Collaborative Governance and Institutional Development in the Municipal Context: The Case of the Internal Control in Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico

Abstract

This article analyzes the institutional development of the Internal Control Organ (OIC) in the municipality of Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico, based on a collaborative citizen evaluation conducted between 2023 and 2024. Employing a qualitative methodology and the contextual adaptation of an evaluation instrument previously validated in similar municipal contexts, key aspects of the OIC are assessed, including its normative framework, allocated resources, operational performance, transparency, and citizen participation. The selection of Saucillo is explicitly justified by three fundamental criteria: its empirical representativeness of medium-sized Mexican municipalities, its early and explicit political willingness to engage in citizen-led evaluation exercises, and its theoretical pertinence for exploring principles of collaborative governance. Findings indicate institutional progress in internal regulation, basic transparency, and overall institutional openness toward improvement. However, challenges were identified, particularly related to legal harmonization, staff professionalization, effective whistleblower protection, and the concrete implementation of systematic citizen participation mechanisms. Specific recommendations are provided to address these challenges, emphasizing the replicability of the Saucillo case, explicitly validated by the recent engagement of Chihuahua’s state capital in this collaborative evaluation process.