Title of Event:

Name of Organisation:

Date and time of the session:

Cities Networks: Engines for Urban Sustainability

FLACMA - IDRC

June 22 nd 04.30 pm

Key Highlights

1. Estimated no of participants: 100
2. Stakeholder group representation at the event: City authorities, Government official and experts, NGOs, scholars, researchers, journalists and students.
3. What were the expected objectives: To take stock of LAC local governments cooperation networks and of their achievements and difficulties so far; to sketch a road map of the way forward based on previous successes and failures; to attract the interest of other International City Networks to link with LAC Municipal Networks: FLACMA, FEMICA and MERCOCIUDADES
4. What did the networking event achieve: facilitated deep exchanges between participants in social and institutional networks, allowed comparisons between diverse organizational designs and operational schemes, identified typical positive outcomes and shortcomings, and raised interest of other networks to link with LAC Municipal Networks, in particular with the Canadian + 30 Network.

2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUFIII? i.). Limited and generally perceived insufficient participation of citizens within City Networks. ii) Sustainability (and lack of it) of the networks and how to improve and secure networks become sustainable throughout time. iii.) Need for the creation of space for participation of common citizens, most particularly the young, within City Networks, both directly and with parallel links.

3. What were the main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues? What new ideas have been generated as a result of the discussion?

i.) need of selective and quality-oriented financial sustainability of City Networks, ii.) need of effective commitment of local officials and useful content of the networks to insure sustainability; iii.) new ways to facilitate citizen participation within the networks.

New (or renewed) Ideas: - Networks are a key tool if the MDGs are to be attained, specially concerning Goal 7, perhaps the most backward in LAC; - Practical needs that call for dedicated and immediate attention include standardized data bases to allow repositories of lessons learnt and best practices expediently available to all; - Establishing links between Canadian Networks and the LAC Municipal Networks turns out to be a most promising venture in the short and medium run.

4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality?

i.) To initiate institutional and personal contacts between LAC Networks and the Canadian + 30 Network ; ii) To spread experience-based 'do's' and 'don't 's' to set up and operate networks; ii.) To encourage LAC City Networks to fully incorporate civil society in different modalities, in particular youth, as a constituent and active group of the respective Networks.