Strengthening decentralization and local self-governance in Colombia - FOINCIDE II
The local level government in Colombia is weak, and there is often miscommunication and distrust between the local and national level. The FOINCIDE-project was designed to support the decentralisation process and strengthen local governments in Colombia.
The Colombian peace agreement, signed in 2016 between the national government and the FARC guerrilla, recognized the important role local governments could play in the peace process. The FOINCIDE project (Fortalecimiento Institucional Ciudadano para al Desarrollo Territorial) supported the decentralisation process by addressing the need for assistance in developing local government knowledge and resources to better respond to citizens’ needs, serving as a source of peace and development rather than conflict.
Since 2016, SALAR International worked to strengthen the capacity of local governments in Colombia. FOINCIDE II continued this work, supporting seven post-conflict municipalities by enhancing their capacities in citizen dialogue, social mediation, planning, and gender mainstreaming.
Strategies to support local governance
The FOINCIDE project adopted different strategies to support local governance in Colombia. The project included capacity-building events on citizen dialogue to assist municipalities in public participation processes. FOINCIDE developed and adapted tools and training to support civil servants in their day-to-day work. Dissemination and sustainability of project activities were promoted through online materials on the project website and social media platforms. Peer-to-peer learning was a key tool, with municipal representatives participating in study visits and networking with each other.
The project was structured around four components, each addressing a central element of local government capacity development. Municipalities were supported to develop plans efficiently and participatorily, ensuring gender sensitivity and consideration of diverse local needs. This strengthened accountability among local politicians and improved service delivery. Implementation strategies and methods were based on experiences and learnings from the first phase of the project. Networks between the seven target municipalities facilitated the exchange of experiences. Special efforts were made to disseminate results, including the development of tools and methods in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning at the national level.
1. Citizens Dialogue
The Citizen Dialogue component supported partner municipalities in integrating participatory and gender-sensitive processes in the development and implementation of policies and plans. FOINCIDE built more inclusive, representative, and responsive public management processes in the partner municipalities and encouraged the national government to adapt its approach to citizen participation to reflect municipal contexts and autonomy.
2. Social Mediation
The Social Mediation component helped partner municipalities identify, analyze, manage, and prevent local social conflicts related to public decisions or management. The project also encouraged the national government to prevent social conflicts by incorporating municipal perspectives into citizen dialogue and mediation processes.
3. Planning Capacities
The Planning Capacities component equipped partner municipalities with tools and knowledge to design and implement more responsive, inclusive, and sustainable plans and policies, benefiting both women and men.
4. Gender Mainstreaming
The Gender Mainstreaming component supported partner municipalities through their respective gender offices to adopt and promote gender-sensitive planning and local service delivery. It also helped the national government and other stakeholders understand the benefits and challenges of implementing gender-sensitive planning and services.