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Transforming Lives

Erwin Kaats, left, president of the “Commission for Villarrica” citizens’ association that strives to improve local governance.

In 2003, the municipality of Villarrica, Paraguay installed a custom-made, computerized income information system under the guidance of a USAID-funded project to improve municipal governance. The system standardized and integrated municipal records on properties, property owners, and tax collections.

Elvio Barrios enjoys the swingset in the rebuilt playground of Ñemby’s main park.

The town of Ñemby was immersed in a financial crisis in 2002: the municipality had large debts, salaries to civil servants were five months behind, many taxes were not being collected, and community services were minimal.

A resident of Limpio on a road financed by taxes the municipality recovered with USAID assistance.

In 2002, the municipality of Limpio was going through a financial crisis and the mayor sought help from USAID. In order to improve city revenues, the mayor wanted to expedite the collection of taxes from businesses in the area.

"Gancheros" outside of Asuncion separate recyclables at the sorting center located next to the landfill.

To some people, recycling boils down to merely separating recyclables from garbage to drop off into colorful bins. For the “gancheros” of Asuncion, Paraguay, recycling is a way of life.

A staff member of the Paraguayan Judicial Ethics Office explains procedures for filing complaints.

Father Juan de la Vega is a senior Roman Catholic priest, strongly committed to the promotion of human rights, and a highly respected ethics professor at a prestigious local university.

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