How Santiago de Cali is Boosting Transparency through Open Infrastructure Data

SUMMARY
Ensuring transparency in public infrastructure investments helps citizens monitor progress, propose improvements, and hold decision-makers accountable. In Santiago de Cali, Colombia, the government is participating in the country’s national OGP action plan by combining transparency with public dialogue to open up its contracting process for infrastructure projects at the local level. The city is also working to increase competition and inclusion in its public procurement process through this commitment.

Public infrastructure investments—such as roads, parks, and transport systems—are vital for improving citizens’ quality of life and driving local economic growth. But without transparent access to project information, residents and businesses often lack the tools to monitor progress, propose improvements, or hold decision-makers accountable. This lack of oversight also increases the risk of corruption, mismanagement, and misuse of public funds. In Santiago de Cali, the local government is closing this gap by combining transparency with public dialogue by participating in a commitment from Colombia’s OGP national action plan. Through interactive dashboards, regular data updates and structured engagement with civil society and businesses, the city is taking steps toward a more participatory approach.

A Commitment to Openness in Public Works

According to the commitment, public procurement represents a significant portion of the city’s annual investment. Between 2020 and 2023, the city signed 133 infrastructure contracts amounting to over COP 300 billion (around USD 77 million). However, 61 percent of contracts belonged to a small group of suppliers, highlighting limited competition and market concentration.

Despite the scale of public spending, no centralized system had been in place for citizens, businesses, or oversight bodies to monitor where and how money was being spent. The lack of accessible information has made it difficult for local businesses—especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—to compete for contracts. This means that citizens have not been able to assess the progress or quality of projects taking place in their neighborhoods.

In 2024, this trend started to change. With new strategic partnerships with bodies like the Colombian Chamber of Infrastructure and a proactive approach by the Infrastructure Secretariat, the city saw a 300 percent rise in the number of different bidders in public tenders. This helped increase competition, improve transparency, and raise the quality of project delivery.

An Opportunity for Reform

The commitment proposes a digital and analogue mechanism that regularly shares infrastructure data in accessible formats. Through interactive dashboards, downloadable open data, and plain-language narratives, citizens will be able to better understand public infrastructure project information, which will make it easier to track the planning, implementation, and budgeting stages. These updates will be refreshed monthly and show the timeframe of projects, alongside where public funds are going.

Beyond data, the commitment also aims to improve participation. The city will organize technical dialogue tables—both in-person and virtual—with civil society organizations (CSOs) and the business community. These spaces will allow stakeholders to raise concerns, propose innovations, and help identify practical solutions for the infrastructure sector. By doing so, Cali hopes to improve not only transparency but also the quality, inclusiveness, and effectiveness of public investments.

Turning Plans into Action

In early 2024, Cali set the groundwork for transparent infrastructure development by identifying priority projects through a participatory process linked to the Territorial Development Plan. By mid-year, Cali launched a series of technical dialogue sessions with SMEs and CSOs. These conversations created space for collaborative problem-solving, allowing residents and businesses to share feedback, raise concerns, and help shape public investment decisions.

Between July and September 2024, the first version of Cali’s digital infrastructure dashboard went live. This online platform offers residents access to up-to-date data on planning, budgeting, and the physical progress of projects. Developed in-house by the Infrastructure Secretariat team, the platform has attracted around 22,000 users who use its tools to report road damage and track outsourced construction projects. On the other side, dialogue sessions and community outreach will continue throughout the second half of 2025, along with evaluations to understand how these reforms are strengthening transparency and building public trust.

Santiago de Cali has also made inclusion a central pillar of its infrastructure reforms. A standout initiative is the Cuadrilla Rosa (Pink Crew), launched in early 2025, which promotes the participation of women in a sector historically dominated by men. It is the city’s first road maintenance crew made up entirely of women, dedicated to repairing and restoring the road network. Currently, the crew includes 18 women between the ages of 20 and 60, many of whom come from socially vulnerable backgrounds. Nine are currently studying, five are involved in community work, and all have begun training to operate specialized machinery with support from private sector partners. This initiative not only challenges stereotypes but also creates jobs, strengthens female leadership, and provides positive role models for future generations.

Looking Ahead

The next few years will be critical for Cali as it transforms how citizens interact with public infrastructure projects. The commitment goes beyond just transparency—it is about creating a culture of shared ownership and accountability.

In 2025, Cali is moving forward with the disbursement of a $150 billion credit to restore its road network and invest in strategic infrastructure projects, making this the perfect moment to embrace openness. The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with CoST, the global Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, marks a key step in that direction.

This milestone was made possible through broad collaboration across sectors. Key partners include the Colombian Chamber of Infrastructure, Argos, Unidad de Acción Vallecaucana, ProPacífico, Ecolombia, Cachibí, Santiago de Cali University, and SENA. Together, they’re backing the city’s CoST commitments and helping ensure its long-term impact.

Luz Adriana Vásquez Trujillo, Secretary of Infrastructure of Cali, emphasizes: “Today, we have a real opportunity to rebuild trust—to show citizens that paying taxes matters when those resources are genuinely invested in addressing the needs of everyone.”

As the initiative unfolds, Cali has the chance to become a national leader in open contracting for infrastructure, showing that transparency, participation, and collaboration are not just ideals, but practical tools for better governance and stronger communities.