Coordinating poverty alleviation programs with regional and local governments : the experience of the Chilean Social Fund - FOSIS

Abstract

This paper reviews the Chilean experience in dealing with the issue of integration of local, and regional governments into the poverty alleviation programs carried out through the Chilean Social Fund (FOSIS). FOSIS was created in 1990 by the first democratically elected government that took office after seventeen years of military rule. However, it was only in 1992, that local governments were elected after a long period of appointed officials, and neglect of investments in economic, and social infrastructure. Since its inception, FOSIS gave high priority to participatory approaches, and capacity building of community organizations, as the key mechanisms to enable the poor to improve their living conditions on a sustainable basis. This paper traces the evolution of FOSIS, and analyzes its new strategy for allocating resources at the regional, and local levels. The Chilean case presents a successful example of increasing integration of local governments, with poverty programs designed, and implemented by intermediaries (mostly non-governmental organizations), and/or directly by beneficiaries.

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