“Declaration of Cuenca” reaffirms the regional commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals

Cuenca, Ecuador, September 30, 2022– More than 550 attendees and 30 government representatives from 25 countries met on the 29th and 30th at the XIV Ministerial Forum on Development in Latin America and the Caribbean under the theme: “Recalibrating… How to get back on track towards the Sustainable Development Goals ( ODS)”, organized by the Government of Ecuador, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). The Forum was a space for high-level dialogue on how to return to the path of the SDGs, organized in tables on effective governance, social protection and financing for development. At the close, the authorities of 25 countries committed themselves to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in the “Basin Declaration”.

In the Declaration, the authorities of the region reaffirmed their commitment to comply with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Regional Agenda for Inclusive Social Development from a comprehensive perspective, guaranteeing the participation of all relevant sectors and actors. The delegations present in Cuenca recognized the need to encourage effective governance, an inclusive, efficient, resilient and transparent institutional framework, and a greater articulation of the different levels of government, recognizing that the 2030 Agenda grants a central role to governments and local actors. .

In turn, the authorities also agreed, based on their national contexts and needs, to consolidate social protection systems that are universal, inclusive, fiscally sustainable and growth-friendly, adapted to the new context of greater uncertainty, and with an emphasis on protecting the well-being of the poor and other vulnerable groups, and building resilience.

It was also agreed to design strategies to increase and make more effective use of the different types of financing for sustainable development, encouraging alliances with key actors, generating a favorable investment climate, and linking the SDGs to national financial planning instruments, according to the capacity of each country.

In addition to the Declaration, the Forum also provided a space for discussions by distinguished speakers such as James Robinson, Professor and Director of the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts, University of Chicago; Rebeca Grynspan, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Former Vice President of Costa Rica, Luis Felipe López-Calva, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Program and Isabel Saint Malo , Former Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, and Fellow of Harvard University.

Likewise, the Forum had a welcome greeting from Esteban Bernal, Minister of Economic and Social Inclusion of Ecuador (MIES), followed by valuable interventions from Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); Luis Felipe López-Calva, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Program; Raúl García-Buchaca, Deputy Executive Secretary for Administration and Analysis of Programs of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; Lena Savelli, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Ecuador and Guillermo Lasso, President of the Republic of Ecuador.

“With this declaration, the region takes the path to achieve the SDGs. The general multilateral work on alternatives to improve social protection, a vital axis for the development of all nations. We have managed to come to an agreement, define strategies and policies to mitigate inequalities and achieve sustainable development for our populations”, assured Minister Esteban Bernal.

During the Forum, the Fifth Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean was also held, as well as two parallel events. The first was dedicated to the promotion of the multilevel and multi-stakeholder approach to contribute to the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda and the second dealt with the regional cost of living crisis.

Finally, the attendees toured a fair where they were able to learn about development projects supported by the UNDP in Ecuador, and visited a UNDP regional exhibition under the theme “UNDP Intelligent Future” where it is shown how the UNDP Country Offices in Latin America and the Caribbean are driving the future of development. Likewise, entrepreneurs from all areas of Ecuador were part of this space, which are financed through the Human Development Credit delivered by the National Government.