Regional Forum on Local Economic Development 2024 in Montevideo

© ILO

© ILO

For three days, Montevideo was the setting for a crucial meeting where leaders and experts from the region addressed the challenges and opportunities of local economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. In this framework, the importance of territorial financing, human mobility, decent work, the empowerment of women and vulnerable communities, as well as economic-productive integration was underlined.

The meeting highlighted the importance of this meeting to bring new perspectives on local development to the global level.

• Regional governments wants to be part of such processes because they are “the ones who are in the locality”.
• The SDGs have brought a common language on the territorialisation of SDGs, including SDG 8 on Decent Work, this will be vital for the next summit.
• The subnational level is essential in the care of the elderly and the care economy, a fundamental pillar of local economic development.

During the days, intense discussion took place on key topics :

• Decent work and the renewed social contract, addressed in a panel organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Committee on Local Economic and Social Development of UCLG;
• Cooperatives, Social and Solidarity Economy, the promotion and consolidation of small and medium size enterprises are essential pillar of local economic development and the implementation of SDG 8.
• Economic-productive integration, discussed in an event organized by the Department of Economic Development of the Municipality of Montevideo.

These discussions were fundamental to identify concrete strategies and strengthen local capacities throughout the region.

For the ILO in the Latin America and Caribbean Region, the Forum was a key moment when the world work meets with the world of cities. The ILO is a member of the Executive Committee of World Forum for Local Development and is actively engaged in its preparation for the World Forum of Local Economic Development 2025 to be held in Sevilla April 1-4 2025.