Abstract

AGUERO, Samuel N.  and  MONTERO, Sergio. Citzen Influence Through Social Audit: Citizen Audit Committees and Urban Planning in Bogotá. Territ. [online]. 2023, n.49spe, 12810.  Epub Feb 05, 2024. ISSN 0123-8418.  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/territorios/a.12810.

This article examines the transformation and increase in the use of social audit mechanisms by citizens to influence urban planning issues in Bogotá. To do so, we analyze the legal and institutional changes that facilitated the transformation of the Colombian figure of the "veeduría ciudadana" (citizen audit committees) from a mechanism for oversight of public contracts to a tool with the capacity to modify and even block strategic city projects. However, not all veedurías are successful in influencing urban planning. Based on a documentary review and 15 interviews with local officials and leaders of five veedurías, we argue that three key aspects explain why citizen auditing committees might have greater influence in planning issues: (1) creating interdisciplinary teams with emphasis on technical and legal knowledge; (2) having a direct connection with political representatives; and (3) mobilizing an appealing city model for the educated upper and middle classes through public opinion. We conclude with a call to give greater attention to the legal, contractual, and jurisdictional implications of urban planning in discussions about citizen participation and urban governance, as well as to better conceptualize the role of the middle classes in Latin American city planning.

Keywords : Citizen participation; social audit; accountability; urban planning; governance.

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