Theme: Coming soon!
Date: 19 March 2025
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Host: Red de Innovación Local
Detailed Agenda
March 19, Day 1
9AM – 10AM Welcoming: The Future of Democracy
- An inspiring keynote address on the future of democracy in Latin America, examining current trends and challenges. This session will set the stage for deeper discussions by highlighting regional issues, the role of citizen engagement, and the importance of democratic innovation.
10.15AM – 11.30AM Building Participatory Democracies, Panel Discussion
- A diverse panel of public officials, community organizers, and facilitators will discuss best practices, experiences and strategies for fostering participatory governance. Topics will include facilitation guides, civic education, digital tools for engagement, and trust-building between governments and citizens.
11.30AM – 12.30PM Empowering Citizens in Decision-Making Workshop
- An interactive workshop where participants will explore different participatory models and brainstorm new approaches to enhance civic involvement. This hands-on session will enable attendees to share experiences, identify obstacles, and co-create strategies to increase community engagement in policy-making.
12.30PM – 2PM Lunch
- A casual networking lunch to encourage relationship-building and informal exchanges among participants.
2:00PM – 3:30PM Breaking Barriers for Youth Participation in Politics, Local Context and Challenges, Global Panel
- The panel will emphasize three core aspects. First, it will examine the root causes of youth disengagement, including structural inequalities, limited access to resources, and social norms that marginalize young voices. Second, it will spotlight successful policies, programs, and grassroots movements that have amplified youth participation in governance. This includes mentoring initiatives, youth-led advocacy campaigns, and digital tools that connect young people to decision-making processes. Lastly, the panel will outline actionable recommendations to create more inclusive political systems, fostering intergenerational collaboration and empowering the next generation of democratic leaders.
3:30PM – 5PM Change Networks for Democracy Workshop
- Facilitated by RIL’s team, this dynamic session will bring together local leaders to design innovative approaches for strengthening democracy. Participants will identify shared challenges and brainstorm solutions with practical applications, creating collaborative networks that span borders.
March 20, Day 2
9AM – 10.30AM Collaborative Innovation in Government and Community Building Site Visit
- Field trip to examples of collaborative innovation, focusing on how local governments and communities can work together to solve pressing issues. The organizations will share stories of partnerships that have generated tangible impact and show the conditions that made these efforts successful.
10.45AM – 12.15PM Democracy That Works For All, Tools for Collaborative Governance
- A practical session to introduce digital and organizational tools that foster collaboration between governments and communities. Participants will engage with these tools in small groups, applying them to real-world scenarios that reflect their own local challenges.
12.15PM – 1.30PM Lunch
- A casual networking lunch to encourage relationship-building and informal exchanges among participants.
1:30PM – 3PM Change Networks for Democracy Workshop Day 2
- Facilitated by RIL’s team, this dynamic session will bring together local leaders to design innovative approaches for strengthening democracy. Participants will identify shared challenges and brainstorm solutions with practical applications, creating collaborative networks that span borders.
3PM – 3.30PM Art Space
3.30PM – 4.30PM Closing Reflections – Passing the “torch”
- A final gathering to reflect on key takeaways, where participants can share their experiences and discuss next steps. A collective call to action will encourage attendees to continue their collaboration beyond the event, fostering an ongoing movement for democratic resilience and innovation across the region. Representatives of three teams that stood out in the Local Innovators Program will share their experiences.