Participatory governance and sustainable development: challenges and opportunities for territorial planning in Latin American contexts

Participatory governance has gained increasing importance as a mechanism for strengthening sustainable development and improving territorial planning processes in Latin America. The objective of this article was to analyze the main challenges and opportunities that participatory governance presents for sustainable territorial planning in Latin American contexts. To achieve this, a qualitative literature review was conducted based on the critical analysis of scientific studies. The findings revealed that the participation of multiple stakeholders enhances the legitimacy of public decision-making, strengthens social cohesion, and contributes to the development of more resilient territories. Additionally, challenges related to institutional fragmentation, limited coordination among levels of government, territorial inequalities, and insufficient citizen influence in decision-making processes were identified. Likewise, the review highlighted opportunities associated with collaborative governance, social innovation, citizen science, and the strengthening of institutional capacities for territorial management. It was concluded that participatory governance constitutes a fundamental element for promoting more inclusive and sustainable development models; however, its effectiveness depends on institutional strengthening, multilevel coordination, and the implementation of participatory mechanisms capable of addressing the complex territorial dynamics that characterize Latin America.