The sixth edition of the World Forum for Local Economic Development will be held from April 1 to 4, 2025 in Seville, Spain, at the Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions (FIBES).
The Forum will focus on global priorities related to the triple transition (digital, social, and economic), social justice, local workforce development, public management, public-private partnerships, and the role of the private sector and the social and solidarity economy. It will also emphasize employment and decent work, as well as the concept of a new economy that “cares” for communities from the local level. Additionally, the Forum will explore multilevel partnerships and the interplay between global, national, and decentralized (regional-local) policies.
Like the global forums that have preceded it, it also offers a unique opportunity for the host region, in this case, Spain and Andalusia (the province and city of Seville). It provides a chance to activate local development actors, renew development policies and instruments, foster multilevel perspectives and alliances, and promote innovation and science in collaboration with universities and other knowledge institutions. Additionally, it serves as a platform to advance territorial social dialogue with trade unions and the business sector, support social economy initiatives and public-private partnerships, and build multi-actor alliances around the territory and a shared development agenda.
The VI Forum is open to political and technical representatives of national, regional and local governments, local development instruments, multilateral agencies, specialized civil society organizations and cooperation NGOs, entities and institutions of the management and knowledge system, companies and entities from the private sector and the social and solidarity economy, experts in the topics of interest.
The VI WFLED adheres to the global agenda, promoting reflection within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda, the United Nations Future Summit, or the Pact for the Future of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). ), among others, and is aligned and coordinated with processes such as the OECD Local Development Forum or the Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF).
Goals
Facilitate dialogue and knowledge sharing . Create a space where local, regional, national governments, multilateral organizations, territorial actors, civil society, universities, experts, and other interested parties can interact and share experiences on local economic development and related good practices worldwide. .
Build development models from the territories . Value local experiences and use them as a basis for building economic development models that are adapted to the specific needs and contexts of each territory where solutions are generated from the community itself.
Strengthen a global alliance for specific actions . Consolidate an alliance between committed governments, national and international organizations, and other relevant actors to promote local economic development to advance the debate, identify priority areas of action and coordinate efforts to implement concrete measures.
Contribute to the localization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development : May the World Forum for Local Economic Development serve as a platform to align local actions with the objectives and goals of the 2030 Agenda, encouraging cooperation and promoting joint actions that help achieve the goals. SDG at the local level.
Promote the effectiveness and impact of local economic development . Highlight the importance of local economic development as a tool to improve people’s quality of life and reduce inequalities, identifying and disseminating successful models of local economic development that can serve as inspiration and guide for other communities.
Contribute to the alliance of actors and instruments of local economic development at a global level . Strengthen a global network of local economic development agents and agencies.
Towards a global alliance
Roadmap 2024
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