Collaborative Governance as a Policy Strategy to Combat the Covid-19 Pandemic: Lessons from Latin America

Collaborative governance (CG) has proven to be a useful, though limited, policy approach for addressing wicked problems. Its success depends on the dynamics between collaborating actors, which vary based on their resources, interests, and institutional contexts. While much of the literature has focused on the Global North, less is known about how CG functions in regions with weak institutional frameworks, such as Latin America. This study examines CG in Latin America during the Covid-19 pandemic, analyzing case studies from six countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico. The findings highlight that CG in the region manifests as short-term, dynamic arrangements rather than institutionalized regimes influenced by political instability, limited state capacity, and pervasive inequalities. Despite these challenges, CG facilitated innovative responses to the pandemic by leveraging diverse actors and resources. The study contributes to understanding CG’s potential and limitations in the Global South, offering insights into how collaborative efforts can address complex, multidimensional crises in contexts of structural inequality and low institutional trust.