Juan Manuel Alvarado Nivia

Understanding the dynamics between subnational and central governments in Latin America is increasingly crucial, particularly given the rapid urbanization across the continent and the ongoing decentralization process. Millions of people live in areas where national, regional, and local administrative jurisdictions overlap, making it essential to understand how mayors and governors interact with the central government's executive and legislative branches and how these interactions impact people's lives.

My research aims to understand why left-behind regions in Colombia, such as the Colombian Caribbean, have struggled to improve their socio-economic conditions, principally since the decentralization process began in the late 1980s. I seek to identify actions that can be taken from within these regions to enhance the quality of life for their inhabitants and reduce disparities between prosperous and deprived areas, with an emphasis on a bottom-up approach involving local politicians, academics, and the private sector.

With over 14 years of experience in subnational government roles in Colombia, I bring a comprehensive perspective to this research, having developed skills in strategic planning, project management, public policy formulation, and intergovernmental coordination. I have served as city manager, head of the planning office, and COVID-19 response manager for Barranquilla, Colombia's fourth largest city. I also served as the academic director of Fundesarrollo, a think tank focused on the Colombian Caribbean, and worked as an economist with Banco de Comercio Exterior de Colombia (Bancóldex). I hold a BA and an MSc in Economics from Universidad del Norte, Colombia.