CAF and Mercociudades strengthen ties to promote sustainable development in local governments in the region

CAF-development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and Mercociudades, International Civil Association of the Network of Cities, signed today a Letter of Understanding to strengthen cooperation and sustainable development in the cities of Latin America and the Caribbean.

This understanding aims to promote institutional and technical cooperation between both organizations, enhance the strategic link between Mercociudades and the CAF BiodiverCities Network and strengthen the technical capacity of Mercociudades to promote local projects and good practices that can be replicated in other local governments. To this end, the exchange of knowledge, information and experiences will be promoted to address issues that affect life in the cities of the region.

The ceremony was attended by mayors, mayors and prefects from various cities in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Ecuador, who witnessed the commitment of both institutions to work together to promote projects that benefit local communities and contribute to the fulfillment of the objectives of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda of UN-Habitat.

On the CAF side, the agreement was signed by Christian Asinelli, corporate vice president of Strategic Planning. While on behalf of Mercociudades, Fernando Gray, next president of Mercociudades, and Jorge Rodriguez, coordinator responsible for the Permanent Technical Secretariat, signed, accompanied by the mayors and municipalities of Montevideo and Canelones (Uruguay), San Leopoldo (Brazil), Morón, Rosario and Tandil (Argentina) and Asunción (Paraguay).

"This alliance with Mercociudades marks a milestone in our commitment to the sustainable development of Latin America and the Caribbean. By joining forces, we can enhance the capacity of our cities to face the challenges of the 21st century, from climate change to social inclusion, creating more resilient and prosperous communities for all citizens of the region," declared Christian Asinelli, Corporate Vice President of Strategic Planning at CAF.

By joining forces, we can enhance the capacity of our cities to face the challenges of the 21st century, from climate change to social inclusion, creating more resilient and prosperous communities for all citizens of the region.

Christian Asinelli

“As local governments part of Mercociudades, we are advancing a common agenda with CAF on issues of sustainability, sustainability, mobility, environment and gender, among many others. This allows us to strengthen the work synergy between our cities and the financing organizations," said Mayor Fernando Gray, next president of Mercociudades and current vice president of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) for Latin America.

The event included presentations on the challenges of sustainable development and green financing for cities, as well as an exhibition of CAF's Subnational Value Proposition, offering financing alternatives to local governments.

This collaboration between CAF and Mercociudades promises to open new opportunities for sustainable urban development in the region, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and access to financing for transformative projects in Latin American cities.