Redesign of the Subnational State in Valle del Cauca: Institutional Capacity and Personnel Management ( 2004-2018)

Abstract

This article examines the process of redesigning the subnational state in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, between 2004 and 2018, with a focus on institutional capacity and personnel management. Through a case study, three consecutive administrative reforms aimed at modernizing public administration, strengthening the professionalization of the bureaucracy, and improving the efficiency of public service delivery are analyzed. Using a mixed-method approach that combines document analysis and surveys of public officials, significant progress is identified in the implementation of managerial models inspired by the New Public Management (NPM). However, challenges persist, including the coexistence of clientelist practices, misalignment between competencies and functions, and the weak institutionalization of meritocracy. The study concludes that, although the reforms have achieved structural transformations, their impact on the consolidation of democracy and social equity remains limited.