Second competition on urban development and social inclusion

(Caracas, June 27, 2012).- After a successful first event, CAF - development bank of Latin America - announced the launch of the second CAF competition on Urban Development and Social Inclusion. The deadline for entries is October 15, 2012.

"Latin America is a region where almost 80% of the population is concentrated in urban centers. Cities where slums, favelas, barrios or villas (depending on country) are home to a significant part of Latin America’s poor with limited opportunities to escape their situation," CAF President & CEO Enrique García said.

García said the institution was adopting initiatives, such as the competition, to stimulate the search for solutions to these problems. "Urban development is high on the agenda of social projects that we are promoting. Generating knowledge on integration of uncontrolled settlements, planning of public spaces and access to basic services and mobility can help solve urban problems, offering an opportunity to improve the quality of life and reduce social inequalities for poor Latin Americans."

The Competition for Urban Development and Social Inclusion 2012-CAF - deadline for entries October 15, 2012 – will open a space to propose urban and social projects focused on improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of Latin American cities.

The competition is open to local governments, NGOs, organized communities and professionals (architects, urban planners, landscape architects, engineers, etc.) from the 18 CAF shareholder countries.

All the information on the competition can be found at http://desarrollourbano.caf.com/concursos .

Proposals must be located in shareholder countries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

In last year’s competition 34 proposals were evaluated from 11 countries in the region: Venezuela had 13 initiatives; Colombia and Peru four each; Argentina three; Mexico, Brazil and Chile two each; and Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Uruguay each entered a project originating in their country.

The Casavalle Project, winner of the 2011 competition, is a Uruguayan proposal submitted by the Montevideo City Government for training, education, job creation and improving habitat along the Miguelete creek which crosses the city.