Editorial
No unique pathway to development exists. Each country’s experience enriches our understanding of how development unfolds in different contexts and of the role that institutions and policies play in shaping development outcomes.
In an uncertain, complex and fast-changing global landscape, governments constantly need to anticipate and adapt to new scenarios to sustain growth and deliver benefits to societies. The Production Transformation Policy Reviews (PTPRs) respond to this challenge by providing a novel and timely assessment that relies on peer learning and consensus building. The PTPRs are implemented in the framework of the OECD Initiative for Policy Dialogue on Global Value Chains, Production Transformation and Development and provide an opportunity for our organisations to cooperate and respond to countries’ demands.
Even though no “one size fits all” approach applies to development strategies and policies, some crosscutting principles still surface that enhance their quality and effectiveness. Policies need to anticipate and adapt to change, promote learning, facilitate interactions and build resilient linkages. The policies of tomorrow need to be increasingly able to bring together all relevant stakeholders. This not only enhances ownership and accountability of the policy process, but also is a key prerequisite for implementing effective policies and enabling an inclusive and sustainable economic transformation.
Colombia is a growing, stable economy in Latin America. The peace process opened up new opportunities and the main challenge now lies in ensuring that those opportunities benefit all territories in the country. To do so, Colombia is counting on an effective planning system to respond to society’s multiple aspirations. The National Planning Department (DNP) is an institution with a good reputation and convening power, characterised by a tradition of dialogue with the private sector. These experiences represent an excellent foundation for Colombia to move forward and address its pending challenges of low productivity and high dependence on natural resources.
Indeed, Colombia is now looking at mobilising new drivers of transformation to tackle the issues that are holding back future progress. These obstacles include the low level of productivity, the scarse sophistication and diversification of exports, and poor investment innovation activities. Building on solid macroeconomic management, the country is experimenting with new forms of medium-term policies that aim at leveraging each region’s competitive advantage. Delivering results will depend on the capacity to connect up-to-date planning functions to an effective implementation process and on the ability to reap the benefits of the new technological and industrial revolution.
With a GDP per capita of USD 14 900 (PPP) in 2017, Colombia is quickly approaching the middle-income level that would no longer make it eligible to receive Official Development Assistance. However, the country still needs to make further reforms to achieve inclusive growth and sustainable development. The policies implemented in the years to come will be crucial to sustain progress. The OECD Development Centre, ECLAC, UNCTAD and UNIDO are ready to continue supporting Colombia towards prosperity through knowledge sharing and peer learning within the OECD Initiative for Policy Dialogue on Global Value Chains, Production Transformation and Development. This PTPR is another concrete way through which our organisations can continue supporting Colombia’s priorities in identifying options for reforms to deliver better policies for better lives.
Mario Pezzini
Director
OECD Development Centre and Special Advisor to the OECD Secretary-General on Development
Alicia Bárcena
Executive Secretary ECLAC
Richard Kouzul Wright
Director
Globalisation and Sustainable Development UNCTAD
Cecilia Ugaz Estrada
Director of the Department of Policy Research and Statistics
UNIDO