CAF and Finance Ministry launch "Transparency On Line"

The Colombian Finance Minister, Juan Manuel Santos, and the CAF representative in Colombia, Luis Palau Rivas, today presented to the public the Web page www.transparencia.gov.co of the Transparency On-Line project. With the new site, citizens can consult updated information on all the projects being financed with funds for regional social investment.

The Transparency On Line project is the result of a non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreement, under which the Corporation provides the funds and the Ministry develops the project. The CAF representative in Colombia said this initiative is an important contribution to the efficient and transparent use of public funds, as well as promoting citizen participation. "The result is increased governability; which the CAF considers necessary for the sustainable development of its partner countries," Palau added.

The www.transparencia.gov.co site contains information on the agencies that execute the projects, the amounts each one manages, the list of projects in the country financed with the funds, the names of the contractors and supervisors, along with photographs of the works.

The site features tools, such as a guide to public contracting which shows users how contractual processes work with a view to exercising citizen control in the regions. The page includes a complete guide on how to process complaints with the control agencies, as well as complaint formats for use on line. Users will also find links with organizations of citizen supervision and the Chambers of Commerce to facilitate the participation of civil society in the monitoring of investment in the regions.

With this site, the Finance Ministry moves forward with its strategies of fiscal transparency. The project has the backing of CONFECAMARAS and TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL COLOMBIA, which see the project as a great advance in the area of structural policies against corruption.