Ministers in charge of social, economic, and environmental affairs in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) issued a declaration reaffirming their commitment to the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Regional Agenda for Inclusive Social Development. The ministers agreed to a range of actions to enhance social protection, SDG localization, and financing for development (FfD).
The XIV Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean convened in Cuenca, Ecuador, from 29-30 September 2022, on the theme, ‘Recalibrating… How to Get Back on Track Towards the SDGs.’ The Forum provided opportunities for the ministers to share experiences on social, economic, and environmental policymaking, strengthen regional ties, and discuss ways to overcome structural barriers to inclusive development that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
In the Declaration of Cuenca, released at the conclusion of the meeting, the ministers recognize that the LAC is experiencing slower economic growth, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, the global economic pressures caused by the war in Ukraine, and “the natural and climatic impacts,” all of which jeopardize the achievements made in reducing poverty and inequality and other sustainability gains in the region.
The ministers agree to, inter alia:
- move towards social protection systems that contribute to promoting inclusive and sustainable growth;
- “consolidate” social protection systems that: are universal, inclusive, and fiscally sustainable; protect the well-being of people living in poverty and other vulnerable groups; are resilient; and are capable of anticipating various risks;
- strengthen effective governance, understanding that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its principle of “leaving no one behind” is based on greater collaboration between all levels of government and stakeholders;
- recognize that, as per the 2030 Agenda, local governments are key actors in fulfilling the SDGs and that it is necessary to create an enabling institutional environment to support local leadership;
- support the generation and analysis of disaggregated data at the local and regional levels to help develop the evidence base necessary for implementation and monitoring of the SDGs; and
- link the SDGs to national planning instruments, the budget, and national public investment plans, according to country capacity.
The Ministerial Forum was organized by the Government of Ecuador, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). [ECLAC Press Release]