Analysis of the criteria for determining Regional Facts within the framework of the creation of Administrative and Planning Regions

Abstract

This article examines the criteria established by Decree 900 of 2020 for the determination of Regional Facts, a concept introduced by Law 1962 of 2019, which served as the technical and political foundation for the development of Administrative and Planning Regions (RAP) in Colombia. The main objective is to clarify the strategic importance of these criteria as part of the design of regional public policies, access to resources from the General Royalties System, and territorial planning. To this end, a documentary research project with a qualitative approach was conducted, presenting the seven criteria established by the regulations and systematizing cases present in the cases where they have been applied. Furthermore, it allowed for the identification of disciplinary challenges and opportunities in their application, which are expressed as the need for articulated governance, a supra-departmental vision, and the participation of territorial stakeholders. The article concludes that Regional Facts are tools that can help understand institutional fragmentation and the paths to territorial integration for the sake of a sustainable, equitable, and efficient process.