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Strategies and tactics to promote and advocate for locally led development initiatives, including community mobilization and building partnerships.

The goal of this theme is to provide practitioners with the tools and knowledge to effectively advocate for development efforts that prioritize the needs and priorities of local communities.

Best practices, innovations, and challenges in locally led agricultural development and food security programs within the Americas.

Sessions under this theme would discuss ways to empower local communities to achieve food security and to promote sustainable agricultural practices that improve livelihoods.

Topics related to encouraging community members to get involved with affairs that affect the community through community service & volunteerism, participating in local elections, and bolstering democratic principles.

Sessions under this theme would discuss ways to foster civic engagement and participation in development efforts, and how to strengthen local governance structures to ensure effective implementation of locally led development initiatives.

Challenges and opportunities for education in locally led development, including strategies for improving access to quality education, enhancing the relevance of education to local contexts, and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

Sessions under this theme would examine how education can be a powerful tool for empowering individuals and communities to drive their own development.

Strategies on how to promote and ensure equity, inclusion, and accessibility in development programs in the Americas.

Sessions under this theme would discuss ways to address systemic inequalities, such as gender-based discrimination, and to promote diversity and inclusivity in development efforts. The goal of this theme is to ensure that all members of a community have equal opportunities to benefit from locally led development initiatives.

Employment opportunities, workers’ rights, labor reform and advocacy for child protection in the context of locally led development initiatives.

Sessions under this theme would discuss ways to promote entrepreneurship and micro-enterprises, improve working conditions, and ensure that employment opportunities are inclusive and equitable. The goal of this theme is to create economic opportunities that contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Best practices for managing and implementing locally led development initiatives, including leadership and governance, strategic planning, capacity-building, and project management.

Sessions under this theme would discuss how to effectively design, implement, and monitor locally led development programs, while promoting community ownership, accountability, and sustainability.

The role of partnerships and collaboration in supporting locally led development, including community-driven approaches to partnership-building, cross-sectoral collaboration, and building effective partnerships between civil society organizations, governments, donors, and other stakeholders.

Sessions under this theme would also explore how to promote equitable and inclusive partnerships that prioritize the needs and priorities of local communities.

Building resilience and managing risks in the face of crises such as natural disasters, conflict, and pandemics, while promoting safety and security in communities, and highlight community-led initiatives and strategies to respond to and recover from crises.

Sessions under this theme would explore best practices and lessons learned in disaster risk reduction, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and post-crisis recovery and reconstruction, with an emphasis on locally led approaches.

Legal and regulatory barriers and complexities that hinder locally led development, such as inadequate legal frameworks, bureaucratic red tape, corruption, and lack of transparency and accountability.

Sessions under this theme would discuss strategies to overcome these obstacles and promote an enabling environment for locally led development, including advocacy and policy reform, capacity-building, and strengthening governance and rule of law.