The Central Mexico city's "Building Citizenship" program of 284 citizen participation panels is now institutionalized in local government.
Photos via IOPD and Municipality of San Luis Potosi
The municipality of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for earning the top global prize for "best practice" in local democracy, the 19th International Observatory on Participatory Democracy award, for its massive "Building Citizenship" project.
"Building Citizenship" is one of the world's most comprehensive local democratic initiatives. By creating 284 elected Citizen Participation Boards throughout the city of more than 800,000 people, the municipality radically decentralized decision-making, empowering the boards to identify needs, set priorities, decide policy and oversee implementation of programs in health, security, infrastructure and sustainability. It has been formally institutionalized in official municipal plans through 2027.
creation of 284 Citizen Participation Boards (CPBs), democratically elected and representing 100% of the population. These CPBs became the key link for identifying needs, prioritizing actions, and overseeing the implementation of programs that impacted essential areas such as health, security, infrastructure, and sustainability.
The IOPD jury which voted for the award praised San Luis Potosi for "transforming local governance through decentralization and representation of 100 percent of the population, constant dialogue between citizens and the government, as well as the empowerment of the local community as a driver of a fairer, more equitable, and inclusive administration.
San Luis Potosi received the award during the 24th conference of IOPD in Córdoba, Argentina. San Luis Potosi is the second consecutive Mexican jurisdiction to take home the award; the Mexico City borough of Iztapalapa won last year for its "utopias" project.
Here is a brief description of the program, submitted to IOPD:
"The initiative helped address historical issues such as citizen apathy, inequality in access to services, and the disconnection between the community and authorities. Tangible results were achieved, such as the provision of over 78,000 medical services through the Health Route, the rehabilitation of 390 public spaces during the "Domingos de Pilas" events, and the execution of the Emergency Plan "Yes to Water," which solved the water crisis through well drilling, equitable water distribution in cisterns, and the active participation of the CPBs to ensure social peace.
Additionally, participatory democracy structures such as the Municipal Social Development Council were strengthened to approve strategic works and actions. The inclusion of vulnerable groups was a central pillar, with specific consultations for people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and educational programs involving girls, boys, and youth.
This approach has consolidated a replicable and sustainable system, which continues as part of the Municipal Development Plan 2024-2027, ensuring its long-term continuity. "Building Citizenship" transformed local governance, promoting constant dialogue between citizens and the government, empowering communities, and demonstrating how active participation can be the engine of a more just, equitable, and inclusive administration.
