The World Forum on Local Economic Development (WFLED) is an open process that, since 2011, has promoted international dialogue and the exchange of experiences in local economic development. It also provides an opportunity to transform a global alliance of committed stakeholders into concrete partnerships at the national and local levels.
WFLED is led by a coalition of stakeholders comprising the International Executive Committee, which includes representatives from the Andalusian Fund of Municipalities for International Solidarity ( FAMSI ), the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP ), the International Labour Organization ( ILO ), United Cities and Local Governments ( UCLG ), ORU-Fogar , and the Global Fund for Cities Development ( FMDV ). The Global Secretariat is held by FAMSI.
In recent years, the Forum has established itself as the leading global platform for promoting and strengthening local policies that drive inclusive and sustainable development. It has become a strategic platform where key stakeholders from around the world exchange ideas, forge alliances, and share experiences to address the challenges of local economic development, integrating sustainability, equity, and inclusion as fundamental pillars for the well-being of communities globally.
Participation in the various editions of the Forum has become increasingly relevant as the global challenges of local economic development and the need for collaborative solutions have become recognized.
| WFLED Editions | Headquarters | Dates | Participants |
| I WFLED | Seville, Spain | October 5-7, 2011 | 1,300 |
| II WFLED | Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil | October 29 – November 1, 2013 | 4.232 |
| III WFLED | Turin, Italy | October 13–16, 2015 | 2,000 |
| IV WFLED | Praia, Cape Verde | October 17–20, 2017 | 2.729 |
| V WFLED* | Córdoba, Argentina | May 26 – June 1, 2021 | 12.085 |
| VI WFLED | Seville, Spain | April 1–4, 2025 | 2.627 |
| * Hybrid edition due to COVID-19 | |||
Local economic development (LED) is a fundamental strategy for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and other global agendas such as the New Urban Agenda, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development. These agendas recognize that sustainable development is only possible if it is built from the territories, leveraging their capacities, resources, and local actors to generate well-being, inclusion, and sustainability.
LED is based on the mobilization of local actors to promote a development model adapted to the unique characteristics of each territory, with an approach that fosters the creation of decent employment, the strengthening of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the improvement of local productivity, and the promotion of innovation, in line with key SDG targets.
The New Urban Agenda reinforces this perspective by recognizing that cities and territories are essential actors in global development and must be capable of fostering inclusive, sustainable, and well-planned local economies. Similarly, LED also supports urban-rural integration by strengthening the links between different types of territories to ensure more balanced economic and social flows.
From an environmental perspective, LED can be an effective tool for moving toward a green, low-carbon economy, in line with the Paris Agreement, by promoting sustainable production, renewable energy, green jobs, and the sound management of natural resources at the local level, enabling us to address the challenges of climate change with contextualized and participatory solutions.
The Addis Ababa Action Agenda, for its part, highlights the importance of local financing to drive development. In this regard, LED requires adequate financing mechanisms, access to credit, responsible investments, and public-private partnerships that facilitate inclusive growth in the regions. It also demands strengthened institutional capacities and participatory governance models, where decision-making is based on dialogue and collaboration across sectors.
Thus, local economic development not only complements global goals but also transforms them into concrete actions with a tangible impact on people's lives. Its comprehensive approach allows for the articulation of the economic, social, environmental, and territorial dimensions of development, acting as a bridge between major international agendas and local realities. Strengthening LED therefore means moving toward truly sustainable, equitable, and people-centered development.
In this context, the World Forum on Local Economic Development represents a unique platform for highlighting territorial experiences, fostering dialogue between multiple levels of government and social actors, and consolidating partnerships that strengthen the territorial approach to development. Its global and multisectoral nature allows for the exchange of knowledge, the identification of good practices, and the generation of concrete commitments to advance the implementation of LED as a key tool for sustainable development agendas.
The seventh edition of the World Forum on Local Economic Development (WFLED) is of great importance because it coincides with a crucial period for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 7th WFLED will be held at a time when local and regional governments will play a key role in renewing these Goals. It will also bring together diverse global actors to foster political dialogue, share experiences, and build partnerships, with the aim of strengthening local economic development. Its relevance lies in the ability to mobilize efforts at the local and global levels, integrating sustainability and equity as fundamental pillars for the future.
The focus on international cooperation and the promotion of new economic models makes it an essential forum for addressing current challenges, and it will serve as a strategic platform for promoting just transitions toward more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive economic models.
The Forum's implementation is directly integrated into local and national policies, providing both a framework for reflection and a collective roadmap for implementing more efficient and effective measures in the region. The Forum aligns the development strategies of cities, regions, and central governments with global agendas, such as the 2030 Agenda, the New Urban Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Addis Ababa Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It can be adapted into local and national development plans, thus helping them provide a more coherent, multi-stakeholder, and multi-level response to the specific challenges of each region.
The World Forum on Local Economic Development pursues the following objectives:
- Promote the effectiveness and impact of local economic development by highlighting local economic progress in improving the quality of life and reducing inequalities.
- Facilitate dialogue and knowledge sharing in an interactive environment for a variety of stakeholders to share their experiences on local economic development
- Build development models from the territories using local experiences as a basis for designing economic development models adapted to the specific needs and contexts of each territory.
- Contribute to the localization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by aligning local actions with its objectives and goals.
It also aims to consolidate the permanent coalition of stakeholders around local economic development policies and practices that are people-oriented, inclusive, and sustainable, leading reflection and collective construction from the territorial level, integrating it into the processes of the global agenda as a key pillar for the future of humanity.
The deadline for receiving Expressions of Interest to host the VII WFLED is September 15, 2025 [2] .
The following schedule details the important dates for completing the application process:
| Dates | Milestone |
| September 15, 2025 | Deadline for receiving Expressions of Interest |
| September 15-30, 2025 | Evaluation of expressions of interest and invitation to submit applications for the selected proposals |
| October 1 - November 15, 2025 | Deadline for receiving applications |
| November 15 - December 15, 2025 | Evaluation of proposals |
| January - February 2026 | Signing of the agreement and official announcement of the selected city. Start of preparations for the 7th WFLED |
Only cities that have expressed interest within the established deadline will be eligible to submit their candidacy to host the seventh edition of the World Forum on Local Economic Development.
Cities whose expression of interest is shortlisted will be able to count on the Secretariat's support to strengthen and develop their candidacy proposal, in accordance with the objectives, principles, and criteria established by the Forum.
To host the seventh edition of the World Forum on Local Economic Development, a financial contribution of three hundred and fifty thousand euros (€350,000) is required to the Forum Secretariat. This will allow for the visibility and consolidation of the WFLED process into a comprehensive roadmap leading to its seventh edition. This amount will cover content coordination, dissemination, promotion, and communication channels for the Forum, as well as other expenses aimed at shaping the overall process leading to the seventh Forum and its legacy.
Additionally, the host city is required to provide an in-kind contribution, including: the venue and all conference facilities; registration and accreditation services and requirements; security services and equipment in the city, around the venue, and within the venue; interpretation services for the main sessions; and operational and logistical needs, including the respective human resources in the country, the city, and the venue.
Any city wishing to officially express its interest in hosting the seventh edition of the World Forum on Local Economic Development (VII WFLED) must send an official communication to the Secretariat, no later than September 15, 2025, to the email secretariat@ledworldforum.org .
The expression of interest must be submitted on the official letterhead of the proposing institution and include all relevant contact information, such as the name of the institution, the person in charge, their position, physical address, email address, and telephone number.
Any specific questions or inquiries related to this procedure can be sent to this same email address.