As part of the Multilateral Coalition sessions held yesterday, a dialogue organized by the Forum of Local Authorities of the Periphery (FALP) took place, bringing together representatives from metropolitan territories to examine the place of the periphery in more just, inclusive and sustainable urban regions. The session addressed issues such as territorial inequalities, social cohesion, climate action, migration, and equitable development, highlighting the role of metropolitan local governments in promoting solidarity and democratic governance.
Participants argued that urbanisation has concentrated both opportunities and inequalities in metropolitan regions. Fernando Javier Gray, mayor of Esteban Echeverría, warned that governance models often overlook communities living on the urban fringe, while Raphaël Adam, mayor of Nanterre, noted that cities across continents face similar challenges related to housing, exclusion and territorial imbalance.
Several speakers stressed that peripheral territories are no longer marginal spaces but central actors in urban development. Abdoulaye Thimbo, mayor of Pikine, called for greater recognition of the realities faced by communities outside city centres, while Philippe Rio, mayor of Grigny, linked the debate to human rights and the need to combat discrimination and inequality.
The discussion concluded with a call for stronger investment in infrastructure, basic services and democratic participation, particularly as climate change and economic pressures continue to deepen territorial disparities. Sol Tischnick, Chief of Staff of the municipality of Lomas de Zamora (Argentina), argued that inequalities are being felt with increasing intensity across territories and warned that the dehumanisation of public policies tends to affect the most vulnerable populations first. Participants agreed that the voices of peripheral communities must play a greater role in shaping the future of metropolitan governance.
THE PERIPHERY: A DRIVER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT
