Programme URB-AL III

URB-AL III (2009-2013) is an innovative program of decentralized cooperation of EuropeAid (European Commission) with Latin America whose objective is the impulse of local public policies that contribute to increase the degree of social cohesion in the subnational collectives of the region and that they can become reference models.

The Program, with nearly 1.8 million beneficiaries, is made up of 20 cooperation projects implemented in 74 Latin American territories and by an Office of Coordination and Orientation (OCO). Within the framework of URB-AL III, 131 local public policies have been generated or strengthened that contribute to fostering social cohesion in more than 500 Latin American municipalities.

The projects and the OCO are horizontal Euro-Latin American consortiums composed of subnational governments under a territorial approach. URB-AL III has the participation of more than 160 Euro-Latin American non-state actors.

Through the consolidation or promotion of processes and public policies, the Program has encouraged the construction of reference models capable of indicating possible solutions to Latin American subnational governments that wish to promote social cohesion dynamics. This aspect highlights the pioneering and innovative nature of the implementation of URB-AL III, which has managed to move from the "one-off project" to "public policy" and has demonstrated the importance of supporting local governance processes and institutional strengthening to respond to the needs of citizens.

URB-AL III has become a laboratory and a reflection of the new dynamics of cooperation and development, in which the local government is located at the center as the engine of economic and social development of its territory. The themes worked by the projects have been diverse and articulated around the five dimensions of social cohesion: civic, productive, institutional, social and territorial.

Among the main achievements, which contribute to the sustainability of the results, include the creation of a common Euro-Latin American language and agenda on social cohesion, the capacity for multilevel and multisectoral articulation, political-institutional advances, the construction of networks or the development of new instruments to improve local public management.

The OCO is a consortium of public administrations led by the Barcelona Provincial Council and also integrated by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP, Spain), the Tuscany Region and the Interregional Observatory for Development Cooperation, OICS (Italy), the Municipality of San José (Costa Rica), the Mayor of Bogotá (Colombia) and the Province of Santa Fe (Argentina).

Studies
Climate Change and Local Social Cohesion
Climate Change and Local Social Cohesion
Climate Change and Local Social Cohesion
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/climate-change-and-locale-social-cohesion.pdf
Local Financing and Taxation in Latin America
Local Financing and Taxation in Latin America
Local Financing and Taxation in Latin America
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/local-financing-and-taxation-in-latin-america.pdf
Citizen Security and Social Cohesion in Latin America
Citizen Security and Social Cohesion in Latin America
Citizen Security and Social Cohesion in Latin America
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/citizen-security-and-social-cohesion-in-latin-america.pdf
Towards an integrated model of local economic development and social cohesion
Towards an integrated model of local economic development and social cohesion
Towards an integrated model of local economic development and social cohesion
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/towards-an-integrated-model-of-local-economic-development-and-social-cohesion.pdf
Identity and identities: potentialities for social and territorial cohesion
Identity and identities: potentialities for social and territorial cohesion
Identity and identities: potentialities for social and territorial cohesion
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/identity-and-identities-potentialities-for-social-and-territorial-cohesion.pdf
Transparency, accountability and participation
Transparency, accountability and participation
Transparency, accountability and participation: a common agenda for social cohesion and governance in Latin America
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/transparency-accountability-and-participation-a-common-agenda-for-social-cohesion-and-governance-in-latin-america.pdf
Innovation, local public policies and social cohesion in Latin America
Innovation, local public policies and social cohesion in Latin America
Innovation, local public policies and social cohesion in Latin America
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/innovation-local-public-policies-and-social-cohesion-in-latin-america.pdf
Reflections on social cohesion
Reflections on social cohesion
Reflections on social cohesion
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/reflections-on-social-cohesion.pdf
Guides
Identification, Systemisation and Exchange of Successful Experiences in Local Social Cohesion
Identification, Systemisation and Exchange of Successful Experiences in Local Social Cohesion
Identification, Systemisation and Exchange of Successful Experiences in Local Social Cohesion
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/identifi-cation-systemisation-and-exchange-of-successful-experiences-in-local-social-cohesion.pdf
Evaluation of Public Decentralised Cooperation Initiatives
Evaluation of Public Decentralised Cooperation Initiatives
Evaluation of Public Decentralised Cooperation Initiatives
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/evaluation-of-public-decentralised-cooperation-initiatives.pdf
Communicating about/for development results in public cooperation initiatives
Communicating about/for development results in public cooperation initiatives
Communicating about/for development results in public cooperation initiatives
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/communicating-about-for-development-results-in-public-cooperation-initiatives.pdf
City strategies and local social cohesion
City strategies and local social cohesion
City strategies and local social cohesion
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/city-strategies-and-local-social-cohesion.pdf
How can local institutions cooperate with each other?
How can local institutions cooperate with each other?
How can local institutions cooperate with each other? From specific projects to strengthening local public policies
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/how-can-local-institutions-cooperate-with-each-other-from-specific-projects-to-strengthening-local-public-policies.pdf
Identifying the contributions of local public policies to social cohesion
Identifying the contributions of local public policies to social cohesion
Identifying the contributions of local public policies to social cohesion
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/identifying-the-contributions-of-local-public-policies-to-social-cohesion.pdf
Capitalization of good practices of the URB Program - AL III
Capitalization of good practices of the URB Program - AL III
Capitalization of good practices of the URB Program - AL III
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/capitalizacion-de-buenas-practicas-del-programa-urb-al-iii.pdf
Resultados URB – AL III
Main achievements and impacts of the URB – AL III Programme projects
Main achievements and impacts of the URB – AL III Programme projects
Main achievements and impacts of the URB – AL III Programme projects
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/main-achievements-and-impacts-of-the-urb-al-iii-programme-projects.pdf
Final report: Scope and lessons of the URB – AL III Programme
Final report: Scope and lessons of the URB – AL III Programme
Final report: Scope and lessons of the URB – AL III Programme
https://www.observ-ocd.org/sites/observ-ocd.org/files/2018-04/final-report-scope-and-lessons-of-the-urb-al-iii-programme.pdf