1. COUNTRY REPORT MUNICIPALITY OF ÑEMBY REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY

2. Paraguay is a landlocked country surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. Population: 6.2 million (UN 2005) Capital: Asuncion Area: 406.752 sq. Km 157.048 sq.miles Languages: Spanish, Guarani Monetary Unit: Guarani Main Exports: Soya beans, cotton, meat, edible oils, timber.

3. ÑEMBY CITY Located at 25km from the Capital. Population: 71.260 Strong demographic growth 1972 – 1982 11.5% 1982 – 1992 26.6% 1992 – 2002 10.2% 48.3%

4. Municipality of Ñemby Organization Chart Councillo r Members Mayor Legal Division Tribunal Financial Consulta nt Adm. & Finances Division Taxation Division Public Works Division Vehicle Traffic Division Social Developm ent Departme nt Women´s Secretary Codeni Culture & Sports Division Neighbor hood commissi ons Young people Secretary M. T. P. Patent Driver licence Urban cleaning service Public Health Inherited Cadastre Commerc e Property Accounti ng Treasury Budget General Secretary l Audit Secretary Technical Assistant

5. AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DEC. 2001). THE MUNICIPALITY OF ÑEMBY ( AS WELL AS 90 % OF PARAGUAYANS MUNICIPALITIES ) HAVE BEEN IMMERSED IN A STRONG ADMINISTRATIVE- FINANCE CRISIS. THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION LEFT TO THE COMMUNITY: * HUGE DEBTS * REMARKABLE POLITIC CONFLICTS * DISCOURAGED STAFF, * BARELY TARIFF & TAX COLLECTION * INSUFFICIENT PUBLIC SERVICES

6. THOSE ITEMS POINTED OUT BEFORE CONTRIBUTED TO FORM AND SUPPORT A NEGATIVE POINT OF VIEW ABOUT THE PUBLIC ORGANIZATION. AT ONCE, THE NEW LOCAL AUTHORITIES BEGAN TO RUN A PROGRAM. “ AN INTEGRAL IMPROVEMENT” ; A SHIFT IN THE PARADIGM FOR PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS, FOCUSED ON : INCREASING TARIFF & TAX COLLECTION AND SUITABLE INVESTMENTS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES, THROUGH A NEW WAY OF MANAGEMENT ( ADMINISTRATIVE AND PERSONNEL SYSTEM) WITH AN ENTHUSIASTIC AND DINAMIC PARTICIPATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONS.

7. . THESE STRATEGIES FOUGHT AGAINST TAX EVASION, *PROMOTED A TRANSPARENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CANALIZED HIGH PRIORITY NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS PROCESS WAS SUPPORTED BY TECHNICAL ASSISTANT OF U S A I D AND CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST PRACTICE BY THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ( FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY) AND WAS PRESENTED AT THE 10th INTERAMERICAN CONFERENCE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN MIAMI,FLORIDA,2004

8. IN ADDITION, THE MUNICIPALITY OF ÑEMBY ALONG WITH S E S ( SENIOR EXPERT SERVICE ), A GERMAN TECHNICAL ASSISTANT ORGANIZATION HAVE ALREADY PREPARED A BASIC MASTER PLAN. IT WAS REGARDING TO THE FEASIBILITY AND DIRECTION DEVELOPMENT BY SECTORS (RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCE, TOURIST, INDUSTRIAL, AND GREEN PLACES ). Cerro Ñemby

9. AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES HAVE ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AND A BASIC MASTER PLAN HAS BEEN ELABORATED. THERE REMAIN HUGE VOIDS TO BE FILLED. * 1- THE EXTRAORDINARY AND AGRESSIVE DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH IS STILL PROMOTING SERIOUS INCONVENIENTS. * 2- THE ORGANIZATION OWN TAX COLLECTION AND … * 3- THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE DURING THIS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ARE NOT ENOUGHT TO SATISFY ALL COMMUNITY NEEDS.

10. PRIORITY NEEDS *INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS; SUCH AS THE CONSTRUCCION OF ROADS, BRIDGES, VOCATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTES, SCHOOLS, HEALTH CENTERS, EQUIPMENTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS.

11. PROBLEMS THAT HINDER DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIZATION’S PROJECTS A STRONG CENTRALIZED SYSTEM OF THE COUNTRY GOVERNMENT. REGULATIONS WHICH ARE NOT ADVANTAGEOUS AT ALL. THE ARTICLE Nº 169: PROPERTY TAXES. IN SHORT, THIRTY (30) % OF PROPERTY TAXES FROM EACH MUNICIPALITY HAVE TO BE DEPOSITED IN AN ACCOUNT OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT THEREFORE, IN 2003 LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: 1- SEVERAL LAW PROJECTS IN ORDER TO MODIFY SOME OUTDATED ONES, WHICH DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO A DINAMIC, MODERN, EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT PROCESSING. 2- SPECIFIC AND CLEAR SUGGESTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT TURNING ITS PRESENT WAY OF MANAGING INTO AN OPENING, TRANSPARENT, DATED, AND DESCENTRALIZED SYSTEM.

12. ORGANIZATION’S MAIN TARGET ONE OF THE MAIN GOAL IS TO GET SEVERAL KIND OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIONS, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATION, (AN INTEGRATED AND A SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL- ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. WORK TOGETHER FOR A BETTER WORLD

13. THANK YOU VERY MUCH