Juntas de Vecinos

In the Dominican Republic, under national law, Juntas de Vecinos have their own legal personality.

Municipal and national governments can legally treat Juntas de Vecinos as partners in local governance, as they are intended to be the grassroots voice of each barrio or community in the country.  

The Juntas are expected to advocate for local improvements and services and to coordinate community action.  Their purpose is to identify infrastructure and safety issues and present them to the higher authorities, in their role as intermediaries between citizens and the state.

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During budget and planning processes, municipal governments can invite Juntas to participate, making them “allies” in development projects.

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While Juntas de Vecinos are generally expected to be involved in neighborhood improvements, local safety, the environment, and the culture of their communities, these responsibilities are very difficult for local Juntas to fulfill - as they lack proper, regular funding from the Federal authorities.  

Consequently, Juntas are mainly lobbyists - bringing local issues to the attention of those higher authorities who decide how to allocate federal monies.