration with Buen Comienzo has led to 70% of educators enhancing their creativity and innovation skills. Children in the programme have shown up to 16 percentage-point gains in cognitive and academic skills compared to other groups. In Manizales, the Early Childhood Ecosystem intervention has led to 30 to 50-point improvements in educators’ creativity, problem-solving, and communication, alongside significant progress in children’s motor, cognitive, and social-emotional development.
These experiences confirm that when evidence, technology, and community voices come together, public policy impact extends beyond individual projects, it becomes real transformation for early childhood development.
From data to change: a transformational logic
Technology and innovation are at the heart of United Way Colombia’s daily work. The team follows change-driven methodologies, clearly mapping how each educational experience, school well-being initiative, and teacher training strategy contributes to scalable and sustainable educational impact.
These models are evaluated with tools designed to identify what works, for whom, and under what conditions. This strengthens implementation, builds adaptive capacity, and enables scaling of practices that bring value to communities.
Four focus areas for a more equitable future:
- Mental health and school well-being: fostering safe and supportive learning environments.
- Innovation and 21st-century skills: including critical thinking and adaptability.
- Learning environments and experiences: recognising the importance of physical and pedagogical context.
- A curriculum connected to real life, the local territory, and real opportunities.
These educational challenges call for context-sensitive solutions. The diversity of experiences among children and youth mobilises a wide range of stakeholders like educators, families, national and local governments, corporate and academic partners, united around a shared purpose: helping new generations reach their full potential. This drives transformation far beyond the classroom.
Measuring is transforming: Plan U
To measure is to transform. Assessing learning, socio-emotional skills, competencies, and school well-being is key to ensuring future development. That’s why we use mixed methods, longitudinal models, and psychometric validation in partnership with six universities and research centers across the country.
Through the Plan U network, we connect the research efforts of these institutions to produce practical, place-based knowledge. These partnerships strengthen the schools involved and our networks, ensuring evidence-based actions with real impact on communities.
These technical capabilities create a multiplier effect: communities develop greater trust, partners invest with more confidence, and other organisations replicate successful models. In this way, evidence becomes a tool for advocacy, learning, and social mobilisation.
Toward a Culture of Impact through Innovation
Lasting impact begins when local communities take centre stage. Public policy must promote decentralisation, local participation, and multisectoral investment, centering on territorial realities and the voices of local stakeholders.
When data becomes understandable, actionable, and shared, something powerful happens: collective intelligence is activated. It strengthens public policies, boosts social investment, and accelerates impact. Working closely with the communities surrounding future generations helps turn data into relevant information and impactful action.
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United Way Colombia drives transformation through collaboration and evidence-based action, empowering every child, young person, and community to reach their full potential.
For more information, visit: www.unitedwaycolombia.org
A psychologist trained at the University of Maryland, with a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. For over 20 years, she has worked to promote the development of vulnerable communities across both Colombia and the United States, partnering with organisations such as Fundación Cardioinfantil, UNICEF, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and the Genesis Foundation, among others. Her professional journey has provided first-hand insight into the challenges faced by children, young people, families and educators affected by deep social inequalities. Drawing on this experience, she has designed and led systemic, high-impact solutions to support them.
For 15 years, she served as the country representative for the Genesis Foundation in Colombia, and in 2012, she was appointed its Executive Director. Since 2020, she has held the role of Executive Director at United Way Colombia, an organisation created from the merger of Fundación Genesis and Fundación Dividendo por Colombia.
Cristina currently serves on the boards of United Way Worldwide, Fundación Scarpetta Gnecco, and the Asociación de Fundaciones Empresariales.