STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRIORITIES, POTENTIALITIES AND WEAKNESSES

This study deals with the Strategic Development Plans (PEDs), coordinated by the Regional Development Councils (Coredes) of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). The objective is to analyze the strategic planning processes for regional development, observing priorities, potentialities, and weaknesses. This is a qualitative, bibliographic, exploratory, and descriptive study, with non-participant observations based on presentations made at the Seminar “Desenvolve Noroeste do RS”. This event was held from April to May 2024 and covered the Five Regions of RS, Brazil, which are part of Functional Planning Region 7 (RFP-7): Northwest Frontier, Celeiro, Colonial Noroeste, and Missões. The analysis and discussion of the results highlighted the potential of the PED development process as governance instruments and the leading role of Coredes in leading, coordinating and proposing more assertive regional priorities, minimizing regional disparities and positively impacting regional development. Regarding weaknesses, limited coordinating between regions and little convergence of priorities and the absence of an agenda of structuring priorities for the region are evident, accompanied by the scarce dissemination of these priorities and results of the actions resulting from the PEDs. In conclusion, the study confirms the relevance of Coredes as a space for articulation and governance, aggregating democratic and participatory mechanisms, training of the agents involved and committed to leading entities, in a convergent management agenda for sustainable regional development.