Open contracting reforms to boost civic engagement and participation: The experience of nine regions in Colombia

This brochure summarizes the impact of OCP’s project involving governments and civil society organizations to transform public procurement processes in nine regions in Colombia. The project was supported by the UK Prosperity Fund for Colombia between October 2018 and January 2023.

Local governments are the largest buyers of goods and services in Colombia. Each year, over 700,000 procurement processes, or 70% of public contracting, happe3ns at the municipal and departmental level. Although these procedures deliver much-needed services to citizens, they are often marred by inefficiency, inequality, opacity and low levels of competition.