As countries increasingly decentralize the delivery of government services to its citizens, states and provinces must address complex issues such as violence and the need to eliminate excessive bureaucratic red tape. At the same time, citizens are demanding better government services.
Latin America and the Caribbean also are experiencing a wave of violence. Countries are responding with citizen security programs that include different approaches to the problem, such as rehabilitation, community policing, and the needs of youth, among others.
While Latin America still has excessive bureaucracy and unnecessary delays in carrying out administrative procedures, a number of leaders in the region have implemented innovative programs that use technology to accelerate the process of approval and delivery of services.
According with this scenario, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) launched “Gobernarte: The Art of Good Government”, an initiative that will award the best innovations in the public management of states, provinces, regions and other subnational governments of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Gobernarte award will last three years and every year specific categories will be set for the contest. The first year, IDB awarded six innovations in two categories:
- Government Security: preventing crime and violence.
- Smart Government: eliminating red tape for citizens and companies.
WINNERS
Smart Government
- Colima (México)
- Puebla (México)
- Pernanbuco (Brasil)
Government Security
- Pernambuco (Brasil)
- Santa Fe (Argentina)
- Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil)
Colima reduced the waiting time in the hospital’s emergency rooms
Puebla made its system easier to issue and renew driving licenses
Pernambuco sped the system up to open new enterprises with digital technology.
Pernambuco reduced its homicide rate drastically thanks to “Pacto por la Vida” program.
Thanks to the María da Penha patrols, Rio Grande do Sul implemented a new way of patrolling and
coordination to fight against domestic violence and gain more victims’ confidence.
You can see how Santa Fe could strengthen its consulting processus with the civil society through the “Vínculos” program to improve the citizen security projects.
2013 winning initiatives are documented in the following publications:
Innovative experiences of subnational governments in the management of procedures for citizens and businesses.
Good practices in crime prevention and violence.