Flux Bogotá: Restoring Trust in Public Works
A civic-tech approach to make public works visible, verifiable, and accountable.
When Public Works Become Broken Promises
In Colombia (and many countries), unfinished public works – often called “white elephants” – have become symbols of wasted resources and broken trust. In Bogotá, you can find streets dug up for years, hospitals that never open, and schools that exist only on paper while children study in makeshift classrooms.
Each stalled or abandoned project isn’t just a failure of concrete and steel – it’s a broken promise that erodes citizens’ trust in government. Over 1,800 such incomplete or defective projects have been identified nationwide, at a value of around COP 25 trillion (≈USD 6–7 billion). These fiascos, marked by huge cost overruns and years-long delays, make corruption and mismanagement painfully tangible.
People see the barricades and abandoned sites and feel powerless; many start believing “everyone steals” and that nothing will ever change. This crisis of confidence is a direct threat to democracy – when public works fail, citizens lose faith in public institutions.
Bogotá examples
Bogotá offers vivid examples. The long-delayed metro system, new hospitals that missed their opening dates, and the stalled expansion of major roads like Avenida 68 have all become infamous white elephants.
These projects were meant to improve daily life, but their failure has instead fostered frustration and cynicism. The social damage is clear: every unfinished project undermines the social contract, suggesting that public promises can be broken without consequence.
“The best way to build trust in citizens is to look after their interests, assert their taxes and deliver the works done. The works belong to the people, not a government.”
— Nombre de la persona y cargo.
In other words, citizens are demanding change.
A Civic-Tech Response to Rebuild Trust
Flux is a civictech initiative designed to restore transparency and trust in public infrastructure.
Think of Flux as a GPS for public money guiding everyone through the maze of budgets, timelines, and construction updates. At its core, Flux is a digital platform that centralizes, validates, and communicates information about public works. It takes the heaps of fragmented data that already exist (from government databases, project reports, audits, even community feedback) and brings them into one clear, accessible interface.
In short, Flux shines a light on what was once unseen: it turns hidden data and bureaucratic updates into an open window on how public money is spent (or misspent) in our communities.
How does it work?
Official records
On one side, it pulls in official data – contracts, budgets, schedules, and status updates from systems like Colombia’s SECOP II public procurement portal, Bogotá’s open data platforms, audit reports, and more.
Citizen contributions
On the other side, it welcomes citizen contributions – reports of problems, photos of stalled works, questions and observations from people on the ground.
From fragments to clarity
By combining these sources, Flux creates a more complete picture than either citizens or officials can get alone. Importantly, it doesn’t just dump raw data on users. Flux decodes and simplifies the information, presenting it in plain language with visual tools like maps and infographics.
Dense technical terms and spreadsheets are transformed into clear indicators: timelines, budget trackers, progress bars, and alert icons that anyone can understand at a glance. The platform’s philosophy is that transparency must be inclusive – information should be open to all, not just experts. Flux’s friendly design ensures that a community leader, a journalist, or a curious resident can all navigate it with equal ease.
Validate, contrast, act
Flux validates and integrates reports with official data so community voices trigger real alerts. If records say “on track” but evidence says otherwise, it flags discrepancies.
These flags (eye icons on the map) point to “something’s not right” and focus oversight to prevent new white elephants.
Integrates SECOP II, GIS viewers (e.g., IDU), and PACO using open standards like OCDS for interoperability.
Flux acts as an intelligent intermediary that follows the money and the work so nothing gets lost or doctored.
Contrast · Compile · Communicate
Contrast
Flux contrasts information from multiple sources. It cross-checks the official records (e.g., the contracts and updates in SECOP II or the city’s dashboards) against community reports, oversight findings, and media coverage. Comparing “what was promised” vs. “what is happening” validates consistency and spots anomalies.
Compile
Flux compiles budgets, expenditures, milestones, photos, contractor details, and contract changes to build a 360° project view. It generates indicators and analytics such as Schedule Performance Index (SPI) and Cost Performance Index (CPI) versus the original plan.
Communicate
Findings become friendly reports and alerts. A project page answers: Where is it located on the city map? Is it on schedule or delayed? How much of the budget is spent? Were there contract modifications? Are there any red flags or community complaints? You might see “Delayed – 6 months behind schedule” or a red eye icon if reports suggest problems. Exports (PDF, Excel) support deeper analysis and sharing.
After the C–C–C cycle, you get visible accountability. If something goes wrong, Flux signals it; if it goes well, it builds confidence that public money delivers results.
The Business Model
Only 29% of the people would pay for the app.
B2G2C
Falta explicar lo del B2G2C
IMPACT AND GLOBAL GOALS: From Bogotá to the World
SDG 16 — Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Builds accountability, fights corruption, and strengthens transparent institutions.
SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities & Communities
Improves transparency in urban infrastructure for more inclusive and sustainable cities.
SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Leverages innovation and open standards to improve infrastructure delivery and integrity.