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Intermediate Level of Government: Research Strengthening the Performance of Departments The Political Constitution of 1991 significantly deepened Colombia's decentralization process. It made, among other things, Departments and its Governors responsible for planning economic and social development and providing technical assistance to the local level of government. Nevertheless, Departments continue to be characterized by weak performance, weak coordination with other levels of government, lack of needed assessments at the local level, and poor supply of technical assistance toward municipalities, particularly in the areas of promotion of good governance, deepening of democracy, strengthening economic development and definition of sound municipal policies for crime and violence reduction. While the decentralization process presents challenges to all levels of administration, performance of the intermediate level continues to be the least satisfying of them all. Since July 2001, the Colombia Program has been developing activities aimed at strengthening the intermediate level of government in Colombia and has been implementing, through research and technical assistance, a variety of activities that focuses attention on issues of good governance, democracy, crime and violence reduction and economic development. The following activities have been undertaken: a. Comparative Study on the Intermediate Level of Government in Colombia and other countries in the Americas This research document presents the results of a Colombia Program assessment of the intermediate level of government in Colombia by analyzing i) its constitutional and legal frameworks, policies and programs developed by the national government to reform or strengthen the intermediate level of government; as well as ii) its upkeep; and iii) relevant key issues and strategies to improve democratic governance at the departmental level. It also includes a comparative analysis of the intermediate level of government in eight (8) countries, with federal and non-federal regimes. The Colombia Program thus provides analytic elements to better understand how the intermediate level in Colombia may be improved. b. Survey on Government Performance at the Departmental Level in Colombia The Colombia Program designed and distributed a survey to each of the 32 departments of Colombia in order to identify and evaluate planning processes, organizational structures, human resources, managing practices, tools and mechanisms to provide technical assistance at the local level and best practices in areas such as economic development and security, among others. The results are providing a valuable input to Colombia Program research regarding the role of the intermediate level of government in Colombia. The results of these surveys (75% of surveys were completed by Governors) are providing a valuable input to research on the role of the intermediate level of government in Colombia. Information is available for the following departments: Arauca, Caldas, Caquetá, Cesar, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Atlántico, Cauca, Amazonas, Antioquia, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Risaralda, Norte de Santander, Santander and Valle del Cauca. c. The Decentralization Chapter at the Political Database of Americas The Colombia Program has developed a new chapter on the often consulted Political Database of the Americas, a website maintained by Georgetown University and the OAS. This web chapter offers easily accessible information on the legal and constitutional framework of countries in the Latin American Region, with particular attention to issues of decentralization. The posted information covers the following issues: i) basic legislation of the intermediate and local levels of government; ii) organization of the intermediate and local levels of government; iii) functions of the executive and legislative branches at these levels; iv) the system of election of authorities; and v) the wages of executive and legislative authorities. The information is available for Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuela. d. Strengthening the Legislative Branch at the Intermediate Level of Government in Colombia: Departmental Assemblies During 2003 the Colombia Program developed research to strengthen the Legislative Branch at the Intermediate Level of Government in Colombia: Departmental Assemblies.   Departmental Assembly Survey: Final Results