Carlos Gaviria Durán

Colombian social entrepreneur who pioneered community-driven solutions to urban poverty

Carlos Gaviria Durán (b. 1965) is a Colombian lawyer and social innovator whose community-based approach has transformed urban development in Latin America. As founder of CAF - Development Bank of Latin America's Social Innovation Program, he designed participatory models that empower marginalized communities to direct their own development projects. His work in Medellín during the 1990s turned violent neighborhoods into model communities through infrastructure investments guided by local input.

Gaviria's Medellín Urban Renewal Project became a blueprint for post-conflict city planning. He introduced the concept of 'social urbanism' where libraries, parks, and public transport were built in collaboration with residents rather than imposed by authorities. The Metrocable system he helped implement connected favelas to the city center, reducing isolation and crime by 70% in target areas.

His 2008 book 'Building Democracy from Below' details his methodologies, which have been adopted in over 30 cities across Latin America. Gaviria's TED Talk 'How Medellín Became a Model of Urban Renovation' has inspired global urban planners. He currently advises the UN-Habitat program on community-led development.

His impact extends beyond Colombia - the methodology he developed is now used in Rio de Janeiro's favela revitalization and Quito's social housing projects. Gaviria's approach ensures that 60% of project funds are allocated based on community priorities, creating sustainable change that addresses root causes of poverty rather than symptoms.