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Strengthening local municipalities to improve the delivery of public services, including for water and sanitation
RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE, N.C. - RTI International, a nonprofit research institute and leading international development organization, is working to strengthen local municipalities in Ecuador to improve public services and strengthen democratic governance. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently awarded RTI with a five-year USAID/Ecuador Tu Municipio Responde (TuMUNI) Activity under the Water and Development II (WADI II) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract.
“This new USAID Activity will work to strengthen the role of local municipalities and expand access to critical public services, including water, sanitation and hygiene,” said Nicole Barnes, senior vice president for international development at RTI. “We are committed to working with local governments, civil society organizations, the Government of Ecuador, and our partners to improve the delivery of public services, and, at the same time, catalyze progress in economic growth, education, digital connectivity and child nutrition.”
Local governments in Ecuador play a key role in the economic and social development of the country. Through national decentralization efforts, municipalities have the authority to maximize their role for the benefit of Ecuadorian citizens and vitality of the country. Strengthening the capacity of local municipalities to provide public services, generate local revenue and increase citizen participation in decision making will impact citizen satisfaction with democratic governance.
Barnes added, “USAID has a long track record of working in partnership with civil society and the private sector, and this activity will build on those experiences to further support strengthening of municipal governments to demonstrate how decentralized democracy works.”
RTI will collaborate with Global Build Collaborative, Planet Partnerships and the Ecuadorian nonprofit Fundación Esquel.
