LA DESCENTRALIZACIÓN Y SU INCIDENCIA EN LA GOBERNABILIDAD. CASO GOBIERNOS AUTÓNOMOS DESCENTRALIZADOS DE ECUADOR

Abstract

The document establishes that decentralization is a key process for strengthening governance, as it promotes the political, administrative, and fiscal autonomy of subnational governments, bringing power closer to the citizens. This proximity allows for a more contextualized and efficient management of resources, enhances citizen participation, and reinforces democratic legitimacy. However, in the Ecuadorian case, tensions are identified between the decentralizing discourse and a practice marked by recentralization, institutional weakness, and limited intergovernmental coordination. Despite normative advances, effective decentralization is constrained by a lack of political will, adequate financing, and technical capacity. Only through inclusive and collaborative multilevel governance is it possible to achieve sustainable decentralization that strengthens local governance.