Dates: 2-3 May 2013
Place: Bogota, Colombia
In the context of the UNCRD-LAC Programme on Integrated Regional Development Planning and Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, an Expert Consultation Meeting (ECM) was held in Bogotá, Colombia on 2-3 May 2013. The Programme aims at strengthening technical and institutional capacities of government officials of both sub-national and national levels in Latin American and the Caribbean countries to improve integrated regional development policy formulation and planning and management to advance towards human security and sustainable development in the context of Rio +20 outcomes and decentralization policy reforms taking place in the countries. This initiative seeks to work towards building a platform that facilitates exchange of best practices and relevant knowledge in regional and territorial development in LAC, and learning from these experiences. It also seeks to facilitate the creation of networks of collaboration between countries in LAC under a South-South cooperation scheme, and between sub-national and national governments.
The ECM generated ample interest, and resulted in the constitution of an Expert Consultation Committee, and a Road Map (registered in a document) built among the participating organizations which will serve as the basis to define the Programme's Agenda to be developed in the short and long terms. This included outlining capacity building needs, and concrete commitments.
Participants: 30 participants comprising representatives of interested organizations and governmental institutions of national and regional governments with which UNCRD-LAC had a background of collaboration, which involved the Organization of United Regions ORU/FOGAR, the Latin American Organization of Intermediate Governments (OLAGI), Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), UN/ECLAC, the UNESCO Chair on Human Security and Regional Development, the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, and representatives of national and subnational governments of Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, among others.
(Office: UNCRD Latin America and the Caribbean Office)