Experiencias de Reforma Institucional en gobiernos Regionales. Estudio de Casos

The decentralization process was relaunched in 2003 with the election of regional authorities, modifying the state structure and establishing three levels of government. This reform seeks to enable authorities to be closer to citizens' demands and interests through the principle of subsidiarity. Between 2002 and 2003, the Constitution was modified to incorporate the Chapter XIV on decentralization, the Law of Bases of Decentralization was approved, and the Organic Law of Regional Governments was approved in two stages: in October 2002 and in January 2003. The formulation of the normative framework for the decentralization process and its approval was the result of a broad consensus among various political, social, and economic actors. The process of concertation opted for decentralization and not for the continuation of centralism as the path that should lead Peruvians to achieve development and deepen democracy, changing the Peruvian state structure by creating intermediate governments in regional governments, and indicating that decentralization began with the constitution of these governments in each of the departments, but with the aim of advancing towards the regionalization process, establishing a normative framework with deadlines and timetables. From 2007 onwards, the management of the second period of elected regional authorities began, which was completed in 2010, eight years after the relaunch of decentralization in Peru, and in 2011, the third period of mandate of the regional presidents began. This is a propitious moment to systematize the experience of institutional reforms undertaken by some regional administrations with the aim of achieving an effective government. It is also an opportunity to make a balance on the management problems encountered by the authorities of the subnational governments. In this context, in the period 2009-2010, we proposed in the Commission of Decentralization of the Congress of the Republic the formation of a Working Group, which, taking as a reference the normative framework of decentralization and the experience of public management of regional governments, evaluated and proposed changes or modifications agreed upon legally to the existing norms, with the aim of achieving good government. This proposal was approved unanimously, and on September 1, 2009, the Working Group "Follow-up and compliance with the norms of the decentralization process and evaluation of public management of regional and local governments" was formed, integrated by the congresswomen Olga Cribilleros of the Aprista Party, Martha Moyano of the Fujimorist Group, and Washington Zeballos, by the non-aggregated. The objective of the Working Group was to deepen knowledge and systematize the experience of institutional reforms undertaken in the management of some regional governments in terms of policy formulation, strategic planning, establishment of administrative regional management systems, as well as, to the extent possible, identify good government practices that some regional governments have managed to establish despite the obstacles or absences of norms, and that can serve as a transfer and development of knowledge and capacities. The USAID/PERÚ ProDescentralización Project decided to support the work of the Working Group, of which I was designated by the Commission of Decentralization as its coordinator, accessing the terms of contract Nº EPP-I-03-04-00035-00. The opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the point of view of the United States Agency for International Development - USAID. The ProDescentralización Project is a project of the United States Agency for International Development USAID, implemented by ARD Inc. The project aims to support the Peruvian State in deepening and consolidating the decentralization process. The Working Group's work was supported by the ProDescentralización Project, which provided technical assistance and resources to the Group. The Group's work focused on evaluating the experience of institutional reforms undertaken by regional governments and identifying good practices that could be replicated in other regions. The Group's work was divided into several stages, including the analysis of the normative framework of decentralization, the evaluation of the experience of institutional reforms undertaken by regional governments, and the identification of good practices that could be replicated in other regions. The Group's final report, which is presented in this document, provides a comprehensive analysis of the experience of institutional reforms undertaken by regional governments and identifies good practices that could be replicated in other regions. The report also provides recommendations for improving the normative framework of decentralization and the management of regional governments. The ProDescentralización Project's support to the Working Group's work was crucial in providing technical assistance and resources to the Group. The Project's support enabled the Group to conduct a thorough analysis of the experience of institutional reforms undertaken by regional governments and to identify good practices that could be replicated in other regions. The ProDescentralización Project's support to the Working Group's work is an example of the importance of international cooperation in supporting the decentralization process in Peru. The Project's support has enabled the Peruvian State to deepen and consolidate the decentralization process, which