In February 2007 MSI began work to build government legitimacy in three regions of Colombia liberated from civil strife - Medio and Bajo Atrato in Choco, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and Catatumbo. In 2009 MSI also began to work in the Montes de Maria region of Colombia upon request of the Colombian government and USAID. Funded by USAID and known as CIMIENTOS, the project works to strengthen the capacity of local governments to deliver vital services in health, education, and citizen security. CIMIENTOS undertakes these tasks by increasing government competence and citizen participation. Working through a series of local partners that include municipal and business associations, civil society, and community groups, it also develops mechanisms that promote greater transparency and accountability in service delivery.

The project’s strategy is to work with the local and national government and civil society organizations to improve their ability to implement programs. It also seeks to establish greater citizen confidence in the fairness and honesty of government officials, while also increasing the capacity of these officials to work openly and effectively with citizens to ensure service delivery. CIMIENTOS works in five ways to achieve these goals:

Citizen Security and Coexistence: CIMIENTOS works to develop the basis for greater cooperation among the police, local authorities and community groups in a community-based approach to policing. This includes greater local planning and implementation to ensure citizen safety, promote greater crime prevention and peaceful coexistence.

Health: The project works to increase access to quality health care by improving citizen knowledge of alternative service providers and by improving the transparency of the choices made regarding these providers. The project also seeks to increase the role of citizens and local authorities in the social audit of health care providers.

Education: CIMIENTOS seeks to improve the quality of education by involving community groups and local authorities in judging educational content. It also promotes citizen and local authority involvement in ensuring resources provided by national and regional authorities are used effectively.

Public Administration: CIMIENTOS works to increase the overall transparency, accountability and efficiency of the local governments in the four regions. It also seeks to ensure greater responsiveness to citizen demands.

Citizen Participation: CIMIENTOS focuses on building the capacity of citizen organizations to have a role in determining local government priorities. The project provides training in citizen advocacy, policy analysis, and in social audit and control. One aspect of the project involves increasing mutual respect for the process of public dialogue and debate. Additionally, CIMIENTOS brings citizens and local governments together to prioritize and work together on small infrastructure projects in health, education and coexistence as a way to increase citizens’ trust in democratic institutions.

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