COGITO

Mining standards: Turning opportunity into local-development reality

Reading Time: 3 minutesIt is the “paradox of proximity”: communities nearest a mine feel its impacts first, yet often lack the skills, finance or infrastructure to secure jobs and contracts. How can these opportunities be turned into outcomes?

La economía social y solidaria en Cataluña: claves del éxito

Reading Time: 4 minutesLa economía social y solidaria catalana no nació solo de la ley: desde 2016, catorce “Ateneus Cooperatius” y redes comunitarias han creado más de 1100 cooperativas. ¿Bastará ahora la política para sostener lo que crearon?

When the copper party ends… can mining regions make the gains last?

Reading Time: 3 minutesCopper booms do not last for ever. Prices rise, investment pours in and mining regions expand. Then the cycle turns. The obvious question for places that depend on mining is: what remains when it does?

How cities borrow ideas and make them work locally

Reading Time: 4 minutesCities often look to one another for solutions to challenges ranging from housing shortages and climate risks to infrastructure pressures and social inequalities. How can cities bridge the gap between inspiration and implementation?

The social and solidarity economy in Catalonia: Secrets to success

Reading Time: 4 minutesCatalonia’s social and solidarity economy wasn’t built by legislation alone: fourteen Cooperative Hubs and community networks came first, creating over 1,100 cooperatives since 2016. As legal recognition arrives, can policy alone sustain what communities already built?

Beyond buffaloes: Building a social enterprise in Laos

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn rural Laos, Laos Buffalo Dairy rents pregnant buffaloes from farmers, supporting rural families while producing milk commercially, sustaining livelihoods without disrupting traditional local farming practices. But can shared value be a lasting business model?

Putting people at the heart of Ukraine’s recovery

Reading Time: 5 minutesIn Ivano-Frankivsk, Promprylad Foundation retrains displaced people, veterans and women for in-demand local jobs, supporting 30,000+ people and 600+ new jobs since 2022. Can community-led models like this reshape how we think about post-war economic recovery?

Can MENA’s digital finance boom close the gender gap?

Reading Time: 4 minutesAsk whether digital finance is helping women entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) overcome old barriers and the honest answer is: both, at the same time. But is access enough to drive real growth?

Partnerships that work: Local alliances for inclusive economy in Central America

18 July 2025 Agnieszka Raczynska (Fundación Avina) and Jimena Reyeros (Fundación Avina)

Reading Time: 5 minutesEach year, many Central American migrants return to the same challenges they left behind: scarce jobs, limited prospects and exclusion. But in parts of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, local actors are helping turn return into a fresh start.

Tradition meets tech: How digital tools are transforming tourism in Italy

16 July 2025 The Ministry of Tourism in Italy

Reading Time: 4 minutesItaly’s tourism sector is undergoing a quiet revolution. From AI-powered hospitality to immersive virtual experiences, small businesses are embracing digital tools to enhance authenticity, boost resilience, and connect more meaningfully with travellers.

Still making waves: What have 10 years of the OECD Principles on Water Governance taught us?

08 July 2025 Barbara Pompili (French Ambassador for the Environment)

Reading Time: 3 minutesA decade after their launch, the OECD Principles on Water Governance remain more relevant than ever. With floods, droughts and water demand rising, the world doesn’t just need more pipes, it needs smarter policies

The politics of the paddock: what Clarkson’s Farm can teach us about agriculture and rural resilience

04 July 2025 Shayne MacLachlan - (OECD) and Bridget Donovan - (OECD)

Reading Time: 4 minutesBehind the humour and chaos of Clarkson’s Farm lies a serious story of rural struggle and resilience. This blog explores what it reveals, and what policy makers can learn about diversification, perception, and place-based solutions.

Can local leadership revive left-behind regions?

03 July 2025 John Austin - (EI)

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn struggling regions, feelings of alienation are growing. Recovery depends on tapping into local identity and pride, with place-based strategies that rebuild trust and opportunity. Long-term support is key to reconnecting communities to the economy and democracy.

How can small businesses thrive in a world of trade disruption?

26 June 2025 Zofia Polakiewicz (OECD)

Reading Time: 3 minutesSmall businesses face significant challenges amid rising tariffs and changing trade dynamics, often suffering more than larger firms. Governments are introducing support measures and SME-focused trade agreements to enhance their participation in global and local markets.

Trust in action: The Hague’s efforts to re-engage its citizens

20 June 2025 Jan van Zanen - (Mayor of The Hague)

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn today’s complex world, trust in government is more crucial than ever. At last year’s UCLG World Council, I introduced the “Hague Charter for Municipal

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Industrial strategy has a geography puzzle: Where should countries invest?