IUC-LAC cities move knowledge sharing online – and invite all to join!

 

Much like international initiatives across the globe, the IUC programme in Latin America and the Caribbean (IUC-LAC), has had to reevaluate its agenda of events for 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Travel had been foreseen for city-to-city exchange, as well as for seminars, congresses and face-to-face training opportunities.

IUC-LAC has responded by adapting in-person opportunities into online events, and thereby generating a new webinar series called IUC LAC Dialogues. These "online dialogues" will serve to expand opportunities for participation, bringing discussions to even more people, facilitating the involvement of new guest speakers, and support the engagement of a greater number of stakeholders from across the IUC community.

The IUC LAC Dialogues are addressing topics of interest to cities related to the coronavirus, bringing the experience of European cities to support cities in Latin America in their own processes of coping and adapting to the pandemic.

Tourism in times of pandemic was the subject of the dialogue between Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) and Malaga (Spain). The discussion, titled "Rethinking the post-COVID-19 tourist city" engaged more than 150 participants. The discussion presented perspectives from representatives of the private tourism sector in Spain and Italy, as well as  public representatives from the cities of Malaga and Madrid (Spain) and Rome and Genoa (Italy). Speakers shared insights that will contribute to Cartagena's planning on how to conduct its own process of reopening tourism.

As a result of an online dialogue between IUC city partners Velletri-Rome (Italy) and Barranquilla (Colombia), the cities decided to include implementation of urban gardens in the Colombian city in their Urban Cooperation Action Plan (UCAP). This decision came from the recognition by both cities of the potential for urban agriculture to be key both in coping with the pandemic and in post-pandemic development, as a tool for social integration, the optimisation of public space, the expansion of green spaces, engagement of citizen participation, and public-private cooperation.

IUC LAC City-to-City Cooperation Coordinator, Sandra Marín, moderator of the webinars, highlighted the importance of continuing the exchange of experiences. “Cities show a great capacity to advance public-private initiatives, adapt public space or rely on new technologies. Certainly, the topics covered can be very inspiring for other cities”, she evaluated.

The IUC LAC Dialogues will continue over the coming months, covering themes ranging from the recovery of the economy, through to urban transformation and climate resilience, among others. There are virtual meetings scheduled until October this year, showcasing IUC LAC's commitment to be flexible and connect cities regardless of travel restrictions.

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Header image courtesy of IUC-LAC.