Washington Quaquá, Chairman of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities, President of the Brazilian Associaiton of Municipalities, and Mayor of Maricá (Brazil), presented the Association’s activity report for the period of the Brazilian Presidency.
Presidency within the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities was transferred to the Brazilian side at the Association’s General Assembly held in Maricá in May 2025. During the meeting, Washington Quaquá was elected Chairman of the Association, succeeding Ilsur Metshin in this position.
During the reporting period, under the leadership of the Brazilian Presidency, the Association significantly strengthened its position on the international stage and expanded cooperation with key partners.
Key outcomes of the Presidency:
— Inclusion of the Association into the official BRICS+ structure. Through dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, the Association was included in the People-to-People track, enabling the municipal level to become an official participant in the dialogue alongside other councils and forums of the member countries.
— Participation in the BRICS+ financial track. Representatives of the Association took part in a joint session with the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the BRICS countries, presenting recommendations on improving municipal access to development financing mechanisms.
— Holding of the General Assembly in Maricá in May 2025. The key event of the presidency, during which a joint declaration was adopted reaffirming the commitment of cities to sustainable development and deeper cooperation. Within the framework of the Assembly, nine cooperation agreements were signed, including partnerships between participating cities.
— Signing of an agreement with UCLG. In October 2025, at the UCLG World Council in Xi’an (China), a cooperation agreement was signed between the Association and the World Organization «United Cities and Local Governments,» opening new opportunities for integrating the BRICS municipal platform into global networks of local authorities.
— Participation in youth and climate initiatives. The Association supported the participation of the Brazilian delegation in the first BRICS Youth Festival in Kazan in September 2025. Furthermore, representatives of the Association actively participated in climate agenda dialogues in the lead-up to COP30, including events in Rio de Janeiro and Belém.
— Expansion of international ties. During the presidency, working visits were conducted to Cuba and Peru, aimed at strengthening dialogue with municipalities of the Global South and expanding the geography of partnerships.
In the report Mr. Washington Quaquá noted that the past year was an important stage in the institutional strengthening of the Association. Dialogue with national governments, international partners, and civil society platforms has significantly expanded opportunities for cooperation between cities of the BRICS countries and the Global South.
«Municipalities play a key role in addressing common global challenges such as climate change, sustainable urban development, and ensuring inclusivity. Our task is to ensure that the voice of cities is heard at the highest level and that international cooperation delivers tangible results on the ground,» emphasized the Chairman of the Association.
The full text of the report is available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MdobX0BUjUKv9Xh4mzSehRTG5Hb946RS/view?usp=sharing
