"Wendá" (Web + Rendá, the guaraní word for “place”) is the place where we network and connect. It’s a social and digital platform that articulates, promotes, and strengthens government and citizen initiatives during the COVID-19 and beyond.

The platform enables a participatory mapping of people and organizations’ programs, projects, and needs, related to the COVID19 crisis. In just the first two weeks, over 120 initiatives signed up, with many of the groups behind them already starting to work together thanks to this platform. "Wendá" brings together volunteers to help governments and civil society organizations that are joining the platform, in their efforts to continue delivering critical services such as food for vulnerable populations (e.g., communal soup kitchens), emergency loans for small business and job opportunities for the unemployed.

The goal of Wendá is to connect key actors and their initiatives, through a solutions mapping process at scale that will enable an inclusive (online and physical) ecosystem to bring social and economic resilience in the face of COVID-19.

The participatory mapping of solutions that both people and organizations are creating in the face of the crisis will enhance partnerships between actors and signal the key economic and social challenges Paraguay faces in the short, medium and long term. These challenges will be the focus of innovation processes (such as: ideation, incubation, acceleration and scaling programs) related to business resilience, employment recovery and reconversion, and social resilience.

“Wendá” was co-designed by the Paraguayan National Innovation Strategy and the Acceleration Laboratory of the United Nations Development Program. The platform it’s also part of the international community of “Frena la curva”.