Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

2010 Category 3: Brazil
into processes that would improve their standard of living in their own natural
environment, with harmony, greater equality and a sense of balance.
The objectives of the initiative may be divided into five categories: administrative,
cultural, economic, social and productive. With respect to administrative change, the
public had previously been politically distanced, with no confidence in the bureaucratic
processes or their ability to generate public value. The mobilization of citizens
in the political processes engendered among them a greater sense of citizenship.
From a cultural perspective, it was necessary to transform the passivity of the people—ingrained
from years of hopelessness—into more a proactive spirit. This was
essential to achieving productivity and economic development. Locals previously
cultivated their own land for their own sustenance. The regional economy was a subsistence
economy. To achieve economies of scale, it was necessary to promote among
them a cooperative vision and to support community production processes. The
greatest challenge was to coordinate and monitor the actions and views of the various
actors and stakeholders in the programme.
The success of this initiative arose from the commitment and involvement of multiple
participants from all sectors. Financial resources came from national banks at the federal,
state and municipal level, and from donor organisations as well as the private sector. Private
companies also provided expertise and technical support, mainly to improve agricultural
and aquacultural methods. Taxpayers contributed significant funding in the initial
stages, and subsequently made additional investments to improve outcomes. Volunteers
from community organisations, public servants, and in particular teachers contributed
their services to support the operation of the programmes. Periodically consultants were
involved to provide evaluative feedback that was instrumental to ongoing improvements.
Replicability and Sustainability
This model for development benefited from being rooted in the community and enabling
residents to chart their own future by identifying priorities and implementing
them. It did not support any particular economic sector or social class at the expense
of others. Rather, it helped build strategic alliances between groups, which, by promoting
interdependence, has proven to be a powerful formula for decentralization.
Participatory mechanisms must also be well established to ensure the continuity of
such initiatives, and by prioritizing the training of young people, the critical steps
have been taken to ensure continuity.
The particulars of any development programme will vary from place, depending on
the community’s unique character and needs, but the Pratigi model of development
based on participatory governance can definitely be transferred to other situations.
Certain conditions are essential, however. First, this model can be best transferred in
democratic systems that allow the community to organise itself independently and to
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