Colombia's cities get a blueprint for growth, not just a wish list

Colombia gave its cities the power to plan their own growth, backed by national rules. This means almost every city now has a detailed plan for how it will develop.

Most countries tell cities to plan their growth, but then don't give them the tools or the power to actually do it. Colombia did the opposite. It gave local governments the autonomy to make their own plans, but also made sure there were national rules to guide them. This approach means cities can actually build the infrastructure and services they need, instead of just hoping for them.