Volunteer Academic Researchers, Writers & Editors on Circular Creative Economies in the Age of AI with Animana & Hecho por nosotros

About the Affiliated Organization

Hecho por Nosotros (HxN) is part of the Ashoka Fellowship, a network of leading social entrepreneurs who create systemic change. For over 16 years, founder Adriana Marina—PhD in Economics and Ashoka Fellow—has built a vision for a creative economy where indigenous knowledge is protected, artisans are recognized as innovators, and technology strengthens communities. HxN operates as a living platform for shared knowledge, uniting over 8,500 artisans, 20,000 natural fiber producers, 50 medium-sized firms, 80 organizations, universities, and governments across Latin America to build fair, traceable, and regenerative value chains.

The creative economy—encompassing fashion, media, design, storytelling, and cultural heritage—holds immense potential to address inequality, cultural erasure, and environmental collapse. Yet it remains underinvested and structurally overlooked. HxN works at this intersection, bridging ancestral intelligence with emerging technologies to redefine whose knowledge shapes the future and who owns the tools driving it. This is a civilizational decision: whether communities shape the economy or remain marginalized within it.

With 16 years of methodology, institutional relationships, and trust-building, HxN is now accelerating this shift by connecting global changemakers. The Ashoka network provides a unique opportunity to scale this work—not through isolated programs, but by uniting existing initiatives into a cohesive, visible, and permanent force for transformation. The foundations include Universidad HxN, a permanent UN presence, and the animaná ethical commerce platform. The next step depends on people: leaders ready to co-create learning structures, forge alliances, and turn fragmented efforts into shared momentum.

About the Role

Hecho por Nosotros (HxN) is seeking volunteer Academic Researchers, Writers, and Editors to support its growing portfolio of research, publications, and knowledge-generation initiatives. These focus on sustainability, circular economy, creative economies, indigenous knowledge, social innovation, and regenerative development. The goal is to strengthen the quality, accessibility, and impact of HxN’s research and knowledge products, which contribute to international advocacy, policy discussions, educational initiatives, and collaborations with universities, governments, civil society organizations, and multilateral institutions.

Responsibilities

• Review and edit academic papers, research reports, and policy briefs.
• Conduct literature reviews and verify references and citations.
• Provide feedback on research methodologies and argumentation.
• Assist in preparing publications for academic journals and international forums.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to transform research findings into accessible and impactful knowledge products.

Volunteers will ensure the academic rigor, credibility, and effectiveness of HxN’s research, helping generate evidence-based solutions and strengthen global dialogue on sustainability and creative economies. Their work will support initiatives promoting social inclusion, cultural preservation, ethical value chains, and regenerative development worldwide.

Requirements

• Master’s degree, PhD, PhD candidacy, graduate student status, or equivalent experience in:
  • Economics
  • International Relations
  • Sociology
  • Political Science
  • Sustainable Development
  • Environmental Studies
  • Public Policy
  • Social Sciences
  • Or related fields
• Experience in academic research, scientific writing, publication, peer review, or editorial processes.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Familiarity with academic citation systems (APA, Chicago, Harvard, etc.).
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Professional proficiency in English (required). Spanish is an asset.

Volunteer Logistics

• Commitment: 10–15 hours per week (flexible up to 30 hours).
• Initial duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension up to 12 months).
• Remote/virtual opportunity.
• Certification: After completing the initial 6-month period, volunteers may request a certificate acknowledging their collaboration with Hecho por Nosotros (HxN) and animaná, detailing their contributions and responsibilities.