Each year, the IDB Cities Network convenes regional leaders at the Mayors Forum, a dynamic meeting designed to strengthen their leadership skills, facilitate the exchange of insights into complex urban challenges, and empower them to develop the necessary capacities to effectively address them.
The Mayors Forum 2023, organized by the IDB Cities Network, took place on April 26th in Denver, Colorado, USA, as part of the Cities Summit of the Americas led by the United States Government. The meeting was attended by mayors and delegates from more than 50 cities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), as well as local and international experts, to explore new avenues of financing, share knowledge and tools, and address strategies to strengthen city finances in a sustainable manner.
The President of the IDB, Ilan Goldfjan, emphasized the importance of considering new forms of financing and developing innovative strategies that allow cities to grow sustainably and provide a better quality of life for their citizens. The meeting also included expert panels, discussion sessions, and working groups on fiscal sustainability and infrastructure financing, strategic planning and financing, how to generate an attractive project portfolio, and strategies for accessing credit markets.
The IDB Mayors Forum 2022 was held in the framework of the C40 World Mayors Summit from October 19-21 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The meeting was attended by mayors and delegates from 28 cities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), as well as local and international experts, to address the key role of cities in meeting the climate commitments established under the Paris Agreement.
The meeting included discussion and working sessions on how to anticipate climate challenges and build greater resilience in urban areas. The main objectives were:
- Strengthen the leadership of LAC cities in climate governance and action through the exchange of knowledge and lessons learned.
- Raise the visibility of innovative climate change adaptation and mitigation actions led by LAC cities, highlighting success stories.
- Promote collaboration and synergistic work in the region to achieve sustainable growth of cities, facilitating networking and working with the private sector.
- Share the IDB's work on climate change issues as the region's main partner.
- Create a space to strengthen the involvement and participation of LAC cities on the road to COP27.
Find out more about the Mayors Forum 2022 | Download the meeting materials | View photos | Read our blog
The 2021 Mayors Forum is focused on sharing experiences and tools for the post-pandemic recovery of cities, with a special emphasis on promoting their growth and productivity. These learnings are situated within the context of the complexities presented by Latin America, a region where informality, social and economic disparities, and the predominantly urban nature of its settlements further complicate the management of a crisis that has tested the very definition of "city-building."
The preservation and enhancement of cultural and natural heritage is an asset for the development of the region. How to identify common solutions to the most urgent heritage problems that contribute to the sustainable, inclusive and resilient development of cities? The "Ibero-American Forum of Mayors - Living Heritage" sought to create a space for the exchange of experiences and stimulate debate on the conservation and enhancement of heritage in the cities of Latin America, the Caribbean and the Iberian Peninsula. The meeting, held in Seville, Spain, in mid-September 2019, brought together more than 30 cities from over 15 Ibero-American countries.
Why is it beneficial to share experiences, tools, and good urban practices? Mayors from various cities in Latin America and the Caribbean tell you about what happened at the Mayors Meeting organized by the IDB Cities Network in Medellin, Colombia, in September 2018, as part of the seminar: "Inclusive Cities: Learning from Medellin."