6TH ANNUAL TECHNICAL MEETING OF THE
VENICE DECLARATION SIGNATORIES
Monday and Tuesday, 27-28 October 2025
IAE Business School (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
GENERAL INFORMATION
RATIONALE
In the lead-up to the World Summit on Social Development (Doha, Qatar, 4-6 November 2025), the Inclusive Cities for Sustainable Families Project will convene its 6th Annual Technical Meeting to advance its mission: promoting family-oriented urban policies that strengthen social cohesion, equity, and sustainability.
Across recent decades, rapid urbanization has profoundly transformed family structures and living arrangements. These changes have brought both persistent and emerging challenges:
– Growing numbers of single-parent households
– Urban population aging
– Rising demand for caregiving and childcare
– Mental health pressures linked to social fragmentation and economic stress
Building on insights from the 30th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family and the 5th Technical Meeting (2024), this year’s gathering will place families at the center of the social development agenda. It will focus on how urban governance can respond to today’s global challenges through:
– Inclusive digital transitions
– Investment in care systems
– Supportive environments for mental well-being
PARTICIPANTS
Signatories of the Venice Declaration will present local policies and good practices applying a family perspective to address these complex issues. Urban policymakers, technical experts, and civil society leaders will engage in peer learning and joint reflection on how to localize the objectives of the World Social Summit, while contributing to the implementation of SDG 11 -Sustainable Cities and Communities and the New Urban Agenda promoted by ONU-Habitat, UN DESA, and the Venice Declaration.
KEY OBJECTIVES
– Policy Exchange: Share innovations in family-oriented urban policies, highlighting the role of technology in service delivery, care economy mechanisms, and community-based mental health models.
– Monitoring Reports: Review and enhance the Annual Monitoring Reports submitted by Venice Declaration signatories.
– Good Practices Platform: Strengthen this collaborative tool to promote evidence-based urban policies.
– Indicators and Enabling Conditions: Identify key indicators and enabling factors to build resilient, caring, and inclusive urban communities with families as a cornerstone.
FEATURED INNOVATIONS
– Live Cases in Urban Innovation: Real-world problem-solving sessions with city protagonists.
– Youth and Policy Development: Support of young people in policy implementation, evaluation and support among Signatories of the Venice Declaration.
– Expanding Partnerships: Strengthening the international alliance for family-centered urban regeneration.
LIVE CASES
In partnership with IAE Business School, the Argentinian Delegate of the Project, the live case methodology introduces real urban challenges into the academic setting, not to showcase successes, but to analyze root causes, co-create solutions, and learn collaboratively. Live cases from Buenos Aires, San Miguel, and Trieste have already been developed, adding to over 100 cases performed across 50+ international programs and workshops.
EXPANDING PARTNERSHIPS
The international alliance — IFFD–Cities for Families, CAF–Biodiverciudades, ELISAN Network, and IAE/Austral University — is an open initiative aimed at strengthening existing city networks. Its vision: regenerate cities by placing the family — the fundamental unit of society — at the center of care, governance, and cooperation among local governments, businesses, universities, and civil society organizations. This diversity of actors is expected to broaden and strengthen the signatory networks, attracting more cities and regions.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The 6th Technical Meeting will build on previous gatherings, delivering forward-looking policy recommendations and an updated Action Plan to guide Venice Declaration signatories toward key capacity-building instruments and commitments at the World Summit on Social Development in Doha.
These outcomes will include:
– Concrete steps to scale up successful models
– Prioritization of vulnerable families
– Embedding a human-centered vision of progress into future urban policies.
By reinforcing inter-municipal collaboration and showcasing scalable innovations, this Technical Meeting aims to inspire stronger global commitments to social development — beginning at the level of the family and extending across the urban fabric.
GALLERY
GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATION
EVENT STRUCTURE
The event will focus on advancing the Inclusive Cities and Sustainable Families Project though the Venice Declaration. In particular, we will discuss the highlights of the 2025 Annual Monitoring Report, which will be submitted to the United Nations this year and we will explore better ways to follow-up on the Sustainable Development Goals thanks to recommendations from already Good Practices developed by various signatories around the globe.
To ensure a smooth and productive session, we would like to outline the guidelines for your participation:
GOOD PRACTICES EXCHANGE PRESENTATION
– Each speaker will have 15 minutes for their presentation, followed by an additional 5 minutes for recommendations.
– Your recommendations are crucial as they will contribute to an outcome document aimed at advancing the Venice Declaration.
– If you are one of the speakers and presenters of Good Practices on behalf of your Signatory, please let us know any questions you may have.
LIVE CASES PRESENTATION
– The protagonists will have 10 minutes for their presentation, finalizing with the main challenges
– The challenges are crucial as they are the key to open the dialogue and outline the steps forward in the next 40 minutes.
– The expected outcome of the live case is a roadmap for the transformation of the challenge into a good practice.
SUPPORTIVE MATERIALS
We kindly request that you submit your presentations and any audiovisual materials by October 21st, 2025.
Please send them to un@iffd.org
LOGISTICAL INFORMATION
Thank you very much for coming to Argentina to participate in the Annual Technical Meeting of the network of municipalities and local governments that have signed the Venice Declaration.
On behalf of the IAE Business School, we would like to welcome you to Argentina and share some guidelines to facilitate your stay with us.
VENUE
– Physical Venue: IAE Business School (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Mariano Acosta s/n y Ruta Prov 8. Ingreso por, Las Araucarias, B1629WWA Pilar, Argentina.
- Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/sLjZiK9wXoo
– Virtual Venue: Please connect to the Zoom meeting at least 15 minutes prior to the start to test your audio, video, and presentation setup
- Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81053568104
– Time Zone: UCT-3
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
– Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) Ministro Pistarini: located 35 km from the city of Buenos Aires and 82 km from Pilar.
- It is recommended to take a Tienda Leon Remises (Taxis). The Tienda Leon office is inside the airport, immediately after passing Customs on the left.
https://tiendaleon.com/#remis
– Jorge Newbery International Airport (AEP): located 2 km from downtown Buenos Aires and 53 km from Pilar.
- It is recommended to book a taxi service, also known as a remis, with Tienda León:
https://tiendaleon.com/#remis
– Suggested Hotels:
- Sheraton Pilar: https://www.sheraton-pilar.com.ar/ (5-star hotel)
Howard Johnson Pilar: https://hjpilar.com.ar/ (4-star hotel)
IBIS Pilar: https://www.guestreservations.com/es/ibis-pilar/booking
(3-star hotel) - NOTE: The hotels themselves can provide taxis or remises to get to the IAE Business School.
LOCAL CURRENCY
– While you can exchange US dollars, euros, and other currencies at both the airport and Aeroparque, please note that the exchange rates are not as favorable as those available at other locations, such as hotels or currency exchange offices.
https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/es/article/tips-para-cambiar-dinero
PHARMACIES AROUND VENUE
– Paradiñeiro Pharmacy https://www.paradineirofarmacias.com.ar/
- Location: Torres del Sol Shopping Center
Address: Pan-American Highway, Pilar Highway, Km. 50, Villa Rosa
Phone: +54 230 447-3005
– Alto Hey Pharmacy
- Location: Hey Add Center Complex
Address: Las Madreselvas 558, Pilar
Phone: +54 9 11 3855-7889
– Zona Vital Pharmacy https://www.palmasdelpilar.com.ar/locales/zona-vital
- Location: Palmas del Pilar
Address: Pan-American Highway, Km. 50, La Lonja
Phone: +54 9 230 447-2770
These pharmacies are located in shopping malls and shopping centers They offer different restaurants and a variety of stores and shops with all kinds of products.
ARGENTINIAN RESTAURANTS
– La Cabrera: http://www.lacabrerapilar.com.ar/
– Tinto y soda: https://tintoysoda.com.ar/
– Kansas Pilar: https://www.kansasgrillandbar.com.ar/menu.php
MORE INFORMATION
– Plug System
- In Argentina, the type of plug is most commonly used is type I , which has three flat prongs (two angled in a “V” shape and one vertical for grounding). It is recommended to bring a universal adapter to ensure compatibility. The electrical voltage is 220 V.
CONTACT
Patricia Debeljuh
pdebeljuh@iae.edu.ar
WA: +549 11 34294687
We invite you to learn more about Buenos Aires by visiting this website:
https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/es/article/historia-de-buenos-aires
If you have any dietary restrictions or mobility issues, please let us know: Abigail.Arce@alumni.iae.edu.ar
