In a world marked by tensions and shared challenges, multilateralism increasingly emerges as both a practical and necessary tool.
Strategic alliances between multilateral institutions and international corporations are essential to addressing complex issues such as aging, sustainability, and the climate crisis. Public-private collaboration in this field enables the combination of diverse and complementary perspectives.
But what does it truly mean to commit to multilateralism?
Pillars of effective multilateralism
- Recognizing that no single agent can solve challenges that affect all
- Establishing spaces for trust, knowledge exchange and joint action
- Connecting global strategies with local realities
- Transforming shared knowledge into tangible impact
A clear example of impact-driven multilateral action was the collaboration between the World Bank and ”la Caixa” Foundation, which led to the seminar and international course Social Protection and Support Systems for an Aging World, held recently in Barcelona.
Over the course of a week, representatives from 77 countries shared approaches and experiences to address a common challenge: rethinking social protection systems in the context of global aging.
This experience, summarized in an interview with Gustavo Demarco, Director of the World Bank’s Pensions and Aging Program, highlighted three key lessons:
- Well-designed alliances multiply impact by connecting global perspectives with local responses
- Collaboration is not bureaucracy; it is a shared strategy that demands clear objectives and solid structures
- Sharing knowledge among institutions represents a political investment in the future
The goal now is to develop structures, methodologies, and spaces that enable the establishment and effective functioning of such alliances.
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