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AGREEMENT SIGNED AT THE OAS IN SUPPORT OF MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE ANDEAN REGION AND IN CENTRAL AMERICA

The Organization of American States (OAS), the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) signed an agreement to coordinate efforts in support of the OAS initiative Efficient and Transparent Municipalities (MuNet). The agreement was signed by OAS Secretary General Miguel Ángel Rodríguez; CAF’s Executive Director, Enrique García; and Canada’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Paul Durand.

MuNet is designed to help municipalities in the Andean and Central American regions improve their citizen services by increasing efficiency and transparency. This is accomplished through the incorporation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) as tools for modernization. MuNet places special focus on electronic government, cadastre and property registration.

At the beginning of 2004, CIDA confirmed a contribution of $595,000 as part of its program of supporting new cooperation OAS initiatives. Through the operative agreement signed today with the OAS, the CAF is pledging the first of two contributions of $295,800 each, for a total of $595,000 also. These combined resources, totaling almost $1.2 million, will be used to leverage private sector contributions and municipal counterparts which are expected to increase the Program’s value to $5 million. MuNet represents the second stage of an OAS-CAF collaboration started in 2002.

The President of CAF declared that for his Corporation “the institutional development of the regions’ municipalities is of the utmost importance. We have decided to continue our support in this second stage to build on a successful program initiated in 2002”.

Ambassador Paul Durand expressed Canada’s satisfaction in supporting this project “that complies with the mandates of the Summit of the Americas in the area of municipal governance and at the same time promotes collaboration with the private sector.” In addition he stated that “this three-party agreement demonstrates the importance the OAS gives to closely collaborating with other organizations in its development initiatives.”

Finally, the OAS Secretary General, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, asserted that “this Program shows the OAS’ commitment to find innovative ways for collaboration for the benefit of the peoples of the Americas."

"Projects that strengthen local governments and support a successful decentralization are of strategic importance and we are looking forward to coordinate efforts in this initiative with two important partners such as CIDA and CAF," he said.

For more information: [email protected]

Reference: E-171/04