confidence and leadership
TRANSCRIPT
CONFIDENCE and
LEADERSHIP
Inside the transformation of Colombia
Remarks by Alvaro Uribe VélezAPRIL 2012
Issues to address
1. A historical problem
2. Facing the problem: From campaign to Government
3. Generating change in times of crisis
1. A historical problem
“Every creative journey begins with a problem”
Colombia in 2002 was a fragile State
Security
28.837 homicides
2882 kidnappings
69 homicides per 100.000 habitants
1645 terrorist attacks
350 mayors out of their municipalities
158 municipalities without police
Economy
Average Economic Growth 1994-2001: 2.1%
GDP per Capita: US$2377
Investment as % of GDP: 16.5%
Exports: US$11.975 million
FDI: US$2.100 million
Inflation: 6.99%
Fiscal balance: -3.2%
SocialUnemployment: 16.2%
Health Coverage: 25 million Colombians.
Pension affiliates: 4.5 million
Poverty:57%
Education Coverage: Primary 97%, High school: 57%, University: 24%.
Mobil Phone Lines: 4.6 million
Internet coverage: 1.9 million
The Colombian Paradox: a long and stable democracy in a permanent threat from terrorist groups, drug dealers and organized
crime…
1. A historical problem
Colombia faced a Confidence Deficit
The elusive quest for peace
Many governments exhausted all their political capital attempting to reach
peace through political dialogue…the result was military strengthening
from illegal armed groups and a rapid growth in their
criminal activities (68% thought the country was going in a negative track)
Terrorist Groups (Guerrillas and
Paramilitaries) had created a sense of
defeat in the Colombian people.
Fear impacted in the Colombian people
Mindset
The lack of investmentThe drain of human
capitalThe sense of danger in
Colombian roads.The expansion of
massive kidnappings created an emotional
domino effect
2. Facing the problem
VISIONOur vision was to build a Comunitary State:
• CONFIDENCE was our main goal
• Without Confidence: • No investment• Unemployment• Lack of opportunities• Brain Drain (Young people wanted to leave
without a return ticket)
• Three main Policies:
• Democratic Security
• Investment with fraternity
• Social cohesion
• For the First Time a National Development Agenda had Security as a driver of Development (Security = Investment = Social Cohesion)
• No more a debate between left and right
2. Facing the problem
POLICY• Democratic Manifiesto (100 Points)
Democratic Security
Security for All
Fight all forms of crime
Security without Martial Law
Security with liberties and Human Rights
Victims recognition
Investment with Social
ResponsibilityInvestor Security (Human, Legal
and Political)
Sound Macroeconomics
Incentives
Access to markets
Competitiveness Factors (Infrastructure, Connectivity,
Banking,)
Social Cohesion
Education Revolution
Health with coverage and quality
Access to credit (Banca de oportunidades)
Vocational Training
Conditional Cash Transfers
2. Facing the problem
Principles
Political Pedago
gy
Build a citizen coalition
Macro Vision & Micro
Management
Permanent dialogue with citizenship.
Beyond traditional
politics (Colombia
FIRST)
Accountability
Security as a Democratic
Value
MessagesSecurity as a Democratic
Value.
Strong hand with a big heart.
To work, work and work.
Against corruption and traditional politics
2. Facing the problem
Communication
2. Facing the problem
InnovationBefore
Presidents inside the office
Presidents not engaged in details
Lack of an effective vision communication
Solve problems through political
channels
Political calculations
Secretaries appointed by Political
Representation
Secretaries rotated on a permanent basis
Luxurious governments
Congressional Governance
InnovationPresident with the People(Consejos Communitarian)
Macro vision & Micro Management
Three eggs
Face problems with regular citizens
Pedagogic policy formulation
Secretaries appointed by experience
4 year term secretaries
Austerity
Citizen Governance
2. Facing the problem
Innovation in SecurityRecovering
SecurityMacro Vision and Detailed Follow up:•Daily commitment to monitor security in every region.
•How citizens had the President Mobile Phone Number
Early Victories :•Road caravans
•Massive kidnappings are over
Strategic Force Integration•All Forces working together.
•Share success
National Informant Network•Citizens became active in denouncing criminals
•Reward Mondays
Commander in Chief assumes responsibility•The Granda Story
•Operation Fenix: Fire the Air Force Commander
•Operation Jaque: The pressure for a humanitarian exchange and the final outcome
Smart Weapons:•The importance of strategic warfare
Extradition:•The decision to extradite the Paramilitary Kingpins
2. Facing the Problem
Leadership
Mobilization
Drivers
306 Communitarian Councils
Weekly Security Councils
52 Economic dialogues
Result Driven
Administration
Leading by example
Direct Democracy
(Sate of opinion)
Determination to find solutions
Communication with the
truth
2. Facing the problem
• Moments of truth:1. Nogal Bomb: Bogota cries but never surrenders2. Killing of 11 regional senators: Facing their
families when rejecting humanitarian exchanges.3. The rescue of Fernando Araujo4. Meeting Chavez after the Bombardment in
Ecuador: a debate in live T.V5. The rescue of National University President6. The story of Emanuel7. The military agreement with the U.S
Leadership: Tough Decisions
2. Facing the problem
Indicator 2002 2010
Homicides 28838
15000
Kidnappings 2882 228
Homicides per 100K Habitants
69 35
Terrorist attacks
1645 250
Municipalities without mayors
presence
350 0
Municipalities without police
158 0
Security EconomyIndicator 2002 2010
Average Economic Growth
2.1% 4.3%
GDP per Capita
2377 5300
Invest % GDP
16.5% 24.6%
Exports US$11.000
US$ 39.000
FDI US$2.100
US$ 7.000
Inflation 6.9% 2.5%
SocialIndicator 2002 2010
Unemployment 16.2% 11.6%
Health Coverage 25.1 million
43.1 million
Pension affiliates 4.5 million
7.1 million
Poverty 57% 37%
Education coverage (Primary,
Hs, University)
97%57%24%
100%79.4%35.5%
Mobile phone users
4.6 million lines
41 million lines
The combination of our Policies produced significant results: Lowest violence levels in two decades, highest levels of social coverage in Colombian History and highest levels of
Exports and FDI in more than 5 decades.
Results
2. Facing the problem
• Leadership, governance based on citizen support and political Will, helped built significant historical changes in strategic sectors:
• Reform the oil and gas sector: 1. Colombia is close to produce 1 million barrels per day from 250.000 in 2002. 2. Ecopetrol Reform 3. Created the National Hydrocarbon Agency
• Reform the Telecom Sector:1. Restructure the Colombian Telecommunications Agency
• Reform the Colombian Social Security Agency• More than 2000 criminals were extradited• Paramilitary structures were dismantled• FARC suffered its biggest historical defeats• Colombia experienced its largest historical FDI flows• Biggest historical reduction in illicit crops• More than 10 FTA’s signed and negotiated• Largest historical health and education coverage• Largest historical credit expansion• Largest historical tourism flows to the country
Results
3. Change in times of crisis
Lessons
Lincoln• Get out of the
office• Honesty• Courage• Strong Hand• Commit to
results• Preach a vision• Talk to people
directly
Kotter• Honesty• Energy• Competence
Moss Kanter• Consistency• Congruence• Competence• Caring
Final Thoughts
1. Human problems require human solutions
2. Our strategy worked because it was conceived by the people, by the people for the people.
3. Our esence was pedadogy not demagogy
4. Macro Vision and Micro Management are esential to succed in times of crisis