Newsletter – n°10 – April 2012

News from partners

During the 4^th Regional Dialogue identity focused local public policies were analysed and challenges for achieving harmonious coexistence among citizens and the potential of cultural identity for economic and territorial development were discussed.

“We must rethink public administration. Creating local public policies that acknowledge identity and the diversity of relationships is fundamental”, declared the Executive Director of the OCO, Octavi de la Varga, during the presentation of the key ideas of the meeting. “The debate on identity cannot be separated from the debate on development models (…) and we must recognise the territories’ capacities”, he added.

The meeting concluded with a general consensus on the need for Latin American local governments to consider identity and multiculturalism as fundamental elements for building public policies that help to increase social cohesion.

“We must build the future on public participation and culture. Culture plays an important role for integration, conflict mediation and innovation”, stated Michel Azcueta, Director of the Higher School of Municipal Management in Lima (Peru).

More than 120 actors from 10 countries in Latin America and Europe attended the Regional Dialogue organised by the Orientation and Coordination Office (OCO) of the URB-AL III Programme in collaboration with the Autonomous Municipal Government of La Paz, UNDP Bolivia and the Delegation of the European Union.