Jose Garcilazo

Jose Garcilazo

Deputy Head of Regional Development and Multilevel Governance Division

OECD, France

Senior policy leader and economist with over 20 years of experience at the OECD, specialising in regional and rural development, place-based policies, and multilevel governance. His work focuses on supporting governments in designing and implementing territorial policies that address structural change, reduce regional disparities, and foster resilient and inclusive growth. As Deputy Head of Division for Regional Development and Multilevel Governance, he has led strategic policy initiatives at the intersection of economic transformation, demographic change, and long-term development megatrends. He has played a central role in advancing the OECD’s place-based development approach. Earlier in his career, his analytical work contributed to strengthening the evidence base for territorial policies, including through flagship publications such as How Regions Grow and Regions Matter, as well as numerous national and subnational reviews. He currently oversees a multidisciplinary team and leads key OECD policy platforms, including the Working Party on Rural Policy. His work spans major initiatives on mining regions and cities, demographic change, rural innovation, Indigenous development, forestry and rural development, and disaster risk management. Through these platforms, he supports governments in translating evidence into actionable policy and addressing complex territorial challenges. Throughout his career, he has focused on building strong analytical foundations, fostering international policy dialogue, and strengthening collaboration across levels of government and stakeholders. His work is driven by a strong interest in how place-based policies, institutions, and leadership can unlock development opportunities across diverse regions.