Gobernarte

Gobernarte: The Art of Good Governance – Pablo Valenti Prize is an initiative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that identifies, recognizes, supports, and promotes innovative initiatives implemented by subnational governments across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), including states, departments, provinces, regions, municipalities, and other equivalent entities. 

Through different thematic categories, the competition identifies public solutions that address concrete challenges through digital transformation, public management innovation, regulatory efficiency, and improved public services for citizens.

In 2026, Gobernarte celebrates its tenth edition by promoting the exchange of experiences, peer learning, and the development of a regional community committed to more effective, inclusive, and people-centered governments.

Learn About the 2026 Call for Applications

Why participate?

Participating in the Gobernarte competition allows participants to:

•    Give regional visibility to innovative public initiatives
•    Share experiences and lessons learned with governments across the region
•    Exchange solutions and best practices
•    Strengthen institutional collaboration networks
•    Position initiatives with replication potential
•    Connect with specialists and experts in public innovation and state modernization
 

Winning initiatives will be recognized at a regional meeting held at the Inter-American Development Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., bringing together subnational governments, specialists, and regional experts in:

•    Dialogue spaces
•    Conversations on public innovation and digital transformation
•    Networking and partnership-building opportunities
 

2026 Categories

What types of initiatives is Gobernarte looking for?

1. Digital Equity: Public Innovation for Inclusive Digital Transformation
   Initiatives aimed at expanding access to public services, reducing gaps, and strengthening inclusion through digital tools and technological transformation.
2. Regulatory Quality: Streamlining Procedures and Regulations for More Efficient Governments
   Initiatives focused on process simplification, artificial intelligence, digitalization, and regulatory improvement to strengthen productivity and public sector efficiency.
    

Who can participate?

Subnational governments in Latin America and the Caribbean may participate, including:

• State Governments
• Provincial governments
• Departmental governments
• Regional governments
• Municipal governments

In the case of The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, national governments may also participate.

Initiatives may be submitted:

• Individually
• Or in partnership with other governments, academia, civil society organizations, international organizations, or the private sector
   

Initiative requirements
 

Submitted initiatives must:

• Have been implemented
• Have verifiable results or outputs
• Address public management challenges
• Demonstrate replication potential
• Contribute to improving public services or institutional capacities
   

Initiatives that are only planned or still in the design phase will not be accepted.

Initiatives must not have received IDB financing for their design or implementation.

Evaluation process
 

Initiatives will be evaluated through a technical process based on clear and transparent criteria.

The evaluation will consider:

• Innovation
• Effectiveness
• Sustainability
• Scalability
• Replication potential
   

The most outstanding experiences will be selected by a specialized jury and recognized at the Gobernarte 2026 regional meeting.

Gobernarte 2026 Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
 

The tenth edition of Gobernarte will conclude with an awards ceremony at the Inter-American Development Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The meeting will bring together representatives from selected initiatives, specialists, and experts in space designed for technical exchange, peer learning, and discussions on public innovation and digital transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the event will include:

• Dialogue spaces
• Technical exchange sessions
• Networking and partnership-building opportunities
• Regional meeting and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
   

Timeline
 

June 1, 2026

Launch and opening of the call for applications

July 15, 2026, at 12:59 p.m. ET

Application deadline

August 7, 2026

Evaluation and selection process

August 24, 2026

Announcement of winning initiatives

September 17, 2026

Regional meeting and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.