Established in 1996 as a joint initiative of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, the Inter-American Dialogue, and the Organization of American States, the Annual CAF Conference has brought together more than 1,000 world leaders to debate and discuss the most pressing developments facing the Americas. The event has grown to become the primary forum for policy makers and analysts, journalists, governments and international organizations, entrepreneurs and investors, and civil society representatives to review progress in the Western Hemisphere and address pending challenges.

For the first time in its twenty-four year history, the conference will take place online over the span of three days. We will create an important space for leaders to discuss how to best confront the global challenges brought about and exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and play a key role in shaping debate and policy in a new reality.

Join us on September 9, 10 & 11!

CO-ORGANIZERS

Media partners

Wednesday, September 9

Thursday, September 10

Friday, September 11

Gustau Alegret, US News Director, NTN24
Guillermo Arduino, Anchor and Correspondent, CNN Networks
Brigitte Baptiste, Chancellor, Universidad Ean; Former Director, Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Institute
Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
Kerry-Ann Barrett, Cybersecurity Policy Specialist, Organization of American States (OAS)
Monica de Bolle, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics; Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins SAIS
Luciana Borio, Vice President, In-Q-Tel; Former Director for Medical and Biodefense Preparedness, National Security Council
Luis Carranza, President, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America
Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General, International IDEA; Former Second Vice President, Costa Rica
Jorge Castañeda, Global Distinguished Professor of LAC Studies, New York University; Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mexico
Lucia Dammert, Professor of International Relations, Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Carissa F. Etienne, Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); Regional Director for the Americas, World Health Organization (WHO)
Julio Frenk, President, University of Miami; Former Secretary of Health, Mexico
Gabriela Frias, Business Anchor, CNN en Español
Laura Gaviria, Director, SoftBank Group International
Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General, Secretaría General Iberoamericana (SEGIB); Former Vice President, Costa Rica
Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, Vice President for the Latin American and the Caribbean Region, World Bank
Yolanda Kakabadse, Chair of Advisory Board, Futuro Latinoamericano; Former Minister of Environment, Ecuador; Former President, World Wildlife Fund
Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
H.E. Luis Lacalle Pou, President of Uruguay
Luis Felipe López Calva, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, United Nations Development Programme
Angel Melguizo, Vice President of External & Regulatory Affairs, AT&T Latin America
Robert Morgus, Senior Director, US Cyberspace Solarium Commission
Silvina Moschini, Co-Founder & President, TransparentBusiness Inc.; CEO & Founder, SheWorks!
Roger Noriega, Visiting Fellow, American Enterprise Institute; Former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and US Ambassador to the OAS
Carmen Reinhart, Vice President of Development Economics & Chief Economist, World Bank Group
Luz Mely Reyes, Director & Co-Founder, Efecto Cocuyo
Julissa Reynoso, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP; Former US Ambassador to Uruguay and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Paula Santilli, CEO, PepsiCo Latin America
Hugh Sealy, Special Envoy on Climate Change, Barbados
Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., Co-Chair, Inter-American Dialogue; Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
Michael Shifter, President, Inter-American Dialogue
Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate in Economics; Professor, Columbia University
Ana Toni, Executive Director, Instituto Clima e Sociedade
Deisy Ventura, Professor & Director of PhD Global Health Program, Universidad de São Paulo
Carla Vizzotti, Secretary of Health Access, Argentina

HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO

CONFERENCE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS & KEYNOTE

SESSION I: ECONOMIC RECOVERY FROM COVID-19 & THE FUTURE OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT

According to the IMF’s June 2020 World Economic Outlook, the economy of Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to contract by 9.4 percent as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. High levels of economic informality and inequality complicate the ability of governments to provide stimulus packages to their citizens, which is vital as many in the nascent middle class are at risk of slipping back into poverty. As the pandemic response exposes the key priorities of governments and citizens and vulnerabilities to economic and social stability, the region’s governments will be forced to revisit the social contract with its citizens. In the near future, stunted growth and disrupted supply chains will change the economic landscape, presenting new challenges as well as new opportunities. Panelists will discuss the varying roles of governments, the private sector, multilateral organizations, and NGOs in a post-pandemic equitable economic recovery, as well as the challenges for the region moving forward.

SESSION II: SUCCESSES & FAILURES: HEMISPHERIC HEALTH SYSTEMS SEVERELY TESTED

The Covid-19 pandemic has tested every health system in Latin America and the Caribbean, revealing numerous limits and fragilities that have contributed to the World Health Organization designating the region as the epicenter of the virus on June 1. Government responses to the virus ranged from draconian restrictions on free expression and movement to outright dismissal and denial of its adverse impacts, with different policies contributing to varying infection rates and death tolls. Across the region, women and members of marginalized groups have borne a disproportionate share of the burden while being structurally excluded from inadequate public health infrastructure. Domestic and international organizations will have to play a variety of roles in facilitating regional and hemispheric coordination on health responses to Covid-19 and potential health crises of the future. Panelists will discuss the efficacy of responses of countries policies and health systems, the varying impact of the pandemic on countries’ health systems, and the post-pandemic landscape through the lens of public health.

SESSION III: A CONVERSATION ON CORONAVIRUS, CLIMATE CHANGE & THE ENVIRONMENT: WHERE DOES LAC STAND?

Though Covid-19 is the first major pandemic in a century, the World Health Organization warns that the shifting global temperature patterns resulting from climate change could worsen the spread of disease in the coming decades. Even before the pandemic, the economic implications of climate change were impossible for governments to ignore. The advent of climate migrants from drought-afflicted Central American countries and increased risk of weather-related disasters in the Caribbean, among myriad other challenges, require that domestic and international institutions incorporate climate consciousness into their policies addressing the pandemic and the economic recovery. As Covid-19 reshapes the roles of governments and individuals in protecting their surroundings, there exist unprecedented opportunities to transform the relationship between economic growth and environmental protection. Panelists will discuss the relationship between climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as avenues for reshaping the environmental policy agenda moving forward.

SESSION IV: HOPES & HAZARDS: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE REGION

The Covid-19 pandemic has shed light on the digital divide across Latin America, especially as people rely more heavily on technology to communicate, study, work, and access finances. Though there are inarguable benefits of expanding access to digital technologies, especially as the region looks toward recovering from the pandemic, they also present numerous risks and threats. As Latin American countries focus on strengthening their technological infrastructure, they must also prepare to respond to cybersecurity and privacy issues from both foreign and national actors. This will require governments to innovate their outdated regulatory frameworks to incorporate dynamic technological advances. Panelists will discuss the roles of the public and private sectors in deploying digital technologies in different areas, including education, health, financial services, and international trade and their role in promoting the economic recovery of the region.

SESSION V: PANDEMIC POLITICS: IMPACT ON DEMOCRACY & RULE OF LAW IN LATIN AMERICA

Differing government responses to the Covid-19 crisis have highlighted the corrosive influence of populism and authoritarianism across the region, in addition to exposing the weaknesses of regional and multilateral cooperation. In many countries, these trends were seen before Covid-19 — the pandemic has only accelerated such tendencies. Especially as cases of corruption and price gouging associated with public health spending emerge throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, public trust in institutions is reaching its nadir. Panelists will discuss the political impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on its impact on the rule of law, democracy, and transnational collaboration.

SESSION VI: US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR LAC

Though Latin America has often been overlooked among other US foreign policy interests, transnational threats such as climate change and global health crises highlight the importance of hemispheric collaboration. Actors throughout the region should expect distinct foreign policy approaches depending on which of the two presidential candidates wins in November. Additionally, different US policies regarding issues such as immigration, climate, trade, and multilateral organizations will impact the United States’ neighbors throughout the hemisphere. Panelists will discuss the similarities and differences between Democratic and Republican policies towards Latin America and its regional impact.

FULL DAY VIDEOS

WATCH DAY 1 HERE

WATCH DAY 2 HERE

WATCH DAY 3 HERE

ARGENTINA

Reactivación económica, salud, cambio climático y elecciones en la agenda de la 24 Conferencia CAF, Sept 8, 2020 (Mercado)

Proponen un fondo para que países desarrollados apoyen la reactivación de América Latina (Télam)

Buscan que países desarollados apoyen a Latinoamérica, Sept 9, 2020 (El Sol)

Después de lanzar muchas críticas a los acreedores, Stiglitz elogió hoy el acuerdo que alcanzó el Gobierno por la deuda, Sept 9, 2020 (Info Bae)

Bárcena advierte que la pobreza en la región trepará a 230 millones de personas por la pandemia, Sept 9, 2020 (Grupo la Provincia)

El Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina propuso más inversiones e integración en la región ante el coronavirus, Sept 10, 2020 (Info Bae)

Los tres sectores más afectados por la pandemia, Sept 11, 2020 (Mercado)

BOLIVIA

CAF invita a su 24 Conferencia Anual que se realizará de manera virtual, Sept 8, 2020 (Delta Financiero)

CAF: Pandemia puso en evidencia ‘profundas’ desigualdades económicas y de acceso a servicios, Sept 9, 2020 (La Razón)

La Cepal demanda a los gobiernos inversiones en salud, empleo y apoyo a las mypes para afrontar post Covid-19, Sept 9, 2020 (Hoy Bolivia)

Presidente de Uruguay: Empoderar de libertad al ciudadano, una de las claves para superar la pandemia, Sept 9, 2020 (Agencia de Noticias Fides)

Especialistas perfilan nuevo contrato social para encarar la “crisis sistémica” regional, Sept 10, 2020 (Los Tiempos)

Salud, digitalización y cambio climático, entre los sectores más afectados por la Covid-19, Sept 10, 2020, (Contacto Económico)

COLOMBIA

CAF propone fondo para que países desarrollados apoyen reactivación de A. Latina, Sept 8, 2020 (El Economista América)

La pos pandemia, lo que nos espera, Sept 9, 2020 (El Tiempo)

La conferencia CAF discute la variedad de retos que enfrenta la región latinoamericana con la pandemia (NTN24)

COSTA RICA

Expertos proponen más igualdad contra la crisis en América Latina, Sept 9, 2020 (El País)

Stiglitz advierte que una suspensión temporal de la deuda más amplia será insuficiente para responder a la pandemia, Sept 9, 2020 (El Financiero)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

La recuperación de la crisis de la COVID-19 centrará la conferencia de la CAF, Sept 8, 2020 (Diario Libre)

La CAF examina vías para salir de la crisis de la COVID-19 en Latinoamérica, Sept 10, 2020 (Diario Libre)

ECUADOR

CAF discute opciones para enfrentar la crisis causada por la pandemia de coronavirus en América Latina, Sept 9, 2020 (El Universo)

EL SALVADOR

El Nobel de Economía Joseph Stiglitz aboga por restructuración de deuda mundial tras la pandemia, Sept 9, 2020 (El Mundo)

BM: Latinoámerica debe apostar por el “crecimiento verde,” Sept 11, 2020 (El Mundo)

FRANCE

Stiglitz aboga por “restructuración” de deudas tras pandemia, Sept 9, 2020 (France 24)

Latinoamérica debe aprovechar pospandemia para impulsar el crecimiento verde, dice BM, Sept 10, 2020 (France 24)

GRENADA

Alicia Bárcena Calls for Forging a Political, Social and Economic Compact, and a Fair, Inclusive and Progressive Social Contract, Sept 10, 2020 (The Barnacle News)

GUATEMALA

Analizan crisis causada por la pandemia, Sept 9, 2020 (Diario de Centro América)

MEXICO

Crisis por Covid19, una oportunidad para transformar AL: Stiglitz, Sept 9, 2020 (Capital CDMX)

PANAMA

CAF propone un fondo para que países desarrollados apoyen la reactivación de América Latina con infraestructura de integración y digital, Sept 8, 2020 (Panamá 24 Horas)

PERU

CAF propone fondo para financiar 490 proyectos de infraestructura digital, Sept 8, 2020 (Gestión)

CAF inicia su conferencia anual centrada en la crisis del coronavirus, Sept 9, 2020 (Gestión)

SPAIN

El Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina debate sobre los desafíos políticos y económicos de la región, Sept 9, 2020 (El País)

Presidente de Uruguay: “los gobiernos no han de tener temor de empoderar a los ciudadanos,” Sept 10, 2020 (ICN Diario)

The 24th edition of the CAF Annual Conference focuses on economic recovery and the social contract in Latin America after the coronavirus crisis, Sept 10, 2020 (Atalayar)

El Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina debate sobre los desafíos frente al cambio climático y la crisis sanitaria, Sept 10, 2020 (El País)

El Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina debate las implicaciones de las elecciones de EE UU en la región, Sept 11, 2020 (El País)

SWITZERLAND

Economista Joseph Stiglitz defende reestruturação de dívidas após pandemia, Sept 9, 2020 (Swiss Info)

América Latina deve aproveitar pós-pandemia para impulsionar desenvolvimento sustentável, diz Banco Mundial, Sept 10, 2020 (Swiss Info)

UNITED STATES

The Development Bank of Latin America discusses the political and economic challenges of the region, Sept 9, 2020 (Top News Today)

CAF urges creation of infra fund, Stiglitz calls for LatAm green recovery, Sept 9, 2020 (BNAmericas)

Multilaterals to play key role in ‘new normal,’ Sept 10, 2020 (Latin Finance)

Advierten que migrantes venezolanos regresan a su país ante discriminación por COVID-19, Sept 10, 2020 (Voice of America)

World Bank chief economist warns of global credit crisis risk, LatAm fallout, Sept 10, 2020 (BNAmericas)

The Development Bank of Latin America discusses the challenges facing climate change and the health crisis, Sept 10, 2020 (Top News Today)

Latin America’s economies face challenges in 2021, Sept 10, 2020 (Latin America Risk Report)

World Bank says post-pandemic recovery offers chance to get rid of fuel subsidies, Sept 10, 2020 (BNAmericas)

Expertos piden abandonar divisiones para superar la pandemia en Latinoamérica, Sept 10, 2020 (Hola News)

URUGUAY

“Terminemos con la ortodoxia de creer que un estado liberal no tiene sensibilidad social”, dijo Lacalle, Sept 9, 2020 (El País)

VENEZUELA

La CAF Debate Más Inversiones E Integración Latinoamericana Ante La Crisis Del COVID-19, Sept 9, 2020 (Monitor Dólar Vzla)

CAF 2020 Conference

On September 9, 10, and 11, 2020, over 6,000 participants from around the world convened virtually for the 24^th Annual CAF Conference to discuss the most pressing issues facing the Western Hemisphere. The conference was broadcasted in three languages over the span of three days, amassing over 40,000 views on all of its streaming platforms. Established in 1996 as a joint initiative of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, the Inter-American Dialogue, and the Organization of American States, the annual CAF Conference has become the primary forum for policy makers and analysts, journalists, government officials, business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors, and civil society leaders to review progress in the Americas and address pending challenges.

Sessions focused on: the economic recovery and the future of Latin America’s social contract; the failures and successes of healthcare systems in Latin America; the opportunities, threats, and vulnerabilities ushered in by widespread digitalization; the growing threat to democratic governance in the region; and climate change and what a “global solution” might look like in a post-pandemic world. The conference closed with an exchange with a Republican and Democratic analyst about this year’s US presidential election.

Introduction

In their introductory remarks, Luis Carranza, president of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, and Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, welcomed attendees and highlighted the important role this conference has played in providing a space for open and frank exchange in the hopes of contributing to greater hemispheric cooperation.

President Shifter noted that, in the midst of this health, economic, and social crisis, there has never been more critical a time to bring together diverse and influential perspectives from around the hemisphere to focus on a common agenda. He added that the Dialogue has always viewed the conference as an opportunity to rethink and reshape our agenda moving forward and to incorporate invaluable input.

In turn, President Carranza remarked on how the pandemic has aggravated preexisting structural challenges across the region. To face these challenges, he called on countries to strengthen their fiscal regimes to be better prepared to absorb the shock of the pandemic, and he emphasized the need to use pragmatism, international cooperation, and fiscal policy to shrink the digital infrastructure gap and address issues of integration.

Keynote

Following the introductory remarks, Luis Lacalle Pou, president of Uruguay, opened the conference with a virtual keynote address. The President was introduced by Tom Shannon, co-chair of the Inter-American Dialogue and former US undersecretary of state for political affairs.

In reference to Uruguay’s Covid-19 response, President Lacalle Pou shared how his administration sought to strike a balance between fulfilling the government’s responsibility to protect and respect citizen’s individual freedoms and rights, while continuing to pursue open relations with the rest of the world amid a developing pandemic. He pointed to the country’s access to credit and multilateral financial institutions as instrumental in their ability to act against Covid-19, and he emphasized the need to strengthen these institutions and broaden their tool kits. He noted the essential role that scientists and academics have played during this time, urging governments to ensure that political decisions are supported by scientific evidence and expertise. Lastly, he stressed that governments have to control the spread of the virus, but they must also continue to prioritize the standard of living for its citizens and be wary of protectionist tendencies. Most importantly, governments need to be open, transparent, and effective to build trust with the citizens they serve.

Economic Recovery and the Region’s Health Systems

The first panel of the conference focused on the varying roles of governments, the private sector, multilateral organizations, and NGOs in a post-pandemic equitable economic recovery, as well as regional challenges moving forward. The conversation was moderated by Luis Felipe López Calva, regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the United Nations Development Programme, who was joined by Alicia Bárcena, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); Rebeca Grynspan, secretary general of Secretaría General Iberoamericana (SEGIB); Carmen Reinhart, vice president and chief economist at the World Bank Group; Paula Santilli, chief executive officer of PepsiCo Latin America; and Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics and professor at Columbia University.

Among other issues, panelists discussed how the Covid-19 crisis has devastated the region and offered recommendations on how it can rebound from this looming economic contraction and build resilience. They pointed to the important roles that multilateral institutions and the private sector have played offering leadership and solutions, and they emphasized the need to strengthen partnerships across sectors. The panel also discussed the necessary components of a new social contract as well as what steps policy makers should take to protect their economies and their citizens from the long-lasting effects of the pandemic.

Julio Frenk, president of the University of Miami and former minister of health of Mexico, moderated the second panel of the conference, which addressed the efficacy of responses of countries policies and health systems, the varying impact of the pandemic on countries’ health systems, and the post-pandemic landscape through the lens of public health. Panelists included Luciana Borio, former National Security Council director on Medical and Biodefense Preparedness and vice president of In-Q-Tel; Carissa F. Etienne, executive director of Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO); Natalia Kanem, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and Deisy Ventura, professor and director of PhD Global Health Program at the University of São Paulo.

Participants noted that the pandemic has exacerbated the underlying inequalities present in the region, and the most vulnerable segments of the population have been disproportionately affected, including women and girls, afrodescendents, older citizens, indigenous peoples, and migrants. Public health has now become a priority for governments, and it is important that it remains as one. Access to health services is a human right for all citizens as well as a top issue of national security for governments and policymakers. Panelists agreed that, in order to build solidarity and restart their economies, countries must first address the health crisis at the community, national, and international level and collaborate with key actors across sectors.

Climate Change and the Digital Transformation

The next panel was moderated by Yolanda Kakabadse, former minister of environment of Ecuador and former president of WWF-International, who led a discussion on the relationship between climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic and the future of the environmental policy agenda. She was joined by Ana Toni, executive director of the Instituto Clima e Sociedade; Hugh Sealy, special envoy on Climate Change for Barbados; Brigitte Baptiste, chancellor at the Universidad Ean; and Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, vice president for the Latin American and the Caribbean Region at the World Bank.

During the exchange, panelists agreed that the pandemic has distracted the region from the bigger and longer-term crisis of climate change, and it has postponed the climate action agendas of many countries. However, they were optimistic about the discussions taking place around climate change today, like the need to develop a bioeconomy and explore green development components in the private and multilateral sectors. The panel also addressed how deforestation has continued during Covid-19, urging leaders to prioritize conservation and support policy to protect these natural areas and other threatened ecosystems.

Following this conversation, Guillermo Arduino, anchor and correspondent for CNN Networks, moderated a panel on the region’s digital transformation and the role of the public and private sector in shrinking the digital divide. Panelists included Kerry-Ann Barrett, cybersecurity policy specialist for the Organization of American States (OAS); Angel Melguizo, vice president of External and Regulatory Affairs for AT&T Latin America; Robert Morgus, senior director for the US Cyberspace Solarium Commission; Silvina Moschini, co-founder and president of TransparentBusiness Inc. and CEO and founder, SheWorks!; and Laura Gaviria, director of SoftBank Group International.

The pandemic has greatly accelerated countries’ digital capacity and reliance on technology. However, as participants noted, the region still needs to focus on strengthening its technological infrastructure and defending against cybersecurity threats. Creating a productive digital citizenry will require long-term investments in digital education and skills-building across generations, especially given the changes in the workforce that will result post-pandemic. Lastly, panelists agreed that greater regulations of companies and the development of stronger telecommunication networks are crucial to increase connectivity for vulnerable populations.

Pandemic Politics and the US Presidential Elections

The final day of the conference began with a panel on the impact of the pandemic on democracy and rule of law in Latin America, moderated by Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue. Speakers included Monica de Bolle, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins SAIS; Kevin Casas-Zamora, secretary-general for International IDEA and former second vice president of Costa Rica; Jorge Castañeda, global distinguished professor of LAC Studies at New York University and former secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico; Lucia Dammert, professor of International Relations at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile; and Luz Mely Reyes, director and co-founder of Efecto Cocuyo.

Panelists explained how differing government responses to the Covid-19 crisis have highlighted the corrosive influence of populism and authoritarianism across the region, noting the cases of El Salvador, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Venezuela. Speakers remarked on the lack of government transparency and communication regarding coronavirus developments, which has continued to fuel citizens’ distrust of institutions. They also discussed the significant election challenges the region will face in the upcoming year and touched on the barriers that women and minorities still face to participate in political systems and processes. Lastly, participants agreed that the full political impact of the pandemic will not be completely understood for years to come.

The 24^th edition of the conference ended with a discussion on this year’s US presidential election and the impact US-Latin American relations. Moderated by Gabriela Frias, business anchor for CNN en Español, the conversation featured Roger Noriega, visiting fellow for the American Enterprise Institute, and Julissa Reynoso, partner at Winston & Strawn LLP. Noriega previously served as the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs and the US ambassador to the OAS, while Reynoso is the former US ambassador to Uruguay and deputy assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Noriega and Reynoso stressed the high stakes of this year’s presidential election in the context of Covid-19 as they discussed the potential impact of either candidate’s presidency on immigration and border security, the economy, and foreign relations. They analyzed the key differences between the US-LAC foreign policy agenda of President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden, noting how US relations with Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, and Central America may drastically differ under the Republican or Democratic nominee. The future of these relationships will also depend on the composition of the US congress after the election. Finally, both panelists agreed that there is common ground around combatting China’s influence in the region and commented on how to increase the participation of women and young voters in this election cycle.