Series of Preparatory Workshops V World Forum of Local Economic Development Regional and local development agencies as catalysts of integrated territorial responses to the Covid-19 crisis 17 December 2020/ 1:00PM – 3:00PM CET Online Workshop Language: English, Spanish and French
Short summary of the session: A response to the current pandemic crisis must enable a transition to a more just, inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies, combing support to immediate recovery with longer-term, systemic measures centered in territories, that is where the dramatic effects of the crisis are mostly felt and stronger regenerative capacities reside. Local and regional development agencies have a strong potential to act as catalysts of integrated territorial processes, engaging different actors and institutions across governance levels in a structured dialogue for the co-construction of innovative and transformative policies and programs in response to the crisis.
1. Conceptualization of the session The current pandemic crisis is exacerbating the consequences of pre-existing inequalities, showing the drawbacks of a largely unbalanced and unsustainable development model, while revealing new forms of vulnerability. Building forward better in response to the crisis requires deeply innovative and transformative solutions, and not merely adaptive and incremental recovery processes, to enable a transition to more resilient, inclusive, socially and environmentally sustainable societies. The 2030 Agenda constitutes a more than ever relevant framework to channel such transformative transition process, through integrated, systemic approaches that look at the complexity of societies and addresses the interconnections between different actors, dimensions and governance levels. Territories are key to this endeavour. It is in territories that the multiple dimensions of inequality and deprivation materialize, impacting on the quality of life of individual and communities; and it is in territories that the regenerative capacities of people and communities unfold, unlocking the potential embedded in local resources, knowledge and capacities, social relations to find innovative responses to growing uncertainty and demand from the population. The pandemic crisis itself has a strong territorial dimension. Subnational governments – regions and municipalities – are at the frontline of the crisis management and response, and confronted by its largely asymmetric health, economic, social and fiscal impact – within countries but also among regions and local areas. Risks vary greatly depending on where one lives. Regionally differentiated impact calls for a territorial approach to policy responses, combined with a strong inter-governmental coordination.