Governance Programs in Bolivia conclude with 670 trained leaders

The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) concluded the Leadership Training for the Transformation program, a process in which nearly 700 natural leaders from around the country were provided with tools to exercise citizenship with responsibility, ethical and democratic values, and knowledge of real conditions. The group was formed by both men and women with national, regional, local and community influence, from all age groups and social strata covering both urban and rural areas.

In an internal and external context where a culture of conflict seems to be gaining ground, a new generation of leaders is emerging in Bolivia and the Andean countries with characteristics based on consensus, dialogue, ethical conduct and pursuit of the common good. It is a renewed human group which now has the tools for governance, and which will make an important contribution to the country's response to future challenges.

Executive President Enrique García said that the CAF, as an institution committed to sustainable development and integration, considered that governance was a fundamental component for achieving high quality, competitive economic growth, which benefited the majority of citizens in a framework of social sustainability.

Under this premise, the institution that he heads has been putting through an ambitious Governance Program for the last two years aimed at building democratic systems in Latin America, supporting the strengthening of institutions whose leaders' actions are motivated by democratic, ethical and service values, where citizens have adequate spaces for participation.

CAF Governance Director Elvira Lupo said that the Corporation understood governance "as the environment propitious for the government to legitimate its actions through support from institutions and civil society, because everyone is responsible."

Transforming readership

The Training Leadership for the Transformation program is designed to identify and train natural leaders with a view of country and civic-democratic values so that they can exercise their citizenship and community action through the continuous exercise of leadership with responsibility, knowledge and awareness of the reality of the country.

For six months training was given to 670 leaders from municipalities, vigilance committees, social organizations, indigenous and peasant organizations, microenterprises and urban and peri-urban organizations.

The courses were held in 13 Bolivian cities with leaders from La Paz (140), El Alto (58), Oruro (136), Potosí (35), Cochabamba (78), Tarija (45), Sucre (46), Santa Cruz (34). Camiri (29), Llallagua (36) and Chimoré (36).

The program consisted of the following modules: 1) democracy, ethics and governance; 2) negotiation, management and conflict resolution; 3) national political and social context; 4) national fiscal and economic context; 5) public management; 6) decentralization and citizen participation; 7) leadership and instruments for developing leadership; 8) proposed policy guidelines for strengthening governance in the country; and 9) leadership experiences.

This part of the CAF Governance Program is being executed with great success in the Andean countries in strategic alliances with other institutions. In Bolivia the CAF worked with the IDEA Foundation.

Building consensus

The Tools for Governance and Consensus-Building Program also concluded today, with the participation of 80 strategic actors from civil society and central and decentralized levels of government, bringing together some sectors that are traditionally in confrontation. The event was designed to strengthen participants' skills in consensus building with the use of negotiating tools and methodologies, strategic communication, leadership and persuasion; and strategic relations with the public sector.

With the support of instructors from Cambridge International Consulting and methodology from Harvard University, during all this year four instructor-led workshops were held with dynamics oriented to the practical application of new tools for addressing day-to-day problems by the public authorities and institutions of civil society. The seminars were held in two versions: one for national and another for local and provincial institutions.

Governance Program

The CAF Governance Program covers four complementary areas of action: the Ethics and Transparency for Development component promotes ethical behavior in the social actors so that they accept the accountability and social control which legitimate their actions. The chapter on Institutional Strengthening aims to develop government institutions and procedures capable of responding efficiently to the demands of society.

The area of Decentralization and Citizen Participation reinforces and trains leaders and their support teams from regional governments to efficiently carry out their responsibilities. Finally, the chapter on Leadership for the Transformation was conceived to lay the foundations for a new style of leadership by providing leaders with the values and tools needed to assume future leadership responsibilities with an ethical and deep civic and democratic spirit.