This document reviews the concepts of urban governance—decentralization, participation, and smart governance—on a global scale, with a particular focus on Latin America and Colombia. It demonstrates that decentralization has significantly transformed local governance in the region, though the results have been uneven. While it has increased citizen participation, it has also exacerbated institutional weaknesses, territorial inequities, and distrust in the state. Intermediate cities, which are home to 32% of the regional population, face unique challenges related to fiscal capacity, citizen participation, and the adoption of technology. In Colombia, these issues are further complicated by the ongoing armed conflict and the peace process. Additionally, the integration of technology into urban governance is still in its early stages and is primarily concentrated in larger cities. This reveals a digital divide and a capacity gap that limits digital citizen participation in intermediate territories.