Fernando Straface, Director of the Center for International Strategies of Governments and Organizations (CIG) at the School of Government of the Universidad Austral, participated as an exhibitor in the Regional Launch of the CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean's 2025 Economy and Development Report (RED), entitled “Close Solutions: The role of local and regional governments in Latin America and the Caribbean”.
In recent decades, more than 18.000 subnational governments in Latin America and the Caribbean have gained autonomy and prominence in key areas such as education, health, citizen security, infrastructure, and basic services. The new RED report aims to document the current state of these local and regional governments in terms of their powers, resources, and practices, and to identify areas and opportunities for capacity building.
During his presentation, Straface emphasized that internationalization should not be seen as a complementary area, but rather as an essential driver of subnational development. “International relations are not just another government function: they are a development imperative. We can no longer 'live within our own means.' What happens in the world directly impacts our territories,” he stated. He also underscored the need for professionalization of international affairs departments in cities and regions so that subnational internationalization contributes to development strategies in both governments and international organizations such as CAF.
The event (available online here) included the presentation of the report and a panel discussion between high-level authorities, researchers, and representatives of subnational governments from across the region. Key participants included:
José Ricardo Sasseron, Vice President of Business, Government and Corporate Sustainability at Banco do Brasil
● Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
● Christian Asinelli, Corporate Vice President of Strategic Programming at CAF
● Nubia Carolina Córdoba, Governor of the Department of Chocó (Colombia)
● José Miguel Carvajal Gallardo, Regional Governor of Tarapacá (Chile)
● Gabriella Pequeno Costa Gomes de Aguiar, Vice Prefect of the Municipality of Fortaleza (Brazil)
● Viviane Vecchi, Secretary of International Affairs and Development (in charge) of the Ministry of Planning and Budget of Brazil
CAF reaffirmed its commitment to local and regional governments not only through financing, but also through knowledge, networks and initiatives that enhance their development.
In this vein, it is worth noting that in 2024 the CIG was incorporated as a strategic partner of CAF for its BiodiverCities Network, a community of cities committed to sustainable development and urban biodiversity. As part of this collaborative effort, the CIG launched this week the course "How to Internationalize BiodiverCities?", aimed at strengthening the international engagement capacities of more than 45 participating local governments.
