The best of the 6th Local Economic Development Forum in Seville, all in one place. We conclude with an opinion piece to further deepen the analysis.
NEWS
ORU Fogar at the 6th World Forum on Local Development. ORU Fogar's prominent participation in the VI World Forum on Local Economic Development, held in Seville in April 2025, consolidated its role as a key voice for regional governments in global debates on territorial development. With more than 30 speakers, the organisation addressed crucial issues such as food sovereignty, gender equality, sustainable tourism and cross-border cooperation.
Cross-border cooperation: sharing experiences from three continents. As part of the 6th LED Forum, a session entitled "LED Strategies and Cross-Border Cooperation: Connecting Territories” was held. During the panel, specific experiences of cross-border cooperation were shared, highlighting cases such as the Nouvelle Aquitaine-Euskadi-Navarra Euroregion, the Uruguay River Basin, and the Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden. Emphasis was placed on the fact that decentralised cooperation and triangular cooperation are essential for promoting equitable and sustainable local development in border regions.
From the land to the plate: food sovereignty under debate. At the 2025 World Forum on Local Economic Development, ORU Fogar organised a powerful debate on food sovereignty, highlighting how regional governments can strengthen sustainable food systems through local production and short marketing channels. Experiences from Rabat-Salé-Kenitra (Morocco), Apurímac (Peru) and the Basque Government (Spain) were shared, along with contributions from Judith Hitchman and Reinaldo Cuba.
Practices, strategies and territorial policies for women's economic empowerment. A wonderful panel that brought together more than 200 participants to discuss women's economic autonomy and share experiences from different regions. How can we foster a culture of female economic leadership and ensure that women have a voice in decisions that affect local economic development?
Transforming territories: the cooperation demanded by regional governments in the South. Various panels and sessions at the 6th DEL Forum addressed the issue that international cooperation must be an active ally of regional governments in the global South. Leaders from Africa and Latin America denounced the lack of technical and financial resources to implement the 2030 Agenda and demanded more direct and effective collaboration, especially in the context of the upcoming International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4).
Daniela Andreia Schlogel, economist and Regional Planning Coordinator in Paraná, Brazil, shares her experience at the 6th World Forum on Local Economic Development. From women's empowerment initiatives to inclusive public policies, discover how regions are leading the change towards fairer and more sustainable development. Don't miss this inspiring reflection on empowerment and territorial development.
