Nine projects selected in first window of Call for Proposals for #BetterManagement

CAF International Call for Proposals for impact assessments for #BetterManagement started on March 1, receiving more than 80 proposals during its first window. The proposals applying to be the subject of an impact assessment came from 13 different countries in Latin America, notably –based on volume– from Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.

The selected projects were submitted by public institutions, such as municipalities, national departments and ministries, which, despite having very different approaches, shared common features because they had a clear goal, aligned with their institutional mission, and allowed randomizing the study subjects, and their results would have a significant impact on decision making on the implementation of the project.

Below are the projects selected by country:

From Argentina, a project for a video surveillance system of the Santa Fe municipality was selected, which seeks to understand the impact of video surveillance cameras on reduction of crime and the number of traffic accidents and violations in the city of Santa Fe. Also from Argentina, the Primeros Meses (First Months) Network project was also selected, proposed by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. This projects aims to increase participation in a conditional funding program for mothers of vulnerable families to undergo pre- and post-natal monitoring.

From Colombia, three projects were selected. The first is the citizen participation model in the investment project cycle, proposed by the National Evaluation Department, which seeks to provide insights about the impact of web tools on citizen participation in the public investment project cycle. The second project selected was proposed by the Ministry of National Education and seeks to measure the impact of a teacher training pilot program for civic skills in post-conflict municipalities. The third project, proposed by the Commission on Water Regulation and Basic Sanitation, aims to provide insights into how a new legislation helps to improve the management of public services of water supply and sewerage systems in Colombia.

In addition to these, projects from Brazil presented by the Secretary of State of Justice and Public Safety and the Municipality of Teresina were also selected. The former proposed the Escola Segura, Familia Forte (Safe School, Strong Family) project, a program to bring law enforcement agencies closer to school environments in order to reduce crimes in Campo Grande. The latter nominated a monitoring program to improve performance of the urban public transport system in Teresinas.

Finally, Uruguay’s Directorate of Decentralization and Public Investment presented an Incentive Fund for municipal management, which will be the subject of an impact assessment, same as a proposal presented by Peru’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, which will assess the impact of agricultural insurance against natural disasters in micro-producers.

The second window of the call will be open until August 31, during which some 7 proposals are expected to be selected, with an emphasis on issues of productivity and innovation, education, health and gender.

Institutions interested in receiving information can access the microsite of the call for proposals, on August 28 at 10 a.m., or joining the briefing hangout; answers will be posted on the official website.