| Model | Description |
| Full management | Municipalities transfer the responsibility for providing a specific service to the consortium, in its entirety or in part. The consortium assumes the management of the service, being responsible for hiring personnel, and acquiring equipment and supplies, among other activities. Full management in an inter-municipal consortium occurs when the participating municipalities fully transfer the management of a specific area to the consortium. An example of this is the full management of healthcare, where the participating municipalities delegate to the consortium the responsibility for managing and delivering healthcare services within their territory. In this management model, the consortium gains autonomy to manage the resources and services of the respective area, hire professionals, make investments, and define specific public policies for that area. As a result, the participating municipalities can ensure the provision of quality and efficient public services to the population. |
| Shared management | Shared management in an inter-municipal consortium occurs when the participating municipalities decide to share responsibilities and resources for the implementation of specific public policies. An example of this is the shared management of solid waste, where municipalities come together to jointly manage the treatment and disposal of waste produced in their cities. In this case, each municipality may be responsible for collecting the waste within its territory and transporting it to the treatment facility, while the inter-municipal consortium is responsible for managing the operation and maintenance of the landfill or other chosen treatment methods. This arrangement allows for a division of tasks and resources between the municipalities and the consortium, leading to service optimization. |
| Associated management | The municipalities participating in the consortium maintain their autonomy but associate themselves to jointly provide services, sharing responsibilities, and financial resources. An example of associated management in an inter-municipal consortium could be the cooperation between municipalities to construct and administer a shared landfill. In this case, the municipalities come together in a consortium to divide the costs of construction and maintenance of the landfill, which will be used by all the participating municipalities. The inter-municipal consortium will be responsible for managing the landfill, including overseeing compliance with environmental regulations, waste management, and contracting specialized companies for operation and maintenance services, among other activities. In this case, associated management allows municipalities to share resources and expertise to achieve a common and more efficient solution for waste treatment. |
| Integrated management | In this model, municipalities and other entities involved in service provision work together in an integrated manner, sharing information and financial resources to promote efficient service management. Integrated management involves the collaboration of different areas of operation of participating municipalities to make joint decisions toward a common objective. An example could be the establishment of an inter-municipal consortium focused on the economic development of a region. In this situation, the participating municipalities could join forces to attract investments to the region, promote local tourism, and create agricultural incentive projects, among other initiatives that contribute to the integrated and coordinated development of the area. In this management model, decision-making is shared between municipalities, and actions are planned and executed collectively, aiming for the benefit of all involved parties. |