Support for municipalities through promotion of use of knowledge and successful experiences

(Caracas, September 30, 2004).- The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICD) of the Organization of American States signed in Washington an agreement to continue the Integrated Support Program for the Institutional Development of Municipalities in the Andean Region, which started in 2002.

The program, which requires a contribution of almost US$300,000 (in addition to the US$180,000 granted two years ago), aims to help the countries of the region strengthen their decentralization processes.

Enrique García, president of the multilateral development bank, said: "In an international scene characterized by globalization, the CAF is seeking a response of integrated development with regional identity in a framework of governance and competitiveness, by including activities to strengthen governance and democratic institutions in its field of action."

The first stage of the program provided training and education for the selected municipalities and detected needs for later transfer of best practices, in line with the conditions of each case. This work identified requirements whose solutions have already begun to take shape, which speeded up the learning process and the use of knowledge and experiences that have been successful in similar sociopolitical contexts.

Adapting to achieve the final goal

The subject areas were selected on the basis of the needs expressed by some of the region's municipalities in three areas of common interest: municipal government, generation of revenue, and provision of municipal services.

As a result, the Program focused on two main actions: development of land registry systems, and distance courses on electronic government. So far 320 people have been trained, mainly political leaders and decision makers at central or regional level.

Future work has been divided into two phases: training, and identification and transfer of best practices in the areas mentioned. Both phases are now under way in 15 municipalities in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.