Colombia sits in the northwest corner of South America, with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Its population is estimated at 47 million, making it the third most populous country in Latin America, topped only by Brazil and Mexico. It is also one of the most urbanized, with about 75 percent of its population residing in urban areas, such as Bogotá (the capital), Medellin, and Cali.

Governmentally, Colombia is a constitutional republic—the first constitutional government in South America—and is headed by an elected president. The country is sectioned into 32 departments and a capital district, each of which has a governor. Departments are subdivided into municipalities, which in turn are divided into smaller administrative districts. Municipalities are headed by a mayor and council.

Starting in the 1960s, the country experienced a lengthy period of internal armed conflict among national government forces, left-wing guerilla groups, and right-wing paramilitaries. Illegal gangs, often funded by the drug trade, seized control of land in many communities, forcing the owners from their homes and creating a large population of internally displaced persons.

Government negotiations with the principal insurgent group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, have gradually resulted in a decrease in hostilities, restitution of land, and reinstatement of government authority throughout the country. Yet municipal and departmental governments in rural, conflict-affected areas often lack the capacity to deliver key public services effectively. This failure to deliver services, coupled with the persistence of poverty, lack of economic opportunity, and official corruption, undermines the confidence of citizens in government at all levels.

Although Colombia is one of the most decentralized countries in Latin America, with direct election of mayors and other subnational officials, these subnational units are hampered by a lack of full financial and administrative support from the national government. Services that are particularly weak are water, electricity, health care, education, and roads.

Colombia is considered a middle income country and has the third largest economy in Latin America. Its main industries are oil, mining, chemicals, health related products, food processing, agricultural and forest products (including cut flowers), textiles and fabrics, clothing and footwear, machinery, electronics, military products, metal products, home and office material, construction equipment and materials, banking, financial services, software, IT services, and the automotive industry. Exports include many of these products, plus precious stones (particularly emeralds), coffee, meat, sugar, and sugar products.

Although the country has a relatively strong economy and a high literacy rate among both males and females, income inequality is among the worst in the world, and about a third of the population lives below the poverty line.

ICMA has facilitated two activities focused on strengthening municipal management capacity and service delivery in Colombia.

Study Tour for Colombian Mayors

ICMA conducted a study tour for the mayors of El Peñol and La Tebaida in conjunction with ICMA’s annual conference in Boston, Massachusetts, in September 2013. The two municipalities were winners in a good governance nationwide contest. USAID sponsored and covered expenses for the study tour.

The mayors attended the ICMA conference and visited well-managed cities in the Boston area, including the town of Westwood, where they learned how the town manages its economic development and governance processes and provides services, including police services. They also sent to Lowell National Historical Park, where they learned about tourism development.

Cali – Arlington, Virginia, Resource Cities Program

ICMA facilitated a partnership between Cali and Arlington County, Virginia, to help Cali achieve its goals to improve recycling and composting and reduce the amount of organic waste that was going into the landfill.