With high call, a regional training workshop was held on science, technology and innovation policies for the SDGs

More than 400 people from more than 30 countries participated in the Training Workshop for Latin America on policies and policy instruments in Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs held virtually between March 27 and 31, 2023.

This was the third training workshop for the region given by United Nations officials who are members of Work Area 6 of the Interagency Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation (CTI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (WS6 – UN Interagency Task Team on STI for the SDGs). The program was also carried out within the framework of the work of the Conference on Science, Innovation and Information and Communication Technologies of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The workshop was structured in five sessions of two hours each, in which the participants discussed and analyzed the conceptual and methodological approaches, as well as the actions and means used by governments for the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and instruments. policy in CTI.

The program was aimed at public sector personnel who are starting out in the field of policy formulation in this area in Latin America, as well as those professionals seeking to refresh their knowledge. In particular, the ministries or agencies in charge of STI policies in Latin America were invited, as well as institutions involved in IATT STI policy projects and activities.

The IATT is made up of various entities, such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Organization for Development (UNIDO), the United Nations University (UNU-MERIT), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the Organization Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Bank, the five regional commissions of the United Nations, including ECLAC, and associated institutions, such as the Joint Research Center of the Commission Union (JRC-EC).

Both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda highlight the importance of STI policies and actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Precisely, the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) and IATT were created in order to mobilize CTI solutions to achieve the SDGs.

IATT Work Stream 6 (WS6) has delivered face-to-face regional trainings for Arab States and Central American and African countries and online training workshops (2020-2022), including Latin America, which have benefited more than than 800 civil servants from 90 countries.