The present study aimed to evaluate further possibilities of economic diversification, dissociated from the oil and gas sector, particularly for the cities of Macaé and Rio das Ostras, with a view to socio-spatial development based on work and income generation. So as to achieve this study s objective, semi-structured interviews were conducted with local managers and private actors from the cities of Macaé and Rio das Ostras, and also with researchers who develop works on the topic of socio-spatial development in the region. As a proposal to stimulate the capacities identified in these cities and in the region, the present study relies on the concept of sustainable territorial governance, in which inter-municipal consortia could be a good route.