Regional Seminar - Decentralisation and Local Governance in Latin America

Monday 10^th June: Review of the decentralisation dynamics in the region and the evolving international development cooperation framework

9.30 – 10.00

Session 1.1.   Introduction

Welcome by Peter Schwaiger

Presentation of the seminar objectives and methodology by Jorge Rodriguez (B2)

Presentation of the “rules of the game” for ensuring an effective dialogue and exchange by the team of facilitators (ECDPM)

10.00 – 11.00

Session 1.2.   Looking back: What has been the impact of three decades of decentralisation?

Presentation on the overall “acquis” of the decentralisation and local governance reform processes across the region by Tulia Falleti, external resource person followed by Q&A

11.00 – 11.20

Coffee break

11.20 – 13.00

Session 1.3.   Looking forward: the continuing relevance of the decentralisation and local governance agenda for addressing the main development challenges of the region and of the EU Agenda for Change

First GRAND PANEL with leading experts:

Alfonso Garcia - VNG, Netherlands

Alejandro Bravo - Central American parliament, Guatemala

Daniel Garcia - AECID, Spain

Followed by discussion and Q&A

13.00 – 14.00

Lunch break

14.00 – 15.45

Session 1.4.   EU response strategies in support of decentralisation and local governance: past and future?

Overview presentation on overall EU approaches to decentralisation and local governance in Latin and Central America by ECDPM

Interactive Panel with the EUDs for Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru structured around two main questions:

1. Past EU response strategies and lessons of experience gained

2. Emerging strategic thinking on future response strategies

15.45 – 16.00

Coffee break

16.00 – 17.30

Session 1.5.   The evolving international/European development context with regard to decentralisation and local governance

Presentation on current thinking and changes with regard to decentralisation and local governance at headquarters level (by Jorge Rodriguez, B2), including a focus on:

Key challenges for EUDs in Central and Latin America with regard to the decentralisation and local governance agenda

Buzz groups and restitution on key implications of this new agenda and initial identification of new windows of opportunities

Tuesday 11^th of June: The political economy of decentralisation and local governance in Central and Latin America

9.00 – 9.15

Key notes of Day 1 (by ECDPM)

9.15 – 10.45

Session 2.1.   The political economy of decentralisation processes

Short presentation on the concept of “political economy analysis” (by ECDPM, 15 minutes)

Presentation on the political economy of decentralisation processes in Central and Latin America:  salient features, drivers of change, factors of resistance and implication for future reform strategies by Tulia Falleti

Buzz groups to reflect on the presentations

Plenary debate

10.45 – 11.00

Coffee break

11.00 – 13.00

 Session 2.2.   Applying a political economy approach to decentralisation and local governance

Interactive panel with 4 EUDs to review experiences with managing the political dimensions of decentralisation and local governance [this session is based on the assumption that EUDs may not have carried out a formal political economy analysis in this area, but have hands-on experience in dealing with the “politics” of decentralisation processes]

EUDs involved in the panel:  Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua

13.00 – 14.00

Lunch break

14.00 – 15.30

Session 2.3.   How to enhance the local autonomy of municipalities in the region?

Presentation on the critical importance of local autonomy for the empowerment and effective functioning of local governments: progresses achieved, main bottlenecks and windows of opportunities (in terms of actors, incentives and triggers of change) by Leonardo Romeo

Buzz groups to reflect on presentation

Plenary debate

15.30 – 15.45

Coffee break

15.45 – 17.15

Session 2.4.   Good practices and innovations in terms of enhancing the local autonomy of municipalities in the region: What has worked and why?

Interactive panel with different actors and experts presenting “success stories” in terms of strengthening the levels of autonomy enjoyed by municipalities through top-down or bottom-up approaches.

Jorge Melguizo (Colombia)

Cesar Ramirez (Peru)

The experience of the city of Guaranda (Ecuador)

Andres Sanz and Alvaro Del Blanco (EUROSOCIAL II, Part I and Part II)

Wednesday 12^th of June: Windows of opportunities to use decentralisation as an instrument for better development and governance outcomes

9.00 – 9.15

Key notes of Day 2 (ECDPM)

9.15 – 10.45

Session 3.1.  How to strengthen local democracy through citizen action and participation (building on existing experiences, good practices and a solid political economy analysis)?

New trends and opportunities in local democracy/governance through citizen action – Short introduction by Tulia Falleti

Concrete EUD programmes seeking to enhance local democracy/governance (2 short presentations of max 5 slides by two EUDs)

Plenary debate

10.45 – 11.00

Coffee break

11.00 – 13.00

Session 3.2.   How to promote inclusive growth at local level (building on existing experiences, good practices and a solid political economy analysis)?

Introducing the debate and identifying new windows of opportunities for inclusive local development by Gerhard Kovatsch followed by Q&A

Concrete EUD programmes focusing on local economic development (2 short presentations of max 5 slides by two EUDs)

Plenary debate

13.00 – 14.00

Lunch break

14.00 – 15.30

Session 3.3.   How to support territorial development through border cooperation, particularly in the Andean Community

Introduction by Chema Cruz (Asociación europea de region transfronteriza)

Panel with

- Mauricio Cisneros, Secretario de Gobierno de Ipiales (Colombia)

- Representante del municipio Tulcán, Ecuador fronterizo con Ipiales

- EUD Guatemala (on Guatemala-Honduras border cooperation) (part I and part II)

- EUD Nicaragua – PRESANCA project

15.30 – 15.45

Coffee break

15.45 – 17.15

OPEN SESSION to be used for additional operational questions that participants want to discuss (possibly around various topics in different small groups)

Thursday 13^th of June: Windows of opportunities (follow-up) and exploration of main implications for future EU engagement in decentralisation and local governance

9.00 – 10.30

Session 4.1.  Follow-up of “windows of opportunities”:

How to improve the track record of municipal capacity building?

Presentation on main lessons learnt with municipal capacity development

Interactive multi-actor panel presenting different innovative experiences (including through decentralised cooperation)

Alfonso Garcia

Daysi Alvarado

Daniel Garcia

EU Delegation

10.30 – 10.45

Coffee break

11.00 – 13.00

Session 4.2.   What next for EU support to decentralisation and local governance in the region in an increasingly differentiated cooperation context?

GRAND PANEL on the potential added value of donor agencies (EC) in support of decentralisation and local governance in the future

Prof. Leonardo Romeo

UNDP representative

EU Delegation

Conclusions and Closure of the seminar

13.00 – 14.00

Lunch break