Bloomberg Center for Cities

Fall Student Seminars: Urban Regional Governance for Sustainable Development

Co-sponsored with the Harvard Center for International Development and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies

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12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Rubenstein 429 – Perkins Conference Room, Harvard Kennedy School

About the Event

Undergraduate and graduate students across all schools at Harvard who are interested in international development are eligible to apply. Students need not be experts on a seminar’s given topic, but they should be able to demonstrate interest in applying what they learn to positively influence their work.

Facilitated by ALI Leadership Fellow and former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia Claudia López Hernández, this seminar delves into the intricate dynamics of globalization, urbanization, climate change, and urban-regional governance, through a panoramic view of world tendencies and specific cases such as Bogotá’s Metropolitan Region. Through four detailed sessions, we will explore the historical and contemporary factors that have shaped the urban-region’s governance structures, the impact of globalization, urbanization on sustainable development goals (SDGs) in guiding future policies and actions.

Participants will develop the skills to analyze and design governance frameworks that address social, environmental, and economic challenges at the city, metropolitan and regional level by applying evidence-based strategies to foster equitable growth, enhance resource management, and align local initiatives with global sustainability goals.

All sessions will take place from 12:00 to 1:15 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

Speakers

Claudia Lopez Hernandez

Claudia López Hernández

ALI Leadership Fellow and former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia

Claudia López brings to ALI experience in leading transformative civic and political initiatives. With 30 years dedicated to fostering democratic governance, sustainable development, and transparent public management, she has shaped political, economic, and social landscapes in Colombia. As Bogotá’s first female Mayor, her tenure is marked by a strong commitment to social equity and justice, women’s rights, environmental sustainability, and anticorruption. Previously, as a Senator, López was renowned for her tenacity and capacity for collective action, especially in leading impactful anticorruption campaigns. Before her political ascent, she excelled in academia as a researcher.

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