Governance challenges within national development planning: lessons from the Colombian experience

ABSTRACT

This article discusses how governance processes are developed through national development planning (NDP), drawing on the experiences of Colombian practitioners. A majority of countries of the world use NDP as a key policy tool across the full range of substantive policy areas, however recent research in the fields of public administration and policy have largely ignored the topic. We use data from surveys and focus groups to examine overlapping issues which are entral to these fields, namely: 1) multi-level coordination and intergovernmental relations; 2) communication and collaboration across levels and sectors; and 3) policy design, implementation and evaluation. The article discusses broader lessons for our understanding of core governance concepts and the practice of NDP in other countries, related to the influence of international actors, mechanisms to ensure technical and managerial capacity at the local levels, effective means of participation of civil society organizations and managing information to implement plans effectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Governance
• national development planning
• Colombia
• intergovernmental and intersectoral relations

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fabian Telch

Fabian Telch is a Ph.D. candidate of the program in Community and Public Affairs at the College of Community and Public Affairs at Binghamton University, State University of New York. His current research centers on national development planning and governance of public and civil society organizations.

Carolina Isaza

Carolina Isaza is a researcher and professor in government and public administration at Universidad Externado de Colombia, with experience as a consultant for public sector and international organizations.

Nadia Rubaii

Nadia Rubaii is a professor of public administration and co-director of the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention at Binghamton University, State University of New York. Her research is intended to help public service organizations better serve diverse publics, be inter-culturally effective and to promote social equity.