Background on the Coneval and its Significance
The Consejo Nacional de Evaluación Política de Desarrollo Social (Coneval) is a Mexican autonomous body responsible for measuring and evaluating poverty, social exclusion, and related issues in Mexico. Established in 2008, Coneval plays a crucial role in informing public policy decisions and ensuring transparency and accountability in social development programs.
The Senate’s Decision
On Thursday, the Mexican Senate approved a reform that transfers Coneval’s functions to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática (Inegi) with a vote of 71 in favor and 34 against. The reform amends the Ley General de Desarrollo Social (General Law of Social Development), the Ley Federal de Presupuesto y Responsabilidad Hacendaria (Federal Budget and Fiscal Responsibility Law), and the Ley General de Contabilidad Gubernamental (General Law of Governmental Accounting).
Content of the Reform
- The reformed legislation mandates that Inegi assumes Coneval’s responsibilities, including poverty and social exclusion assessments.
- The changes aim to simplify administrative processes and reduce public spending, despite the minimal impact on the overall budget (0.05% of the approved 2024 budget).
Context and Implications
In November of the previous year, the Mexican Congress approved the dissolution of seven autonomous bodies, including Coneval. The rationale behind this decision was to streamline administrative processes and cut public spending. However, critics argue that these changes may compromise the independence and effectiveness of essential evaluation mechanisms for social development programs.
Next Steps
The approved reform has been forwarded to the federal executive for publication. The transfer of Coneval’s functions to Inegi will likely have significant implications for how poverty and social exclusion are measured and addressed in Mexico. Stakeholders, including civil society organizations, will closely monitor the transition to ensure that vital evaluation work continues unhindered.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Coneval? Coneval is an autonomous Mexican organization responsible for evaluating poverty, social exclusion, and related issues to inform public policy decisions.
- Why was Coneval’s reform proposed? The reform aims to simplify administrative processes and reduce public spending, though critics argue it may compromise evaluation mechanisms.
- What functions will Inegi now assume? Inegi will take on Coneval’s responsibilities, including poverty and social exclusion assessments.
- What are the potential implications of this reform? The impact on evaluation mechanisms and their effectiveness in informing social development policies remains to be seen.
