Connecting Leaders

During the first day of the Meeting, Jorge Srur, Southern Regional Manager and representative of CAF in Paraguay, received the graduating students and inaugurated the event by inviting them to “continue promoting their dreams, because when they become reality they will allow them to change the lives of their surroundings.” and improve the quality of development in their communities.” In turn, Nathalie Gerbasi, Director of the Directorate of Institutional Development and Training of CAF, in her warm welcome to the graduates added that the importance of “training leaders is an urgent and necessary task to face the current challenges of Latin America and the Caribbean.” "It is our commitment and we want to accompany you on this path of training and qualification."

The first morning of the Meeting concluded with a talk by Marcella Zub, from CAF's Gender, Inclusion and Diversity Management, on the application of the gender approach in projects. This session highlighted the importance of integrating gender perspectives into development and leadership initiatives, in order to reinforce the degree projects presented by graduates. Subsequently, intensive training on the elevator pitch methodology was offered. This workshop was designed for alumni to hone their project presentation skills in a concise and persuasive manner, thereby optimizing their opportunities when interacting with potential partners and investors.

Participating graduates from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Paraguay, Panama and Peru had the opportunity to apply what they learned in a project clinic where they practiced and polished their skills to make effective and agile presentations. The projects were presented in an afternoon space at the American University.

Authorities and students who graduated from the Diploma in Governance and Public Innovation at Columbia University in Paraguay also participated in the Meeting, who, in addition to sharing their experiences as students of the Diploma, witnessed the presentations of the eight winning projects and shared their opinions and recommendations. with the exhibitors. The LPT 2.0 graduates also received feedback from CAF members, as well as from the directors, professors and students of the American University.

On the second day, the meeting took place in the QOM Indigenous Community, Santa Rosa in Villa Hayes. Miriam Flores, an indigenous leader who graduated from the LPT 2.0 program, shared valuable experiences about her participation in the 2023 edition. She highlighted how it had enriched her community and leadership approach, and how all this learning has positively influenced her day-to-day work with your team in your community. We also heard the testimonies of two new leaders who will begin the course in this next 2024 edition, who expressed their enthusiasm and expectations regarding the learning they are about to begin. Leader Nilza Recalde, from the Tova Qom Rosarinos community, commented that she was “very happy and grateful to CAF and the American University to be able to begin my training this year, to also be able to continue teaching my people new knowledge and values ​​to continue honoring our ancestors". In addition, the day included a cultural exchange in which attendees were able to immerse themselves in local traditions, learning about crafts and traditional production methods, which further enriched the experience of exchange and mutual understanding. This meeting highlighted the importance of integration and respect for cultural diversity within the framework of leadership development.

El profundo relacionamiento entre los egresados fue un componente crucial del evento, permitiendo la creación de una red sólida que apoya la colaboración continua y el desarrollo profesional de sus miembros. En ese sentido, esta encuentro se alinea con la consolidación de la Comunidad Alumni CAF, que busca, precisamente, generar espacios de este estilo para los egresados de las capacitaciones que dicta el banco. Este encuentro no solo reforzó las conexiones entre líderes transformadores de la región, sino que también resaltó la importancia del liderazgo educado y su capacidad para influir en el desarrollo comunitario y regional de manera sostenible y equitativa en toda América Latina y el Caribe.