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.
Just transition, development financing and territorial solutions, the theme of the VI WFLED
The VI WFLED will address global priorities in the theme of the triple transition, social justice, training for employment in the territory, public management, public-private partnerships and the role of the private sector and the social and solidarity economy, employment and decent work and the approach of a new economy that “cares” from the territory, as well as multilevel alliances, global, national and decentralized (regional-local) policies.
Draft Programme
08:00
10:00
Tax incentives for fair and responsible financing of development
Axis 2The generation of territorial pacts for the promotion of employment and local economic development
Axis 1How to implement ethical and responsible public procurement in local administration and its effect on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) of the territory
Axis 1Local circular economy initiatives: international experiences
Axis 1Side Events
11:00
Trade Unionism and the SDGs
12:00
Axis 2
Local public-private partnerships for the promotion of talent and territorial business initiatives
Axis 1Youth, local economy and innovation
Axis 3Territorial practices, strategies and policies for women's economic empowerment
Axis 3Local and community water resource management: impact and solutions for the local economy
Axis 3Financing local economic development: Challenges for subnational governments
Political DialogueAxis 2
Side Events
14:00
High level plenary
The triple transition: Opportunities for employment and Local Economic Development
Axis 1Energy transition as a potential for territorial economic development
Axis 1Territorial policies and multi-level partnerships for a sustainable agricultural economy
Axis 3Multi-level governance focusing on LED and fiscal frameworks
Axis 1Internationalization of territorial micro and SMEs and territorial financing
Axis 2Side Events
16:00
Axis 3
Development agencies and other local instruments: empowering a people-based global network
Political DialogueAxis 3
The role of cooperatives in financing the economy and territorial development
Axis 2Employment in rural areas and alliances for the promotion of rural economic and decent employment
Axis 3Territorial food sovereignty and short channels: Promoting local consumption
South-South, triangular, and decentralized cooperation experiences to promote the triple transition and employment
Axis 1Side Events
19:30
Official opening
09:30
Axis 1
Public policies to promote capacity building for employment in the territory
Political DialogueAxis 1
Territorial ecosystems for development financing: proposals from decentralized cooperation
Axis 2Local economic development and intermediate cities as structurers of the territory: Keys points from the World Forum of Intermediate Cities
Axis 3FAMP Care Observatory
Networks for fair trade and territorial employment
Axis 1Keys to promoting territorial branding strategies and designation of origin
Axis 3Global experiences on public banking, ethical banking and local credits for territorial financing
Axis 2Side Events
11:30
High level plenary
Territories facing the FfD4 agenda: Keys and contributions for just territorial financing for development
Axis 2Informal economy and its contribution to local economic development
Axis 1Local experiences of financing green entrepreneurial initiatives
Axis 2UCLG EXECUTIVE BUREAU
Migrations and green jobs
Axis 1Side Events
13:30
Axis 1
Territorial policies and alliances for local economic development to face climate change
Political DialogueAxis 1
Care economy and its impact on LED and employment
Axis 3Innovative models of agencies/instruments in different regions for territorial articulation and cohesion
Axis 3Experiences of territorial reinvestment of business sector profits in LED
Axis 2LED strategies and cross-border cooperation: Uniting territories
Axis 3Side Events
15:30
Axis 1
Coalition for social justice as ILO’s global initiative: Subnational policies and LED
Political DialogueAxis 1
Territorial experiences of alternative financing for micro, SMEs, SSE
Axis 2Territories in conflict: LED as a peace-building mechanism. Coordination with the World Peace Forum
Axis 3Citizen participation and co-governance in the design of policies and promotion of LED
Axis 3Remittances and migration as financing pathways for territorial economic development
Axis 2Side Events
09:30
Axis 2
Capacity building and local co-responsibility for endogenous development: co-governance and multi-stakeholder alliances
Political DialogueAxis 2
WFLED – Global Agency Network
Axis 3Territorial ecosystems experiences for financing new economies
Axis 1The ESS and care
Axis 3Experiences of energy communities as a driver for employment and LED in Latin America and Europe
Axis 1Proposals for the territorial promotion of care policies
Axis 3Public infrastructure policies for the generation of territorial economic opportunities
Axis 3Side Events
11:30
High level plenary
A new perspective on territorial economy based on people and the planet. Economy and localization of the 2030 Agenda
Axis 3Territory and implementation of alternative and sustainable economy strategies: new post-crisis models and capacity building
Axis 1Promoting local public services through social, financial, and decent job-generating profitability
Axis 1Guiding the knowledge sector to territorial priorities and potentials: practices from green employment
Axis 1Ecotourism and DEL
Axis 3Chamber of Commerce Alliances: How to Promote Territorial Development
Axis 2The future of local employment in the face of AI: how to generate opportunities from the territory
Axis 1Side Events
13:30
Closing Ceremony
Cultural programme and technical visits
Apply to host a side event for the 6th World Forum on Local Economic Development!
Call for applications to organise side events at the 6th World Forum on Local Economic Development, taking place from 1 to 4 April 2025 in Seville, Spain, is now open!
The deadline for applications is 14 February 2025 (23:59 CEST).
Practical Information
Find essential details, including venue information, online registration, accreditation, program schedules, visas, media, accommodation, transport, internet, electricity, and emergency contacts.
Towards a global alliance
Roadmap 2024
VI WFLED Preparatory Event
VI WFLED Side Event
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