| Project Detail |
Reducing spatial inequalities is a priority for the Colombian government, which uses a public policy tool—the General Royalties System (SGR)—to achieve this goal. This research project aims to analyze the impact of the SGR strategy on reducing spatial inequalities in Colombia, in collaboration with the Institute for Public Action. In Colombia, the oil and coal mining industries are important sources of tax revenue, including royalties. The General Royalties System was created to organize the transfer of these royalties—which come from the exploitation of non-renewable natural resources—from the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit to territorial entities. These resources finance the provision of services in the education, health, drinking water and basic sanitation sectors, for general purposes, and for special allocations, in Colombias different regions. This mechanism aims to ensure a fair distribution of revenue, which is essential since spatial inequalities in access to services remain significant in Colombia—as demonstrated by the multidimensional inequalities assessment conducted with the support of AFD. For example, while the secondary education coverage rate in urban areas is close to 100%, in rural areas it is 50%. The Monitoring, Follow-up, and Control Strategy for SGR Resources is a public policy tool led by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit to oversee the management of transferred resources. This strategy, implemented for almost 15 years, identifies alerts and cases of noncompliance with the goal of ensuring continuity, coverage, and quality in the provision of public services. It seeks to prevent and mitigate risks in the provision of social services throughout Colombia, which is essential for building equity throughout the country, as well as to prevent the widening of territorial disparities in the institutional capacity of local governments and the provision of social services to all populations, regardless of their location. This project is being carried out within the framework of the Inequalities Research Facility Extension . Coordinated by AFD and funded by the European Commission , the Facility Extension will contribute to the development of public policies focused on reducing inequalities in four countries: South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, and Indonesia, during the period 2021-2025. The Biodiversity for Climate Action project of the Province of Santa Fe aims to conserve the exceptional biodiversity of wetlands and the Paraná River Valley by expanding and strengthening the management of protected areas and developing environmental education centers in several cities. It marks a milestone as the first non-sovereign loan (without a national guarantee) made to an Argentine province and the first 100% biodiversity project of the AFD in Latin America. CONTEXT The province of Santa Fe is crossed by a dense and complex network of wetlands and rivers, most notably the Paraná River, which forms the eastern border of the province for over 800 km. The Paraná River Valley is home to more than 600 bird species, numerous mammal species, and a diverse array of aquatic fauna. It is a complex ecosystem that plays an important role in regulating water and nutrient cycles, providing food, shelter, and breeding grounds for many species. Wetlands also play a vital role in reducing the risks of fire and drought that the province faces. However, most of Santa Fes provincial protected areas lack sufficient infrastructure and currently lack a management plan or dedicated personnel (eco-guards). Furthermore, the Province of Santa Fe is more inland-oriented than coastal, and its natural resources have been underdeveloped. The project represents an opportunity for a true transition toward a province that preserves its biodiversity and makes the most of its natural resources. DESCRIPTION The projects main objective is to preserve and strengthen the conservation of biodiversity in the province of Santa Fe, as an action to combat climate change and to diversify the provinces economic resources. |
