Local government to collaborate in the Ancestral Wisdom Forum set for July 2025

Cartagena, Colombia | March 21, 2025 — The South-South Cooperation Council for Sustainable Development (SSCC) is pleased to announce a productive meeting held between its senior leadership and the municipal government of Cartagena to advance local collaboration on sustainable and inclusive development.

On March 21st, Claudia Turbay Quintero, SSCC Director of External Affairs, joined President Viktor Sebek and Mr. Yves Demengue for a high-level dialogue with Dr. Mauricio Rodríguez Gómez, Secretary of Environment for the city of Cartagena. The agenda focused on the strategic involvement of the municipal government in the upcoming Ancestral Wisdom Forum, to be hosted by SSCC in Cartagena on July 1st and 2nd, 2025.

This landmark forum will spotlight the wisdom and knowledge of indigenous communities from Colombia, Africa, and Asia, promoting ancestral approaches to sustainability, territory preservation, and intercultural dialogue. The meeting also laid the foundation for long-term cooperation between SSCC and the Cartagena government, including follow-up editions of the forum in 2026 and beyond.

“The commitment of Cartagena’s environmental leadership reflects the city’s role as a gateway for South-South knowledge exchange,” said Viktor Sebek. “This partnership marks a key step toward a more inclusive and sustainable urban development model rooted in ancestral wisdom.”

By anchoring the Ancestral Wisdom Forum in Cartagena, SSCC reaffirms its dedication to connecting global indigenous voices and empowering local governments as active agents of intercultural peace and environmental stewardship.