United Nations in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

The United Nations Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean in collaboration with its partners is supporting implementation of the sustainable development goals across the 10 countries covered by our multi-country office (MCO). These 17 Global Goals are a roadmap to address the most pressing challenges facing Caribbean citizens and persons all over the world, to create a sustainable future for all. Kindly note that the data visualizations show an aggregate of the Caribbean. To view the disaggregated data per country, please click on the name of the country or territory you wish to explore.

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Publication

08 January 2025

2023 Development Partners Landscape Assessment for the Eastern Caribbean

This report is a comprehensive effort to map, analyze, and contextualize the contributions of development partners to the Eastern Caribbean. It provides insights into funding trends, emerging priorities, and areas of strategic alignment. By examining the diverse range of actors, from bilateral and multilateral agencies, this report highlights the evolving dynamics of development financing in the Eastern Caribbean.Moreover, the report provides a basis for increased strategic cooperation and coordination amongst governments in the sub-region and development partners through open and intentional sharing of information on current project portfolios and future needs.

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20 January 2025

Gender Equality in the Caribbean Requires a Transformative Approach says former UN Women Caribbean Head

Achieving true gender equality in the Caribbean requires more than just responsive actions—it demands a transformative shift in how institutions and governments address the barriers that perpetuate inequality.This was the key message from Tonni Brodber, former Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) – Caribbean, as she addressed over 40 UN staff members during an inaugural staff Community of Practice session at UN House themed: From Resolution to Action: Gender Equality as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development.The hybrid initiative, which saw participation from UN staff across the Eastern Caribbean, seeks to bridge gaps across UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes, providing staff with greater insight into Agency-specific priorities and updates on emerging global issues that may be outside of their mandates. Moreover, it aims to strengthen internal communications and build synergies to enhance joint approaches to UN work in the region.Leading the participatory session, which included staff surveys and a high-level of engagement, Ms. Brodber said the Caribbean requires gender-transformative actions that tackle the deep-rooted barriers to equality. “Gender responsiveness means acting on the issue, but gender-transformative actions are what we need, especially with states. We must address the barriers that states may not even realize are keeping certain groups out,” she underlined.Using an example from the COVID-19 pandemic, when some regional leaders allowed workers to return to work while keeping schools closed, Ms. Brodber noted that this posed a major challenge, particularly for caregivers, who were predominantly women. “When leaders across the region said you can go back to work after COVID-19 but schools were closed… people said you know, we are depending on you, the older women in society, [to help take care of the children] but some of them were also working.”For Ms. Brodber, being gender-transformative means creating systems that allow both women and men to participate equally in the workforce, such as opening schools, adjusting work hours, and recognising the structural burdens on caregivers.She emphasized that gender equality also entailed ensuring that the needs of men were also taken into consideration . Unpaid Care WorkThe session also brought to the fore the issue of unpaid care work, which was the focus of a recent UN Women-led study on the topic ‘Assessing the Impact of Unpaid Care Work on Families in Barbados’. Ms. Brodber told the forum: “We still have serious gaps as it pertains to women's empowerment, and you won't have gender equality without us addressing these gaps right now, like unpaid care work.” She noted that unpaid care work disproportionately affects women, who are often expected to organize after-school activities, cook, and manage household tasks. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Women, unpaid work refers to tasks such as caregiving, household chores, and community service that are performed without financial compensation.Ms. Brodber also highlighted the challenges women face in business and entrepreneurship. “In the Caribbean, women own only 8% of registered businesses, most of which are sole proprietorships. If these women fall ill or need to care for a child, their businesses suffer,” she explained, emphasizing the structural barriers to entrepreneurial success.Turning to systemic disadvantages, Brodber remarked, “Historically, our institutions have privileged men.” She cited an example from the 1980s, when women in many Caribbean countries were required to have male family members co-sign loans or open bank accounts—an issue more rooted in gender than ability. Beijing +30: Progress and ChallengesThe discussion also focused on the broader global movement for gender equality, particularly the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action. Ms. Brodber underscored the significance of the 1995 Beijing Conference, where world leaders committed to addressing gender inequality in areas such as education, health, violence, and economic participation. Despite some progress, many of the issues outlined in the Beijing Platform remain unresolved. “We’re still talking about women’s representation in leadership, pay gaps, and unpaid care work,” Ms, Brodber observed making the point that the Beijing Platform is a reminder that gender equality isn’t a one-time effort but requires sustained commitment.The forum, which was organized by the UN Communications Group, is expected to be a bi-monthly initiative , to be led by various UN AFPs. Some of the Agencies represented at the inaugural session included the UN Resident Coordinator Office, UN Women, UNDP, PAHO, UNICEF, FAO, WFP, ILO, and the UN Information Centre (UNIC).

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15 January 2025

Confirmed: 2024 was the hottest year on record, says UN weather agency

“We saw extraordinary land, sea surface temperatures, extraordinary ocean heat accompanied by very extreme weather affecting many countries around the world, destroying lives, livelihoods, hopes and dreams,” WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis said. “We saw many climate change impacts retreating sea ice glaciers. It was an extraordinary year.”Four of the six international datasets crunched by WMO indicated a higher than 1.5℃ global average increase for the whole of last year but two did not. The 1.5℃ marker is significant because it was a key goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement to try to ensure that global temperature change does not rise more than this above pre-industrial levels, while striving to hold the overall increase to well below 2℃.Climate deal under pressureThe Paris Agreement is “not yet dead but in grave danger”, the WMO maintained, explaining that the accord’s long-term temperature goals are measured over decades, rather than individual years.However, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo insisted that “climate history is playing out before our eyes. We’ve had not just one or two record-breaking years, but a full ten-year series. “It is essential to recognize that every fraction of a degree of warming matters. Whether it is at a level below or above 1.5C of warming, every additional increment of global warming increases the impacts on our lives, economies and our planet.”LA fires: climate change factorAmid still raging deadly wildfires in Los Angeles that weather experts including the WMO insist have been exacerbated by climate change - with more days of dry, warm, windy weather on top of rains which boosted vegetation growth – the UN agency said that 2024 capped a decade-long “extraordinary streak of record-breaking temperatures”.Caption: A bank building burns in Los Angeles, California.Photo: © CAL FIREUN Secretary-General António Guterres described the WMO’s findings as further proof of global warming and urged all governments to deliver new national climate action plans this year to limit long-term global temperature rise to 1.5C – and support the most vulnerable deal with devastating climate impacts.“Individual years pushing past the 1.5℃ limit do not mean the long-term goal is shot,” Mr. Guterres said. “It means we need to fight even harder to get on track. Blazing temperatures in 2024 require trail-blazing climate action in 2025,” he said. “There’s still time to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe. But leaders must act – now.”The datasets used by WMO are from the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the Japan Meteorological Agency, NASA, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the UK Met Office in collaboration with the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia (HadCRUT) and Berkeley Earth.Listen back to an interview climate scientist Alvaro Silva at the WMO, following the heat alert in the United States at the end of June: Ocean warmingHighlighting a separate scientific study on ocean warming, WMO said that it had played a key role in last year’s record high temperatures.“The ocean is the warmest it has ever been as recorded by humans, not only at the surface but also for the upper 2,000 metres,” the UN agency said, citing the findings of the international study spanning seven countries and published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences.WMO noted that about 90 per cent of the excess heat from global warming is stored in the ocean, “making ocean heat content a critical indicator of climate change”.To put the study’s findings into perspective, it explained that from 2023 to 2024, the upper 2,000 metres of ocean became warmer by 16 zettajoules (1,021 Joules), which is about 140 times the world’s total electricity output............................................................................This story was first published to UN News.

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09 January 2025

Young Venezuelan refugees get a fresh start in Trinidad’s schools

When 11-year-old Venezuelan refugee Astrid Saavedra walked into her fourth-grade classroom in Trinidad and Tobago for her first day of school in September, she was eager to begin lessons in her favourite subject, mathematics. But the prospect of teaching fellow students about her homeland Venezuela was equally exciting.Astrid is one of the first refugee and migrant children from Venezuela to be allowed to enter the Trinidadian national public education system, following a change in the country’s immigration rules.Caption: Thousands of Venezuelans have fled their countryPhoto: © IOM/Gema CortésShe was part of the first cohort of 60 children to meet the admission criteria, which included possession of a certified, translated birth certificate and immunization record, and be assigned a school, marking an important milestone in fulfilling Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to fully meeting its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international UN human rights treaty.“These young people, should they stay in Trinidad and Tobago, would be adequately prepared to enter the workforce of this country, filling gaps in the labour market and contributing to innovation and sustainability,” said senior UN migration agency (IOM) official, Desery Jordan-Whiskey. “It’s also an opportunity for these children, who are mostly Spanish speaking, to contribute just as much as they would gain, by helping their peers learn a second language.”An investment in the futureThe changes in legislation that allowed children like Astrid to go to school came about in July 2023, during a meeting of UN officials and politicians, at which Trinidad’s Minister of Foreign Affairs officially announced the Government’s decision.UN agencies agree that the right to receive an education is an example of the way human rights overlaps with sustainable development.“Advocating for access to education is key to bridging the gap between immediate humanitarian needs and long-term development goals,” said Amanda Solano, head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Trinidad and Tobago. “By providing education to refugee and migrant children, we’re not just meeting their immediate needs, we’re investing in their future and the future of Trinidad and Tobago.”Photo: © UNHCR Trinidad and TobagoOver 2,000 refugee and migrant children remain excluded from the school system. The UN has made efforts to provide them with alternative learning opportunities, or to place them in private schools but has expressed a preference for wider admission to the state school system.A committee of UN agencies and partners, the Education Working Group (EWG), is working with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to better understand the training and logistical support that would be required to accommodate larger numbers of refugee and migrant children into local schools.The hope is that many more students like Astrid will be able to walk into the nation’s classrooms to start the 2025-2026 academic year. UN support for education in Trinidad & TobagoThe UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UNHCR work with partners to offer informal Child-Friendly Spaces, where children can access learning while they wait for places in the national school system.The Education Working Group (EWG) is assisting with initial English language proficiency testing, facilitated by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI).EWG members have coordinated efforts to reduce economic strain and enable students’ focus on learning and thriving. UNHCR provided school supplies and backpacks, PADF offered access to textbooks and other school supplies, and UNICEF disbursed grants to support any unmet needs, including uniforms, textbooks, and transportation.Through the Heroes Development Program, PADF and its partner the Heroes Foundation also provide complementary life skills development and alternative education support for children and youth who are unable to access formal schools in Trinidad and Tobago.

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08 January 2025

World Braille Day: Celebrating Accessibility and Inclusion for the Visually Impaired

"Today, January 4, 2025, I join the global community in celebrating World Braille Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the transformative role of Braille in fostering accessibility and inclusion for individuals who are visually impaired or blind. As a Braille user, teacher, training facilitator, disability rights activist, and social impact consultant, I know firsthand how Braille empowers independence, dignity, and opportunities for education, employment, and full participation in society. A Global Responsibility This year’s theme, “Celebrating Accessibility and Inclusion for the Visually Impaired,” aligns with global frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Marrakesh Treaty. These frameworks affirm the rights of individuals with disabilities to accessible information, inclusive education, and equitable opportunities. In Saint Lucia, the Marrakesh Treaty came into force on September 11, 2020, marking a significant milestone in making accessible literature available to individuals who are visually impaired or blind. I commend the Government of Saint Lucia for passing the Copyright (Amendment) Bill in July 2024, which advances the implementation of this treaty. These measures underscore a tangible commitment to breaking barriers and fostering inclusion at every level of society. The Legacy and Importance of Braille Braille is more than a tactile writing system; it is a gateway to literacy, creativity, and self-expression. For generations, it has enabled individuals who are visually impaired or blind to access education, pursue meaningful careers, and engage actively in their communities. Despite technological advancements, Braille remains indispensable in ensuring true inclusion and bridging the gap to opportunities. Call to Action While we celebrate the progress made in accessibility and inclusion, there is still much work to be done. On this World Braille Day, I call on: • Governments, organizations, educators, and individuals to: 1. Expand the availability of Braille resources and materials in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. 2. Develop policies and programs that prioritize inclusive education and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. 3. Support training, mentorship, and advocacy programs that empower individuals who are visually impaired or blind to achieve their full potential. • Persons who are blind or visually impaired to: Recognize the value of learning and using Braille. Braille is not just a tool for reading and writing; it is a pathway to independence, self-empowerment, and personal growth. I encourage you to embrace Braille as a vital skill that can open doors to education, employment, and active participation in society. Let us take pride in this powerful system and its role in transforming lives. Braille is not just a tactile code; it is a symbol of equality, a bridge to opportunity, and a lifeline for millions of people worldwide. Together, we must continue to champion initiatives that promote accessibility, foster inclusion, and transform lives. On this World Braille Day, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to creating a world where no one is left behind. Braille represents not only a means of communication but also a profound statement of our collective humanity. I am honored to stand with advocates and allies in this journey toward a more inclusive and equitable future."

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09 January 2025

Strengthening Community Resilience in Dominica’s Kalinago Territory

Dominica’s Kalinago Territory will be the focus of a new US$1 million project, aimed at increasing community resilience through enhancing sustainable agriculture, improving forest and watershed management, and fostering indigenous eco-tourism. “Strengthening Community Resilience within the Kalinago Territory (SCR-K)” is an initiative led by the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. It is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the Government of India through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. A media launch was held on Thursday, December 19 at the Barana Autê to announce the project, which seeks to promote resilience, enhance sustainable livelihoods, and preserve the unique Kalinago heritage. Nestled in a remote and mountainous area of Atlantic coast, the Kalinago Territory is a 15 km2 district with an estimated population of approximately 3,000 indigenous Kalinago people – the only Caribbean community directly descended from the indigenous people that populated the entire region before colonization.Caption: Officials from Dominica's Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernisation, and Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment, the Kalinago Council, the High Commission of India to the Commonwealth of Dominica, and UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Multi-Country Office at the media launch of the Strengthening Community Resilience within the Kalinago Territory (SCR-K) project at the Barana Autê on December 19, 2024.Photo: © UNDP/Zaimis OlmosThe Hon. Cozier Frederick, Minister of the Environment, Rural Modernisation, and Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment, said, “The Kalinago community’s resilient agenda has been greatly enhanced through the collaborative efforts of financing from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and the coordination of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as they continue to enable us to recover, adapt and thrive in the face of immense adversity.”High Commissioner of India to the Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, was also in attendance at the launch. He emphasized the Government of India’s commitment to supporting multilateralism and south-south cooperation for development that is driven by national ownership and leadership. “India has taken a lead role in putting the priorities of the countries of the Global South on the global agenda. It was evident during India’s G-20 Presidency last year. This project for the empowerment of the indigenous Kalinago community of Dominica represents India’s desire to support Dominica in a sustainable manner.”UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ms. Limya Eltayeb, welcomed the continued investment in the Kalinago Territory. “We are honored that the Government of Dominica continues to entrust UNDP with efforts to build resilience within this unique community. Through several initiatives, we have worked closely with the Kalinago Community to increase internet accessibility and strengthen digital transformation, promote Kalinago language and culture, and support livelihoods, tourism and entrepreneurial ventures,” she said. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue supporting the Kalinago people when this new project comes on stream. I would especially like to thank the Government of India for its strong support through the UN-India Fund, which has distinguished itself as an excellent example of productive south-south cooperation and an important resource for small island developing states.”Some of the key issues to be addressed by the SCR-K initiative include revitalizing agriculture to support national food security and economic growth; mitigating the impact of climate-related hazards and deforestation on forest ecosystems; and developing sustainable tourism practices that leverage the unique cultural heritage of the Kalinago community. These challenges are compounded by the need for effective community engagement and capacity building to ensure long-term resilience and economic benefits. Included in the planned activities are the establishment of a greenhouse park in the northern belt of the Kalinago Territory, training of community members in climate-smart agriculture techniques and disbursement of small grants to farmers and small businesses.The SCR-K initiative builds upon and complements UNDP’s Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods and Resilience in the Kalinago Territory (SSLR) project, which closed earlier this year. UNDP established a project office in Dominica in 2017 to support the Government with immediate response, recovery, and reconstruction post-Hurricane Maria. Since then, UNDP’s portfolio has expanded to a range of projects supporting reconstruction and social protection, resilience-building, agriculture, Indigenous peoples, blue economy, and digital transformation. ******************************************

About UNDP
UNDP is the lead United Nations agency tackling the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with a broad global network of experts and partners in 170 countries, UNDP helps nations develop impactful, integrated, and sustainable solutions by and for people and the planet. The UNDP Multi-Country Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean serves 10 small island developing states. For more information, visit www.undp.org/barbados or follow us on social media @undpbarbadosec.About the India-UN Development Partnership Fund
Established in 2017, the US$150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund is supported and led by the Government of India and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations system. The Fund supports Southern-owned and -led, demand-driven and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world, with a focus on least developed countries and small island developing States. United Nations agencies implement the Fund projects in close collaboration with partnering Governments. ******************************************This story was first published by UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

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Press Release

11 December 2024

Towards a more resilient Caribbean: How EU-CA-RES is Making a Difference

The intervention aims to build a Caribbean that is not only prepared for the challenges of today but ready to face the uncertainties of tomorrow. These challenges and uncertainties include earthquakes, flooding, drought and hurricanes. Recent devastation wrought by Hurricane Beryl in July this year was a stark reminder of the risks the region faces. EU-CA-RES, which was launched in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 2 December, brings together a broad range of partners for maximum reach and influence. The European Union is joined by UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The initiative will pave the way for a region more able to recover from adversity - such as the ravages of climate change, whether slow and creeping or sudden and catastrophic - with even greater strength and resilience. European Union Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Malgorzata Wasilewska declared that while all partners are clearly working towards the same goal, it is imperative that they all work together. “The region has to work closely together, international partners are here to assist,” said Wasilewska. “Every life we help to save, every house we rebuild should always be our motivation to work on these issues.” Enhancing social protection, which provides a safety net for those in need, is critical and EU-CA-RES works to strengthen systems that can provide immediate financial support to families affected by disasters - especially the most vulnerable like women, children, and people with disabilities - who often bear the brunt of these extreme events. Quick access to resources can make a huge difference in helping communities recover. he programme is committed to ‘building back better’ which develops what has gone before. By implementing improved building standards, investing in disaster-proof infrastructure, early warning systems and strengthening institutional policy, planning, financial arrangements, and data gathering and dissemination, the initiative helps to ensure that when the next emergency strikes, the damage will be less severe, with faster recovery processes reducing loss and suffering. Simon Springett, UN Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean thanked the EU for generously supporting “one United Nation delivering for a collective good.” “We are working collectively every day to reduce that level of fragility and it’s really imperative that we don’t look away, that we really tackle these issues.”

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Press Release

02 December 2024

Barbados and Montserrat Strengthen Data Capacity for Health and Social Policies through Joint SDG Fund Programme

Bridgetown, November 29, 2024: The Governments of Barbados and Montserrat are better equipped to collect and analyze data, to foster gender equality and advance inclusive health and social development policies, thanks to a recently concluded Joint SDG Fund Programme for Integrated Population Data and Policy Solutions. This marks a significant step forward in sustainable development for both countries.The two-year programme was implemented under the leadership of UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund), in collaboration with UN Women (the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women), and in partnership with government stakeholders and civil society. With focus on improving access to real-time, disaggregated demographic data, it sought to enable policymakers to create evidence-based policies and programmes in support of the most vulnerable populations. The initiative addressed key priorities under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 5 (Gender Equality).Addressing a hybrid Strategic Dialogue and Close-Out Meeting, held at UN House in Barbados, Jenny Karlsen, Deputy Director, UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, pledged continued support to the Governments of Barbados and Montserrat to build on the Project’s achievements. She commended national partners for their champion role in its execution: “This programme stands as a testament to your vision and commitment to your national priorities, and what can be achieved when we work together with a shared purpose” , she said. Based on the programme’s execution in Montserrat, significant strides have been made in advancing sexual and reproductive health, population policy and data systems. A draft Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy, supported by UNFPA, is awaiting Cabinet submission, alongside a Population Situation Analysis and National Population Policy, currently under public review. A National Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) System Study and Action Plan is also poised for Cabinet review. Technical guidance and training on the measurement of SDG 5 indicators were provided to the Montserrat Statistics Department. Data collection on this indicator was successfully implemented through their national census, which concluded in November 2023.An analysis of the 2023 Census data on unpaid domestic and care work was also conducted, and steps taken to strengthen national data systems through enhanced disaggregation by sex, age, and disability, integration of GIS and geospatial tools, and targeted training to monitor SDG indicators pertaining to Goals 3 and 5. Meanwhile, in Barbados, UNFPA supported completion of a Baseline Study on Priority Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicators for Barbados, with capacity building provided in the National Transfer Accounts Model to help assess the economic impacts of demographic shifts. For the first time Barbados has a national measurement of the time spent by women and men on unpaid domestic and care work. UN Women supported the Barbados Statistical Service with the capture and analysis of the data on the SDG Indicator related to unpaid domestic and care work, providing computer tablets, and facilitating the engagement of six enumerators/field officers and preparation of the final report.Isiuwa Iyahen, Deputy Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) - Caribbean, highlighted the vital intersection of population dynamics and the care economy during her remarks. She noted the concern with declining fertility rates but emphasised that policy solutions to encourage family formation do not infringe on the sexual and reproductive rights of women: “Let’s look at the mix of policy solutions that will encourage you to participate in the paid care economy but meet your obligations to your families.”In addressing the forum, Simon Springett, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean reflected on the programme’s completion as a steppingstone for future progress and building more resilient, prosperous and equitable societies. He maintained: “We must sustain this momentum and continue to prioritize data-driven solutions, gender-sensitive policies, and inclusive approaches to development.” The Project also came in for high praise from national partners attending the Close-out in person at UN House. Patrick McCaskie, Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs and Investment, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment in Barbados underlined the importance of celebrating the programme’s successes, while assessing challenges and lessons learned. He also reaffirmed his government’s dedication to inclusive development: “The Government of Barbados is fully committed to the continued pursuance of programmes and policies that are fully inclusive, people-centered, and resilient—economically, socially, and environmentally—in a way that leaves no one behind.”Meanwhile, Teresena Fergus, Director of Social Services in Montserrat, underscored the programme’s role in advancing rights-based population policies and enhancing national capacities for data-driven decision-making. “Let us celebrate our progress, examine the challenges, and set a robust course for sustaining the strides we have made together,” she encouraged.The Joint Programme is expected to have continued impact through the frameworks and tools developed, which promise to drive inclusive growth and equitable development on the road to 2030. Supported by UNFPA and UN Women’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plans, and the continued partnership of the UN Development System, the results achieved under this initiative will serve as a model for sustainable development strategies across the region.

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Press Release

05 November 2024

Caribbean Immunization Managers Commended for Beginning Turnaround in Vaccination Coverage

During the 38th Caribbean Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Managers meeting held in St Kitts and Nevis, from October 28-30, PAHO Assistant Director, Dr Rhonda Sealy, commended the Caribbean Immunization managers for beginning to turn around vaccination coverage across CARICOM Member States, after a decline in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed the need to strengthen the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program.Noting that there were still significant challenges, including vaccine hesitancy and disruptions in school and health facility access, she called for a revitalization of this essential program, particularly within the Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, and as many countries are transitioning to a one-dose schedule as recommended.To ensure our continued success, I’d like to highlight several recommendations. Firstly, we need unwavering political commitment and financial resources to maintain our targets for eliminating polio, measles, and rubella, as well as controlling other vaccine-preventable diseases. It’s imperative to strengthen our vaccination operations to achieve and sustain a 95% coverage rate for all antigens. Additionally, we must develop targeted strategies to reach children under five years old, enhancing our surveillance capabilities for vaccine-preventable diseases. Training healthcare workers in effective risk communication and community engagement is vital for improving HPV vaccine coverage. Finally, we must invest in robust data systems and infrastructure to support adult immunization without jeopardizing childhood vaccination programs.” Dr Sealy noted in a video message. Dr. Daniel Salas, Executive Manager, Special Program on Comprehensive Immunization, PAHO, emphatically reiterated PAHO’s support for HPV vaccination programs in the Caribbean stating that “the Caribbean is known to be a leader in vaccination and disease elimination, I urge you to be the first subregion to eliminate cervical cancer reducing morbidity and mortality associated with this preventable disease”. During the meeting, Jamaica won the coveted Harry Smith Award for most improved immunization coverage in 2023 while the inaugural Beryl Irons Award went to Grenada for achieving their surveillance targets in 2024 and improved immunization coverage in 2023. Three countries also took away surveillance awards. In first place was Barbados, second place went to St Kitts and Nevis and third place went to Belize. The dedicated healthcare professionals of the EPI program and PAHO were praised by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in St Kitts and Nevis, Curtis Martin. He emphasized that national health stewardship requires partnership. “PAHO is a blessing. Its technical support of the EPI ranks as a global best practice. Transfer of knowledge and skills have yielded measurable results including the regard for research rigor and the imperative of data and evidence-guided planning and performance assessment and improvement. Through PAHO and other public health protection, prevention and health promotion are in our DNA. PAHO cannot become weary in Caribbean well-being because in our jurisdictions, health is too big to fail,” he asserted.Advisor, Family and Life Course for Primary Health Care, Dr Solange Kobi-Jackson, who delivered remarks on behalf of PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, Dr Amalia Del Riego, described the implementation of solid vaccination programs as one of the noblest commitments to the population, especially protecting the health of children.“The positive result for 2023, reflects the efforts of professionals and the health system, as well as the government’s clear political commitment to invest in health, along with an engaged population that recognizes the importance of vaccination. Nonetheless, it is necessary to continue making progress to bring the Region of the Americas back to the top of the global ranking in immunization coverage, maintain our achievements, and advance in the strategy to eliminate communicable diseases,” Dr Kobi Jackson stressed.While aware of polio, pertussis and measles cases worldwide, Chair of the Meeting and the Caribbean Immunization Technical Working Group (CITaG), Prof Peter Figueroa, praised the EPI Program for contributing considerably to the decrease in deaths and an improvement in the health of children globally and within the Caribbean. “An estimated 154 million deaths averted – that is remarkable and represents the true value of vaccines… However, we cannot be complacent. We have to be alert.” He stressed, while calling on Caribbean countries to maintain vaccination rates of 95% or higher and increase surveillance.The meeting also included an ‘Effective Communication for Vaccine Uptake for Caribbean EPI Managers workshop’ which included presentations on risk communication and community engagement, increasing vaccination coverage using the behavioural and social drivers of vaccination, crisis communication and vaccination messaging. The group also participated in a panel discussion that highlighted the risk communication strategies used in the measles case management employed by Turks & Caicos, plans to create a risk communication plan for new vaccine rollouts by Grenada and the role of communications during an ESAVI by Suriname.Caribbean EPI meetings are held annually, and this year’s theme was Stronger Together: Advancing Immunization, Eliminating Disease.

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Press Release

24 September 2024

United Nations adopts ground-breaking Pact for the Future to transform global governance

New York, 22 September 2024 – World leaders today adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. This Pact is the culmination of an inclusive, years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow. The most wide-ranging international agreement in many years, covering entirely new areas as well as issues on which agreement has not been possible in decades, the Pact aims above all to ensure that international institutions can deliver in the face of a world that has changed dramatically since they were created. As the Secretary-General has said, “we cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents.”

Overall, the agreement of the Pact is a strong statement of countries’ commitment to the United Nations, the international system and international law. Leaders set out a clear vision of an international system that can deliver on its promises, is more representative of today’s world and draws on the energy and expertise of governments, civil society and other key partners.
The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” said the Secretary-General during his remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future. The President of the General Assembly noted that the Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”
The Pact covers a broad range of issues including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. Key deliverables in the Pact include:

In the area of peace and securityThe most progressive and concrete commitment to Security Council reform since the 1960s, with plans to improve the effectiveness and representativeness of the Council, including by redressing the historical under-representation of Africa as a priority.The first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade, with a clear commitment to the goal of totally eliminating nuclear weapons.Agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space, including a clear commitment to prevent an arms race in outer space and the need to ensure all countries can benefit from the safe and sustainable exploration of outer space.Steps to avoid the weaponization and misuse of new technologies, such as lethal autonomous weapons, and affirmation that the laws of war should apply to many of these new technologies.
On sustainable development, climate and financing for developmentThe entire Pact is designed to turbo-charge implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.The most detailed agreement ever at the United Nations on the need for reform of the international financial architecture so that it better represents and serves developing countries, including: Giving developing countries a greater say in how decisions are taken at international financial institutions;Mobilizing more financing from multilateral development banks to help developing countries meet their development needs;Reviewing the sovereign debt architecture to ensure that developing countries can borrow sustainably to invest in their future, with the IMF, UN, G20 and other key players working together;Strengthening the global financial safety net to protect the poorest in the event of financial and economic shocks, through concrete actions by the IMF and Member States;and accelerating measures to address the challenge of climate change, including through delivering more finance to help countries adapt to climate change and invest in renewable energy.    Improving how we measure human progress, going beyond GDP to capturing human and planetary wellbeing and sustainability.A commitment to consider ways to introduce a global minimum level of taxation on high-net-worth individuals.On climate change, confirmation of the need to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
On digital cooperationThe Global Digital Compact, annexed to the Pact, is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance.At the heart of the Compact is a commitment to design, use and govern technology for the benefit of all. This includes commitments by world leaders to: Connect all people, schools and hospitals to the Internet;Anchor digital cooperation in human rights and international law;Make the online space safe for all, especially children, through actions by governments, tech companies and social media;Govern Artificial Intelligence, with a roadmap that includes an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI;Make data more open and accessible, with agreements on open-source data, models, and standards;This is also the first global commitment to data governance, placing it on the UN agenda and requiring countries to take concrete actions by 2030.
Youth and future generationsThe first ever Declaration on Future Generations, with concrete steps to take account of future generations in our decision-making, including a possible envoy for future generations.A commitment to more meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that shape their lives, especially at the global level.
Human rights and genderA strengthening of our work on human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women.A clear call on the need to protect human rights defenders.Strong signals on the importance of engagement of other stakeholders in global governance, including local and regional governments, civil society, private sector and others.
There are provisions across the Pact and its annexes for follow-up action, to ensure that the commitments made are implemented.

Summit Process
The Summit process and the Pact have been deeply enriched by the contributions of millions of voices and thousands of stakeholders from around the world.

The Summit brought together over 4000 individuals from Heads of State and Government, observers, IGOs, UN System, civil society and non-governmental organizations. In a broader push to increase the engagement of diverse actors, the formal Summit was preceded by the Action Days from 20-21 September, which attracted more than 7,000 individuals representing all segments of society. The Action Days featured strong commitments to action by all stakeholders, as well as pledges of USD 1.05 billion to advance digital inclusion.###
For more information: https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future
Media contacts:
Francyne Harrigan, United Nations Department of Global Communications | harriganf@un.org
Stefania Piffanelli, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations | piffanelli@un.org
Jackquelyn Kay Topacio, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations | jackquelyn.topacio@un.org

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Press Release

20 September 2024

Marginalized youth in Saint Lucia to benefit from enhanced vocational training opportunities

Castries, Saint Lucia: Young persons enrolled at the Center for Adolescent Renewal and Education (C.A.R.E) in Saint Lucia can now benefit from professional training in the field of hospitality, thanks to the official opening of a newly constructed state-of-the-art hospitality and catering block earlier this month.The facility is part of a United Nations project entitled “Upgrading Saint Lucia’s capacity to provide impactful vocational training for marginalized youth”, implemented by the International Labour Organization's (ILO), Decent Work Team in the Caribbean, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training in Saint Lucia. It is funded under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for South-South Cooperation. This initiative is one of several interventions offered by the United Nations Barbados and Eastern Caribbean office, as part of a packaged UN Development System offer to the Government to address its citizen security concerns. Country-level consultations by the UN revealed that the relatively high youth unemployment rate in Saint Lucia contributes to the high levels of crime and violence among youth. Delivering remarks during the recent Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister the Hon. Phillip Pierre commended the efforts of C.A.R.E to provide hope for vulnerable and disadvantaged youth, noting that they are committed to these young people, who most of society had written off. Jada Charles, a current student at care pursuing the Office Skills programme, is elated about the addition to C.A.R.E. She contended that “given the increasing demand by young persons for programmes offered by C.A.R.E., which places added pressure on space availability, the new block will make students more comfortable." Given Saint Lucia's dependence on the tourism sector for economic prosperity, you cannot go wrong with hospitality skills as they are in high demand, Jada added.The opening ceremony was held on September 6, 2024, on the grounds of the newly built facility in Cul de Sac, Castries. This block is the first of a set of buildings that will constitute the evolving C.A.R.E Complex. The complex will be managed by C.A.R.E., in collaboration with the Department of Education. ABOUT C.A.R.E.C.A.R.E., a local NGO, is a community-based voluntary organization established to empower vulnerable and marginalized youth to pursue career aspirations and decent work opportunities. C.A.R.E currently provides technical/vocational, as well as academic training, through courses, for over two hundred students at four centers across the island.

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