Municipalities in conflict regions grapple with weak transparency and accountability, and lack the capacity to carry out key development activities needed to establish the legitimacy of the State at the local level; they are often under-staffed and unable to offer basic services. Problems at the municipal level are often exacerbated by a lack of coordination between national and regional entities in the design and implementation of policies and programs.

USAID’s Regional Governance Activity (RGA) works closely with Government of Colombia (GOC) counterparts to assist public officials in 40 conflict-affected municipalities to strengthen their capacity to serve their citizens. By improving the credibility and legitimacy of sub-national governments, this work builds citizen trust in government and promotes a durable and inclusive peace in the regions.

PROGRAM APPROACH

RGA takes a systems approach to evaluating the particular problems of each municipality and helping them to implement sustainable solutions.  By incorporating the perspectives of women and other vulnerable and marginalized populations into every activity, RGA enables local authorities to focus on the unique needs of these citizens. RGA also supports an engaged and empowered civil society by helping to establish formal mechanisms for citizen input to local governments and by helping citizen groups to advocate on their own behalf.

RGA helps struggling local governments develop good public management practices with a focus on transparency, inclusion, participation and accountability. It also works to improve trust in government leaders and increase voter engagement through efforts to assist the GOC in its efforts to prevent, investigate and prosecute electoral crimes and electoral corruption.the unique needs of these citizens. RGA also supports an engaged and empowered civil society by helping to establish formal mechanisms for citizen input to local governments and by helping citizen groups to advocate on their own behalf.

EXPECTED RESULTS

• Improved operational capacity of departmental and local governments.   
• Improved financial management systems of targeted municipal governments.

• Improved normative, institutional and procedural frameworks for development and maintenance of secondary and tertiary road infrastructure.

• Increased citizen participation to advocate for transparency and accountability.

• Improved electoral processes to limit state capture at the sub-national level.

Related Links

USAID/Colombia