Ford Foundation
HR&A played a pivotal role in the launch and development of La Liga, a nonpartisan groundbreaking network uniting mayors across Puerto Rico to drive coordinated, long-term recovery and resilience. Working with the Center for a New Economy, the Ford Foundation, and the Open Society Foundations, HR&A shaped La Liga’s structure, leadership, and strategy—creating a platform for cross-party municipal collaboration in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
In the wake of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico faced an urgent need for coordinated local leadership to rebuild infrastructure, restore services, and advocate effectively for resources. Mayors across the island shared common goals but lacked a formal mechanism for collaboration. La Liga was created in response, offering a first-of-its-kind platform for municipal leaders to work together across political lines. From its inception, the initiative aimed to shift the balance of power toward local governance and create space for long-term planning rooted in community needs.
HR&A designed and launched the Municipal Innovation Lab, a hands-on curriculum focused on advancing transparency, accountability, and community-driven governance. The lab provided a practical framework for municipalities to assess governance practices, strengthen administrative capacity, and align recovery strategies with local needs. HR&A piloted the launch by collaborating with five municipalities to implement a training on governance standards, creating replicable models for effective local leadership. HR&A also designed La Liga’s Federal Funding Navigator, a comprehensive tool to help municipalities identify and secure time-sensitive federal funding opportunities, focusing on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
HR&A’s work continues to inform La Liga’s strategy, equipping municipal leaders with tools, resources, and networks to champion more equitable, resilient cities across Puerto Rico. By institutionalizing best practices, La Liga is redefining the relationship between residents and local government, transforming crisis recovery into a pathway for sustainable, community-centered development.
