ABSTRACT:  This article analyses the essential managerial competencies for managing change and promoting innovation in local governments, based on the case study of the municipalities of Bello (Antioquia) and Suba (Bogotá). It argues that the tension between institutional resistance to change and the need for innovation constitutes a structural challenge that public leaders must balance in order to ensure organizational sustainability. The research, qualitative and descriptive in nature, was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire applied to 109 officials and 11 semi-structured interviews with strategic managers.

The results show that, while there is openness toward transformation processes, critical barriers persist, including high staff turnover, the absence of standardized transition protocols, and cultural resistance to innovation. In contrast, significant opportunities were identified, such as the adoption of digital technologies, continuous training of human capital, and the strengthening of inter-institutional alliances.

The study concludes that the development of competencies in transformational leadership, strategic vision, and knowledge management constitutes a decisive factor in addressing the contemporary challenges of local public administration. It provides a reference framework that links academic reflection with managerial practice aimed at innovation and institutional sustainability.

KEYWORDS: Organizational change, Managerial competencies, Local governments, public innovation, Transformational leadership.