It started in Santo Domingo the international study visit involving ANCI Lazio and Risorse per Roma, together with the cities of Malaga (Spain) and Cali (Colombia), within the framework of the IURC – International Urban and Regional Cooperation, Latin America and Caribbean programme. ANCI Lazio was represented by Andrea Vignoli, project coordinator for the association.
The initiative falls within the framework of decentralised cooperation promoted by IURC programme, which since 2020 has fostered dialogue and the exchange of best practices between European and Latin American local administrations on topics related to sustainable urban development, institutional innovation, and the ecological transition of cities.
The meeting opened in the Santo Domingo town hall with an exchange of experiences in the presence of Carolina Mejía, Mayor of Santo Domingo, and Raúl Fuentes Milani, Ambassador of the European Union to the Dominican Republic. Throughout the day, representatives from the different participating cities met and exchanged views, each bringing different experiences and approaches to urban regeneration.
The focus of the discussion is on urban regeneration models, tactical urbanism as a tool for rapid and participatory transformation of public spaces, nature-based solutions for climate adaptation in cities, and public-private partnership experiences initiated by the administrations involved to finance and implement regeneration projects.
Over the next few days, the delegation will visit the regeneration projects carried out in the colonial city of Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, accompanied by municipal experts and technicians. These site visits will provide a practical insight into the regeneration practices adopted, offering useful food for thought for areas in the Lazio region, which are grappling with similar challenges relating to urban regeneration and the enhancement of historic centres.
The exchange of experiences will continue in September, when Rome will host the international delegation as part of the second phase of the programme, confirming ANCI Lazio's role as an active player in international cooperation processes between territories.