Open Government Strategy for Accountability in Medellín’s Special District of Science & Innovation (COMDE0001)

Commitment ID

COMDE0001

Commitment Title

Open Government Strategy for the Accountability of Local Planning and Participatory Budgeting in the Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Medellín.

Problem

The Participatory Budget of Medellin is a key mechanism for citizens to plan the development of their communities and districts, influencing the distribution of 5% of the free investment budget of the Mayor's Office of Medellin Science, Technology and Innovation District. Since its implementation more than two decades ago, it has been a tool to strengthen trust in institutions and mitigate violence, achieving a high level of community ownership and consolidating itself as a benchmark for citizen participation.
However, in recent years important challenges have arisen that compromise their effectiveness. Social control processes have been inefficient, affecting the legitimacy of participatory agreements and weakening trust between citizens and local institutions. This situation has generated opacity in decision making and difficulties in the implementation of projects, jeopardizing the sustainability of the participatory budget and its impact on territorial development.

Status quo

Medellin's Participatory Budget has been a fundamental tool for the decentralization of public investment and the strengthening of citizen participation. According to the Citizen Participation Index for the year 2022, 919 projects were financed with resources from the Local Development Plan and Participatory Budget program . 
Although according to the measurement of the same index 980 social organizations participated in the white day (a day of accountability in neighborhoods and communities on the management of the PB) in the year 2022, challenges persist in these spaces, showing a low knowledge and appropriation of their strategies by the entities in charge of their implementation. In addition, there is a lack of innovative and efficient mechanisms for public and social accountability, which limits transparency and makes it difficult to understand the real impact of the projects financed.

Visit Siciudadania - Participatory Budgeting

Action

The commitment implies a profound transformation in the accountability processes of the Participatory Budget in the city, so that the project is revitalized under the principles of open government and allows improving the forms of communication between public entities and citizens, impacting the way of social control of public management in Medellin, enhancing innovation, increasing transparency and participation, empowering new leaderships, transforming the public sphere and civil society, redefining local democratic processes.
The objective of this commitment is to take advantage of Medellin's transition to a Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation to create and implement a strategy that transforms local accountability processes, taking advantage of the scope of the District Participatory Budget to impact public servants of the District Administration and citizens in general.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

This initiative contributes to solve the problem by revitalizing accountability processes, involving both public servants and citizens of the District. Its purpose is to strengthen transparency in one of the most successful projects, with the greatest impact and scope in the city: the Participatory Budget of Medellín. The aim is to empower citizens, improve trust in public management and consolidate a culture based on participation, transparency and co-responsibility. As a result, it is proposed to consolidate the accountability strategy for the Participatory Budget of Medellin under the principles of Open Government. As well as the establishment of training processes aimed at both local administration leaders and citizen leaders. An annual public and social accountability event will be held, the Social Control Team will be strengthened with an approach aligned with the principles of Open Government and the publication of reports on the implementation of the process in a clear and accessible language for citizens will be guaranteed.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

This commitment is aligned with the long-term objective of strengthening accountability processes through one of the most visible and impactful projects of the Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Medellin: Local Planning and Participatory Budgeting.
This action will contribute to consolidate a culture of transparency and enhance citizen participation, consistent with the Strategic Vision of Open Government, ensuring that citizens play a leading role in both decision-making and monitoring of government actions in Medellin.

Primary Policy Area

Inclusion, Right to Information

Primary Sector

Cross-sectoral, Land & Spatial Planning

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?