Leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean meet to discuss policies to navigate uncertainty and strengthen resilience in the region

October 31, 2024, Barbados – Latin America and the Caribbean is facing increased uncertainty, dynamic socioeconomic changes, geopolitical transitions, and the lasting impact of the pandemic. In this context, the XVI Ministerial Forum on Development of Latin America and the Caribbean – co-organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) ), and sponsored by the Government of Barbados – opens today, bringing together representatives from 27 countries, including 20 ministers, to reflect on how to accelerate and protect progress towards human development, inclusion and resilience, with a focus put on various challenges, including climate risks.

“Regional cooperation and collaboration is the basis for promoting resilience and socioeconomic prosperity for the 665 million citizens of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Government of Barbados warmly welcomes you to the XVI Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. For two days, we will generate innovative solutions and concrete actions for the design of effective social policies aimed at reducing vulnerability and promoting sustainable social development in the face of constant and constantly changing crises,” said the Honorable Minister of People’s Empowerment and Humanitarian Affairs. Third Age, Kirk Humphrey.

This meeting builds on the discussions initiated at the XIII Ministerial Forum in Antigua and Barbuda in 2021, which addressed disasters and social protection systems in the context of protracted crises. The XVI Ministerial Forum will focus on how the region can advance and protect social achievements in a context of more frequent and intense shocks.

“Latin America and the Caribbean is a region of possibilities and innovative solutions for sustainable development. Strengthening resilience will allow us to advance human development and consolidate its achievements, allowing us to face our collective future with greater hope and optimism,” said Michelle Muschett, UNDP regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

“The global and regional context is complex, full of uncertainties that exacerbate development traps and social inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is essential to move towards inclusive social development and not lose the opportunity to formulate a common message from the region to take to the Second World Summit on Social Development,” highlighted José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for the Americas. Latin America and the Caribbean of the UN.

The Forum and its Declaration will be crucial to strengthen the positioning and voice of the region in global forums and intergovernmental discussions. Its goal is to lay the foundation for transformative political actions and impactful initiatives that transcend borders, guiding the region towards a more equitable and resilient future.

Within the framework of the Forum, the Sixth Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, one of the subsidiary bodies of ECLAC, will be held.

Forum website: https://www.undp.org/es/latin-america/forodesarrollolac

Official Program: https://www.undp.org/es/latin-america/forodesarrollolac/agenda

Follow us at the 2024 Ministerial Forum using the hashtags:

#MinisterialForum2024 #MinisterialForum2024

The Opening Ceremony and Side Events will be broadcast live on: https://www.youtube.com/@PNUDLAC

Photos, videos and shots will be available.

For more information and press inquiries, please contact:

UNDP: Vanessa Hidalgo, Regional Communications Advisor – [email protected] +1 6463389462.

Government of Barbados: Yvette Walcott-Dennis, Ministry of People Empowerment and Senior Affairs – [email protected].

ECLAC: [email protected]; Telephone: (56) 22210 2040.