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The Sustainable Development Goals 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.
Speech
06 December 2022
RC Trebucq's Welcome Remarks at the UN House Lighting Ceremony to observe 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector – Government of Barbados – The Honourable Colin Jordan
Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs – Government of Barbados, The Honourable Kirk Humphrey
Representative , UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean – Ms. Tonni Brodber
Ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps – Excellencies from the Embassies of Japan, the United States of America, Argentina, Germany, China, and British High Commission
Permanent Secretaries and distinguished representatives of the Government
Development Partners
Civil Society representatives
Colleague Heads of Agencies and staff
Members of the Media
Good evening!
We join millions of women and men worldwide to raise our voices against this terrible and prevalent form of discrimination and violation of human rights.
I extend a special welcome to the Government of Barbados, whom we’re pleased to partner with on this event, along with all our various partners who work with us to fight against this enemy which SG Guterres’ describes as “the world’s longest, deadliest pandemic.”
While it’s gratifying to see the spotlight being placed on this horrific issue, as we commemorate the #16DaysOfActivism under the global theme “UNiTE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls”, the end is far from today’s reality.
Statistics show that one in three (33%) women worldwide have experienced some form of GBV at the hands of their partner at least once in their lifetime. In the Caribbean, its higher with 39% to 55% of women experiencing intimate partner violence, well above the global average. According to ECLAC, there are 12 violent gender related deaths of women every day in Latin America and the Caribbean.
But what the numbers don’t tell, is that there are survivors in all our neighbourhoods. They don’t tell the stories of Sandra, Michelle, Rosie, and the victims who often feel trapped, and afraid of seeking help. Many of these women live in isolation, they feel invisible, and are forced to be silent at the hands of violence and discrimination. They are real, vulnerable people, with disabilities, older age, living in rural backgrounds, or living with HIV.
As we know well, this situation was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave rise to the “shadow pandemic” of GBV. Here in the region, we’ve seen first-hand that partner and family violence comes at a significant cost not just to survivors, but to families, communities and the region together. We see and hear the names, faces and stories that make painful headlines, but it is the stories which go untold that need our attention the most. We have to tell their story and speak out against GBV in all of our spaces.
Unless women and girls thrive, societies as a whole fail to thrive. Together, we have to reach every last woman – as government, women’s organisations and civil society.
They must participate in decision making in all aspects of public life. Barbados is a fantastic example of women in leadership at the top.
The UN continues to envision women as equal and empowered members of society, free of discrimination and violence by 2030. If we’re to truly #LeaveNoOneBehind, let’s act now to address the root causes of violence, change the social norms, work with communities, and prevent.
You can count on our collective UN efforts, using our model of delivering AS ONE, to ensure that countries receive tailored support to meet their needs, and to advance the 2030 Agenda.
Therefore, I commend the Government for its commitment to support the re-launch of the UN Women Partnership for Peace initiative here in Barbados, which we will hear more about later in the programme.
Join me also in publicly recognizing Minister Jordan, a longstanding advocate against GBV, for remaining at the forefront of this pivotal work. (Minster Jordan, your efforts to increase awareness about GBV in the workplace, as evidenced in your championing the Addressing GBV in the Workplace Project in collaboration with UN Women and the ILO in 2020, have not gone unnoticed.)
The EU must also be lauded for its ongoing partnership and significant investment in the Global Spotlight Initiative, boasting protection of girls, particularly adolescent girls, as an important part of the Prevention Pillar.
I’m pleased to report that our Regional Spotlight Initiative and Grenada country programmes are bearing fruit, with Governments and legislators strengthening laws and regulations to better protect women and girls — and providing protection and counselling services for survivors.
Ladies and gentlemen, Caribbean women and girls deserve every opportunity to live fulfilled lives. Eradicating violence against women and girls MUST be everyone’s business.
Educating men and boys is also critical to ending the cycle of violence. We must also empower women and girls to support and speak up for equality, non-violence, respect, and healthy relationships.
I look forward to the outcomes of the re-launched Partnership for Peace initiative in Barbados , as well as our collective efforts to fight for gender equality. Our mothers, wives, children, sisters, friends, and colleagues – should enjoy their place in society in equality and with freedom from violence.
We need your help and commitment to make sure we reach every last woman. Thank you.
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Press Release
05 December 2022
Antigua and Barbuda officially launch SDG Website and Training Course
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, today launched an SDG Website as well as a Training Course for Civil Servants, aimed at promoting awareness and the laying the framework for Government action on the Global Goals.
The website introduces useful tools and resources to support awareness building, while the training is geared towards helping public servants and policy makers to consider their role in achieving the SDGs locally and globally. This dual initiative was made possible with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
In addressing the launch, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Anthony Liverpool gave assurances of Government’s commitment towards localizing the SDGs.
“The need to achieve the sustainable development goals has gained even more prominence and importance in a post covid era as they form the blueprint for recovery, resilience building and the achievement of sustainable economic development.”
Country Coordination Officer of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Officer, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Andrea Andrew also noted in her opening remarks that “The creativity, knowledge, technology, and financial resources from all of society is necessary to achieve the SDGs. She emphasized that the beauty of the sustainable goals is that everyone can contribute, and every contribution, small or big, will make an impact on our world."
This citizen engagement initiative follows Antigua and Barbuda’s successful presentation of its first Voluntary National Report (VNR) to the UN membership at the 2021 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The VNR outlined Government’s progress on SDG-focused policies and programmes under the theme ‘Building Forward Stronger’.
Sustainable development remains the most urgent challenge of our time, particularly for Caribbean Small Island Developing States. While the global economy produces enormous wealth, there is also tremendous inequality, social exclusion, and environmental destruction. The 2030 Agenda, unanimously adopted by UN Member States in 2015, provides guidance for addressing these global challenges.
The Government of Antigua believes that a critical step towards overcoming these challenges and achieving the ambition embodied in the SDGs, to ensure prosperity for people and planet, is to build and nurture SDG capacity and knowledge for public servants.
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Media Contacts:
Carol A. Gaskin
Resident Coordinator Office,
Development Coordination Officer, Programme Communications and Advocacy
Email: carol-ann.gaskin@un.org Tel: +1(246)467-6110; Mobile +1(246)832-6110
Andrea Andrew
Resident Coordinator Office, Country Coordination Officer
Email: andrea.andrew@un.org Tel: 268 720 6192
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Press Release
09 December 2022
New UN Project Launched to Strengthen Data And Policy Solutions To Support Rights-Based Population Policies And Programmes In Barbados And Montserrat
To this end, the Government and people of Barbados and Montserrat will benefit from a new joint programme aimed at improving access to quality, real-time demographic data, and gender analysis, to support evidence-based national sustainable development policies.
The USD$814,000 M Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Fund Joint Programme - “Integrated Population Data and Policy Solutions to Accelerate SDGs Achievement in Barbados and Montserrat” was recently launched during a hybrid ceremony at UN House Barbados.
The two-year Project is being led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, and jointly implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). It aims to strengthen capacity for implementation of rights-based population policies and programmes that integrate evidence on population dynamics, sexual and reproductive health and gender equality and their links to sustainable development.
UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, in delivering welcome remarks noted that one of the major structural issues impeding implementation of the 2030 agenda regionally is the lack of reliable statistical data.
Citing existing gaps ranging from data collection to quality and level of disaggregation according to established SDG criteria, the UN Head maintained that “addressing and closing the gaps identified are essential to ensuring that there is elimination of poverty, inequalities, discrimination, and exclusion, thereby attaining just, gender equitable, and sustainable populations and societies.”
Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs in Barbados, the Hon. Ryan Straughn, in welcoming the initiative, said the joint programme will be a critical part of the Government’s programme in Barbados to revamp the way that they viewed statistics, in terms of real-time capacity to bring meaningful change to decision making.
“This is a very critical intervention at this time. It is timely because as we emerge into a new post-COVD environment, careful attention must be paid to mapping where the most vulnerable populations happen to be and what is required from a social enfranchisement policy perspective, to bring those persons along. This is so that we do not allow the recovery to take place without ensuring that those who have been seriously impacted from the pandemic, can also participate fully as it relates to the economic recovery.”
Premier and Minister of Finance in Montserrat, the Hon. Joseph Farrell, told the gathering small states like Montserrat were disadvantaged by the absence of clean, quality, disaggregated data. He anticipates strengthening data systems for development efforts to ensure that no one is left behind.
“I firmly believe that data is key to opening doors to new opportunities, resources, better programmes, and improved results. As such, I pledge my government’s full support for the implementation of this project as part of our broad engagement and collaboration with the United Nations towards progress of the Sustainable Development Goals, he assured.
Representative of UN Women Multi-Country office – Caribbean, Tonni Brodber, said UN Women’s focus in this joint programme was a critical one - to increase recognition and valuing of unpaid care and domestic work, which constitutes almost half of the total global work time.
“No country in CARICOM has data to measure unpaid domestic and care work. Absence of data on this means that women’s work and contribution to the economy will remain unrecognized. With support from the UN Women MCO-Caribbean, countries, including Barbados and Montserrat, will be gaining skills and knowledge how to collect and analyse this critical data,” she explained, while noting that “ addressing the gendered imbalance of unpaid care work is urgent business.
Officer-in-Charge, UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, Jewell Quallo-Rosberg, told the forum, UNFPA continues to advocate for the use of population data and gender statistics to “lift the cloak of invisibility from persons most vulnerable to discrimination and inequality.”
She added that population data would also help beneficiary Governments to plan for development and better respond to crises, including natural disasters. “Everything we do is based upon solid data and evidence – because you can’t change what you can’t see. To get to zero, we need to identify and reach those most in need. Quality population data and evidence can help us get there.”
Also addressing the ceremony were other implementing partner Government representatives Mrs. Annette Weekes, Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs and Investment Division of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment, Barbados, Mr. Kenya Lee, Deputy Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic management, Montserrat and Ms. Deonne Semple, Director, Planning and Policy Division, Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, Montserrat.
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Media Contacts:
Carol-Ann Gaskin, Development Coordination Officer, Programme Communications and Advocacy
UN Resident Coordinator Office; Email: carol-ann.gaskin@un.org: Telephone: 1(246) 467-6110
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Press Release
15 September 2022
Second UN Common Premises opened in the Eastern Caribbean
Addressing a ceremony to mark the inauguration of the new facility, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq, said it marked a significant steppingstone in operationalizing of the UN Reform for the UN Multi-Country Office, and signified the ushering of a new dawn in delivering as ONE UN in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
He noted that the facility currently housed the UN’s Country Coordination Officer, an extension of the Resident Coordinator Office, a newly recruited UNICEF Programme Coordinator and a UN Women Project Analyst. He added that they expected to soon see the placement of additional personnel for UN Women that would greatly assist with increased coordination among the UN agencies, and more tailored support to the government and other stakeholders.
“At a time of great disruption and uncertainty, this inauguration reminds us of our Common Agenda, the value of multilateralism…the importance of working together to prioritize the special and differential needs of the most vulnerable countries and ensure that the rights of those most at risk are provided for and protected,” Mr. Trebucq stated.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Hon. Senator Keisal Peters, described the proceedings as a prodigious moment in the partnership between the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the United Nations. She noted that
“today’s opening of the UN Common Premises in St. Vincent and the Grenadines further speaks to the responsiveness and the importance of repositioning of the UN Development System. Reflecting the purpose of enhancing cooperation, coherence and efficiency.”
The inauguration ceremony was held in the UN Common Premises on the 1st Floor of the National Insurance Services Building. Among the attendees were ministers of government, members of the diplomatic corps, and other resident UN officers. Mr Roberto Valent, Regional Director, Development Coordination Office, Latin America and the Caribbean and Mr Regis Chapman, Representative and Country Director, WFP also participated in the ceremony.
The celebration of the new UN Common Premises came as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the wider region embarks on the new five-year UN Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF). Immediately following the launch of the new facility, the Resident Coordinator, joined Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in Cabinet for the signing of the Country Implementation Plan for St. Vincent and the Grenadines that operationalizes the new five-year MSDCF. The CIP is intended to guide the planning and implementation of UN development activities in country towards the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda and national development priorities.
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Press Release
10 November 2022
Joint SDF Fund: Resilient livelihoods and food security through data, digitalization and sectoral linkages to be implemented
The Joint Programme (JP) aims to contribute to resilient livelihoods and food security through data, digitalization and sectoral linkages. The two (2) year JP will draw on the power of data, information systems and sectoral linkages to mitigate the impacts of climate change and related shocks at the household, community and national levels, promote and protect food security, livelihoods and strengthen resilience in a gender-responsive manner.
The JP will simultaneously improve the awareness and access of vulnerable people and communities to available social protection programmes and agriculture risk management practices/ technologies and help them to make better choices by accessing more information and knowledge.
Specifically, the anticipated results of the JP are:
1. Communities most vulnerable to impacts of climate change benefit from improved early warning, risk and vulnerability data and geospatial information systems, which include linkages to agricultural, disaster risk management and social protection policies, systems and financing.
2. Digital data systems, assessments and national registries on farmers, fishers and vulnerable households are enhanced, including protocols for their use in the event of shocks in order to advance and protect livelihoods, food security and development/recovery gains and ensure no one is left behind.
3. Some of the most vulnerable farmer/fisher households enhance their resilience and food security through improved linkages between agricultural and social protection sectors, expanded market and climate information services, improved farm/fisher data, and more inclusive risk management practices (including diversification), which consider differentiated opportunities, risks and impacts facing women and men.
The regional partners of the project includes The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), The Caribbean Agricultural Development Institute (CARDI), The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), and the University of West Indies (UWI) system.
Meanwhile, the executing agencies include The World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, while the National Coordinating Authorities are the Ministry of Blue and Green Economy Agriculture and National Food Security in the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, and Ministry of Mobilization, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Youth, Housing, and Human Settlement in the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
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For more information, please contact:
Carla Alleyne, WFP Caribbean Multi-Country Office, Carla.alleyne@wfp.org, +1 246 467 8085.
Marquita Sugrim, FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, MarquitaJuanne.Sugrim@fao.org, +1 246 262-7044.
Carol A. Gaskin, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, Carol-ann.gaskin@un.org,+ 1 246 467-6110
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Story
23 December 2022
UN Human Rights Day 2022 A Success
This analogy, shared by a leading Barbadian disability rights advocate, aptly encapsulated the sentiment of the evening, as the United Nations Barbados and Eastern Caribbean and the Government of Barbados, joined by activists and partners, jointly celebrated Human Rights Day 2022.
In her contribution to the Panel Discussion on the topic “Inclusion to Ensure Fairer Societies for Present and Future Generations” held at UN House on December 12, two days after the global Human Rights Day observance, Former Government Senator and representative of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Kerry-Ann Ifill, said this ‘invitation to dance’ was critical as there were “pockets of exclusion in every facet of everyday life”.
“To include us, you do so by ensuring that our needs are met and, most importantly, that our opinions are valid,” she passionately implored the gathering of Ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society representatives, Government officials, and UN officials.
During the hybrid event, panelists representing the LGBTQI community, persons with disabilities, the elderly, Indigenous people, and other marginalized groups, were united in the call for change and more meaningful inclusion, which resonated with the inter-generational audience.
Marilyn-Rice Bowen, President of the Barbados Association for Retired Persons, strongly appealed for seniors to be invited to sit at the table and for their views and opinions heard. She also underscored the importance of participating in inter-generational fora, which would help to build a stronger community.
“We too have rights, and our rights should not be trampled. We need to be included and we need to feel a part of the whole,” she maintained.
Speaking on behalf of all marginalized groups, and in particular members of the LGBTIQ community, Michael Rapley, Founder and Chair of EQUALS, dismissed the notion that inclusion of marginalized individuals or groups, would only benefit them, charging that diversity and inclusion benefits the wider society.
He also raised the issue of limited data on marginalized groups, which could adversely impact efforts of inclusion.
“How do you include a population that is excluded because you do not capture the information on them? There is exclusion in terms of collecting data – therefore we do not know who is out there and who needs to be protected,” he lamented.
Joining online from Dominica, Ferdison Valmond, Youth Activist and President of the Kalinago Inspirators Youth Group, noted that inclusivity wrought many positive benefits to society including productivity and access to resources.
“I believe that in order to achieve inclusiveness, you have to create a society in which we allow these voices of all individuals and groups to be heard and their needs met – not only some…,” the youth advocate charged, noting that when inclusiveness is accomplished – stability will be maintained and the change that is needed to embrace it.
He further noted that when inclusiveness is accomplished, stability will be maintained. He gave an example of more resources being given to the Kalinago people to combat climate change and to boost resiliency as a result of inclusion efforts.
UN Affirms Commitment to Human Rights agenda
In addressing the forum, UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq noted that during the past year, the UN had contributed with Governments and other stakeholders in several areas directly related to human rights from support to strengthening social protection systems, to addressing the need for more resilient and sustainable food systems, and providing support to the development of legislation and policies on women, persons with disabilities , children and youth amongst others.
“As United Nations, we are very committed to ensuring that our work makes a difference in the exercise of all human rights by women and men of all ages, and notably, those who are at risk of being marginalized. And while we have taken very positive steps to create a space for the voice of youth, with the creation of the Youth Advisory Group, or with women through different reference groups with civil society that have been created , we also recognize that there is still more to be done,” Mr. Trebucq contended.
The UN Head assured that moving forward in 2023, the UN was determined to further its work with various groups including persons with disabilities, migrants or refugees, the elderly and LGBTQI people.
Government calls for greater awareness of shared humanity
Minister of Labour, Social security and the Third Sector in Barbados, the Hon. Colin Jordan, a well-known human rights advocate, in delivering the Feature Address, said he was happy to have been invited by the UN to co-host the commemorative activities, and underscored the need for greater awareness of the human element when addressing the issue of rights.
“It is important for us to remember that we are taking primarily about human beings. I say this because my lived experience does not suggest that everybody recognizes that we are all human beings. It is unfortunate, but it is a reality, and it is a reality that we all ought to face. This is why on days like Human Rights Day we ought to reinforce that we are talking about the rights of people just like us – people who may look different, sound different …but who are connected by our fundamental humanity and that is something that we ought not to lose sight of."
He maintained that the Universal declaration of Human Rights ought to be the foundation upon which we build. “I look forward to us continuing to build sense among our people, and all people that we are all human beings, that we are all part of the human family, that we deserve respect and we deserve to be able to express ourselves as we consider fit within the context of good order in our countries.”
The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Nicole Foster, Head of Law Research Unit at the University of the West Indies, also evoked discussion on myriad solutions to foster inclusion including teaching the value of inclusion from a very young age, disability sensitization training, providing greater access to employment and digital information for persons with disabilities, removal of ageism as it relates to employment , and access to data and information on marginalized groups.
A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of a contemporary artistic piece by Painter Alisha Smith, that seeks to highlight the multi-faceted nature of humanity, and the fact that, as individuals ,we are all more than our jobs, disabilities, sexual orientation, race, gender or any other defining characteristics. The piece, which also stimulated much discussion, mirrors a Human Rights Day social media campaign launched by the UN in the lead up to this year’s observance. Plans are in train to have the piece eventually displayed at UN House as well as at the Ministry of Labour.
Following the formal proceedings, partners gathered in the foyer at UN House for a Cocktail Reception to continue this important discussion, a fitting forerunner to a planned launch of a year-long awareness campaign to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2023.
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Story
09 January 2023
Vulnerable Families To Receive Hampers From World Food Programme
Working in conjunction with the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, the WFP is providing food hampers to some of the most vulnerable households in Barbados impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising cost of living.
This was revealed during a press briefing with Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, and Representative for the Caribbean Multi-Country Office of the WFP, Regis Chapman, at the Ministry’s Warrens Office Complex recently.
Minister Humphrey stressed the donation was not a Christmas hamper given by the Government of Barbados to people, but food items which were purchased by the WFP and prepositioned ahead of the hurricane season.
“The role of the Ministry was just to provide the personnel names to be able to allow them to reach the persons who need support the most. So, we took a look at our most vulnerable list. The majority of names came from the Welfare list, and would therefore be legitimate persons who are in need,” he said.
The Minister made it clear this was not a case where persons could call the Ministry and be added to the list.
“This…is meant to support those families during a very challenging time in Barbados. So, we are extremely grateful to the World Food Programme,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chapman explained that the WFP sought to support the 22 countries it covered in a multi-hazard environment with the easy access to food items. He added that a decision was made to pre-purchase a limited amount of food kits to be able to quickly dispatch from Barbados to impacted populations.
However, he noted that there were no significant impacts in the Caribbean this year, and a decision was taken to support the Government and People of Barbados where its office is hosted, to re-condition the food items purchased into food hampers for vulnerable populations.
“There has been a lot of coordination with the Ministry of People Empowerment. They have helped us to identify vulnerable households,” Mr. Chapman said.
Adding that the intention was to “ease the burden of the households,” he said, the cost of living for some was becoming more difficult.
Funding for the purchase, transport and distribution of the food items was provided by Germany to the value of 500,000 euros. The food stuff was purchased in Barbados, and includes items such as rice, pasta, oats, peas, tuna, sardines, corn beef and mixed vegetables.
WFP trucks are expected to deliver the food items to vulnerable families in the coming weeks to provide support at Christmas and into the New Year.
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Story
09 December 2022
UN House Ablaze in Orange to Symbolize A Future Free of Violence
UN House in Barbados has been transformed into a beautiful orange glow, calling attention to the hundreds of women who suffer in silence and shame, and demonstrating the commitment by the UN and partners, to continue to fight to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
The transformation came as members of the UN Sub-regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, joined by Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, civil society representatives, development partners, and representatives of the Government of Barbados, participated in a Sunset Lighting Ceremony to observe 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.
The ceremony, held in partnership with the Government of Barbados, and under the technical leadership of UN Women Multi-Country Office - Caribbean, had as its highlight the commitment by both parties to the re-launch of the UN Women Partnership for Peace Programme in Barbados. The anti-violence initiative has been successfully running in the Caribbean for more than 15 years.
Addressing the gathering, UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, said while it was gratifying to see the spotlight being placed on the horrific issue of Gender-based Violence as they joined millions around the globe to observe the #16DaysOfActivism under the global theme “UNiTE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls”, “the end was “far from today’s reality.”
In this regard, the RC cited daunting statistics of one in three women worldwide or 39 to 55% of those in the Caribbean experiencing intimate partner violence, with 12 violent gender-related deaths of women daily in Latin America and the Caribbean, as reported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
“But what the numbers don’t tell, is that there are survivors in all our neighbourhoods. They don’t tell the stories of Sandra, Michelle, Rosie, and the victims who often feel trapped, and afraid of seeking help. Many of these women live in isolation, they feel invisible, and are forced to be silent at the hands of violence and discrimination,” Mr. Trebucq lamented, adding: “Unless women and girls thrive, societies as a whole fail to thrive. Together, we must reach every woman.”
Minister of Labour, Social Partnership Relations and the Third sector in Barbados, the Hon. Colin Jordan, a longstanding gender advocate, told the gathering his Ministry was “committed to addressing the vexing issue,” of Gender-based violence.
“We believe that addressing Gender-based Violence in the workplace will have a great impact in the wider community,” he maintained.
In delivering remarks, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean, Ms. Tonni Brodber said GBV is a human rights issue, which has “unfortunately been normalized in society.”
Underscoring the need for reliable data that is ethically collected, she noted that statistics show that women are the main victims of violence, and that boys or girls who face corporal punishment and witness their mothers being abused, themselves go on to be either victims or perpetrators of such.
Ms. Brodber, told the gathering the UN was excited to work with the Government of Barbados for the re-launch of the Partnership for Peace Programme in Barbados which would start next year, noting that the initiative had been ongoing in the Caribbean for over 15 years, with low recidivism rates for violent offenders, particularly in Grenada.
The UN Women Head expressed a desire to see a world where: “Everyone has equal access to resources, opportunities, justice, and ability to fulfil their potential. Better ways to love and lose without violence.”
In his Feature Address Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, The Hon. Kirk Humphrey gave a personal and first-hand account of growing up in an impoverished neighbourhood, where himself and many of his peers witnessed their mothers and sisters being victims of domestic abuse at the hands of intimate partners, including their stepfathers.
Minister Humphrey cautioned against looking at the fact that the Prime Minister and President of Barbados were female, as well as many other Government Ministers, and believing that “everything is alright,” since these numbers were disproportionate.
“In these times, when you have been a Minister long enough, or a diplomat long enough, we forget that we are mere mortals, that we too are human,” he charged, pledging Government’s full commitment to work with the UN and other partners to address the scourge of GBV and support the many vulnerable women living with this horror daily.
Following the formal proceedings, guests moved to the outside to witness the Lighting Up of the building and the environs. UN House will remain illuminated until December 10, Human Rights Day, which also marks the end of the 16 Days of Activism, which commences on November 25 annually.
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Media Contacts:
Carol-Ann Gaskin, Development Coordination Officer, Programme Communications and Advocacy
UN Resident Coordinator Office; Email: carol-ann.gaskin@un.org: Telephone: 1(246) 467-6110
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29 November 2022
Government Of Barbados Signs Country Implementation Plan with The United Nations
It will guide the planning and implementation of country-specific UN development activities under the umbrella of the UN’s five-year regional Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF).
The CIP will operationalize the outcomes of the MSDCF at the country level, in fulfilment of the Government’s national priorities and in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda.
UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Mr. Didier Trebucq and Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Ryan Straughn, signed the accord on Friday at UN House, during a ceremony to launch a new UN Joint Programme for Barbados and Montserrat.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Mr. Trebucq said that he was pleased to sign the 2022 – 2023 CIP for Barbados since he believes that under the aegis of broader five-year regional Cooperation Framework, the associated two-year agreement would provide a very comprehensive roadmap to deliver on the commitment and support of the United Nations as a whole, towards Barbados’ national priorities and the SDGs.
He told the gathering: “This CIP is going to support Barbados in four areas – first, in its transition to a digital knowledge-based economy; second, it will support the continuous improvement of social protection systems and also strengthen data capacity toward resilient recovery; it will also support integrated policy for climate change, disaster risk reduction and access to climate financing; and finally, support comprehensive programming for expanding agricultural productivity and ensuring food security.”
The UN Head further observed that the staging of the CIP signing, within the framework of the new Joint Programme launch, was a practical demonstration of how Barbados and the UN Development System, is pursuing more tailored development cooperation that seeks to improve the lives and livelihoods of all Barbadians and is also a direct result of UN Development System Reform, and the UN system’s new model of cooperation.
In addressing the forum, Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ryan Straughn said Barbados was pleased to sign the Country Implementation Plan with the support of the UN system as the country emerged into a post-COVID-19 environment.
“The past three years of the pandemic have resulted in a stalling of the development trajectory and therefore the attainment of the SDGs by 2030. As Barbados takes fresh guard, we are pleased to work with the UN to ensure that those most vulnerable in our society can fully participate in the recovery” he underlined.
The Barbados CIP was developed through extensive consultation with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and other key stakeholders to ensure alignment with the country’s national development priorities.
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For further Information please contact:
Carol A. Gaskin
Programme Communications and Advocacy Officer
UN Resident Coordinator Office
carol-ann.gaskin@un.org ; 1(246)832-6110
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Story
11 November 2022
Resident Coordinator Advocates for Climate Financing for SIDS at COP27
In alignment with the UN Development System Reform mandate for Resident Coordinators to lead efforts on strategic priority issues towards attainment of the SDGs, Mr. Trebucq joined counterpart Savina Ammassari, Resident Coordinator for Gabon, for the first in a series of Fireside Chats, this one addressing climate finance, with a focus on Gabon and Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.
Making the case for scaled-up support for Caribbean SIDS during the moderated discussion held at the SDG Pavilion, Mr. Trebucq cited inadequate resources for climate finance, high costs of doing business, impracticability of current instruments for small states, and lack of data and capacities as among the key challenges and bottlenecks facing developing countries.
“When it comes to climate change and natural disasters, the Caribbean as a region, is significantly more exposed that other SIDS, with a higher cost to recover. In 2017, the cost of the hurricane season to the Caribbean Countries was US$ 13 billion. Global finance flows are not matching this reality. The most recent calculations shows that the world is behind the 100 billion target. For SIDS, it is even more dramatic. Globally we saw an increase of 27% for LDCs between 2017 and 2019. However, SIDS saw the level of climate finance directed at them peak in 2018, and reverted to 2017 levels in 2019,” he explained.
Against this backdrop, he fully endorsed the Mia Mottley-led Bridgetown Initiative with proposals for widening eligibility, expanding MDB lending for climate , funding loss and damage, and making the system more shock absorbent , for instance by including pandemic and disaster clauses in MDB lending.
“If developing countries had these during COVID, it would have released 1 trillion of liquidity, twice their spending on COVID-19,” he maintained.
Giving some insight into the UN’s response to the region’s challenges, Mr. Trebucq told national delegations as well as civil society, business organisations in attendance, efforts were placed on advocacy, developing global and local tools, and supporting governments to address challenges through piloting and scaling innovative approaches.
“The UN supports the countries in the Caribbean to advocate for increased access to climate finance in line with the Bridgetown Initiative and calls from member states for a Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index to better measure vulnerability, produce data, evidence and analysis on the situation of SIDS and facilitate SIDS issues on the international agenda,” he explained.
On the matter of innovative programming the RC identified efforts to link social protection systems with climatic shocks, specifically referencing a WFP pilot project in Dominica in 2021, that is contributing $300,000 over two years to scale up access to disaster risk financing to assist the most vulnerable. He also cited the Caribbean Resilience Fund, a financing mechanism to spur economic recovery, build resilience and enhance liquidity, the $10M Blue Economy Investment Facility, developed to support blue economy projects across the Eastern Caribbean, and a new Joint Programme on Innovative Finance aimed at establishing a centre of excellence for innovative finance together with the Caribbean Development Bank.
In addressing the role of Resident Coordinators, to help to scale-up climate finance and accelerate progress in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, Mr. Trebucq said RCs played a “crucial role” in amplifying the voices of countries they served, creating, and sustaining dialogue on climate finance, raising ambition on the SDGs, innovating, and taking projects to scale and leveraging assets and expertise from the UN Development System.
“When we think of innovative financing mechanisms and solutions it is not just about increasing access but also improving the efficiency and effectiveness of existing and new finance so that this can have a greater development impact. Using the convening power of the UN, as RCs we are well placed to bring in a wider audience around the table to come up with joint solutions,” he concluded.
The other RC Fireside Chats addressed Youth and Future Generations; Decarbonisation; Agriculture and Adaptation; Water; Biodiversity; and Solutions.
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Press Release
05 December 2022
Resident Coordinator's Message on International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022
This year’s theme of “Transformative Solutions and the Role of Innovation for an Accessible World” is quite apt, as practical accommodations to everyday life often play a crucial role in helping to overcome physical and social barriers.
Sign language, braille signs, ramps, accessible messages in social media, are just a few of the essential accommodations needed to ensure that persons of all ages living with disabilities feel included and are easily able to access to information, services, and facilities.
In 2018, the UN Secretary General championed a UN Disability Inclusion Strategy to support States in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This strategy permeates all aspects of the UN’s work - in peace, security, development, and human rights. Persons with disabilities are also one of the priority groups in our new UN Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-26 which provides a blueprint for our work and partnership in the region.
Several UN agencies working in this region are supporting Governments in public policy development, capacity building, data analysis and public information campaigns, notably in relation to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities. However, there is still room for Governments, for us in the UN, for development partners and the private sector, to amplify these efforts and to expand opportunities for development of innovative ideas and initiatives to better serve those who those who need them most.
For instance, there is a growing demand for new uses of technologies, for a different approach to urban planning and architecture, for diverse working and living arrangements, for social protection that can benefit persons with disabilities. There is also ample need and interest in looking more closely at how schools, hospitals, or public institutions are set up or function.
But this is not enough. One of the most transformative solutions for inclusion and accessibility does not require a particular technology, design of policy in place. It requires a change in our perceptions and attitudes towards persons with disabilities. Genuine innovation requires that all of us become agents of change. It is a transformation of our understanding of human diversity and of the wide range of capacities and abilities that all persons bring to society. It is an evolution towards a human -rights approach to perspective of disabilities.
The inclusion of persons with disabilities is a priority for the UN. Ensuring participation and visibility of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life enriches our families, our communities, and our organizations. It brings us closer to the aspirations of a fairer society and to a more complete understanding of humanity in all its complexity.
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Press Release
05 December 2022
UN Supports St. Lucia to Accelerate SDG Progress
A hybrid 2-day workshop, organized by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Department of Sustainable Development in the Government of Saint Lucia, was recently convened in Castries, Saint Lucia, with participation from over 50 officials from various levels including Government ministers, academia, civil society personnel and representatives of the United Nations.
The high-level meeting was designed to meet two critical objectives – to review the 2022-2023 UN Country Implementation Plan for Saint Lucia and to discuss the findings of a consultancy to reinvigorate the SDG National Coordinating Committee (SDGNCC). Within the context of the CIP, the SDGNCC is the primary mechanism responsible for planning, monitoring and implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Saint Lucia and for CIP progress review.
During the CIP review, the UN Country Coordination Officer for Saint Lucia, Dr. Lorraine Nicholas, presented the collective results of the UN Development System in Saint Lucia for 2022, with analytical reference to Saint Lucia’s progress towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. This session also afforded government officials and UN agencies the opportunity to share and discuss good practices, lessons learnt, implementation challenges and success stories.
In delivering Opening Remarks to the technical workshop, Mr. Kenroy Roach, Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean urged the SDGNCC, to not simply exist, but more importantly to function effectively.
He noted: “it is critical that this committee is fully functional. And it is for this reason that the UN without hesitation, came on board to support its reinvigoration”.
Meanwhile, Minister with responsibility for Sustainable Development, Hon. Shawn Edwards, in addressing the policy session attended by ministerial colleagues and Permanent Secretaries, emphasized the importance of coordination for SDG achievement. Whilst observing that the SDG portfolio resided within his ministry, he maintained, “no one ministry, no one agency has full responsibility for the SDGs and the only way Saint Lucia can effectively attain the goals is if we work collaboratively.”
Mr. Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, also addressed Ministers and other senior officials of the Government, noting that “while the SDGs may not have traditionally been considered a priority, given the presence of pressing “bread and butter” national issues, “increasingly, we are recognizing the nexus between these global goals and national development”.
He, therefore, encouraged the policymakers to prioritize sustainable development issues, including the system for monitoring SDG progress, noting that their guidance on how this mechanism could be best configured and positioned is vital, since it could potentially “pave the way for increased implementation assistance from interested UN agencies to support your government with SDG acceleration”.
Workshop participants also had the opportunity to review and validate the findings of a consultancy to provide technical assistance to Saint Lucia to strengthen the SDG coordinating mechanism, to improve its functionality. Supported by the United Nations Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Multi-Country Office, key recommendations for its reinvigoration included institutional strengthening to include better representation; increased resource mobilization for SDG coordination; strategic alignment of SDGs with key policies and strategies; strengthened data management aligned to the SDG framework; and enforced commitments to international agreements.
The face -to-face element of the workshop was held at the Bel Jou Hotel, Saint Lucia on two separate days for technical and ministerial personnel. Officials ranged from a cross-section of agencies including the Office of the Prime Minister, the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College; and respectively, the Department of: Audit, Gender Affairs, Economic Development, Physical Development, Health, Forestry, Fisheries, Water Resource Management, Tourism, Equity.
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For further Information please contact:
Carol A. Gaskin, Programme Communications and Advocacy Officer
UN Resident Coordinator Office
carol-ann.gaskin@un.org ; 1(246)832-6110
Dr. Lorraine Nicholas, UN Country Coordination Officer – Saint Lucia
UN Resident Coordination Office
Lorraine.nicholas@un.org ; 1(758)730- 0771
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Press Release
16 November 2022
UN Convenes Development Partners Meeting to Strengthen Development Assistance to Saint Lucia
A hybrid Development Partners Roundtable Discussion, organized by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Government of Saint Lucia, was recently convened in Castries, Saint Lucia, with participation from Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Pierre, and over 50 high-level officials, including key development partners, permanent secretaries and other senior Government personnel.
Held under the theme: “Leveraging Partnerships to Collectively Respond to Challenges”, the forum sought to strengthen the tripartite relationship between the Government, Development Partners, and the United Nations, to improve the delivery of development assistance to Saint Lucia, reduce implementation bottlenecks, and stimulate SDG progress.
It provided donor Governments including the United Kingdom, United States of America, European Union and Canada, and development organisations including the World Bank, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) , Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an opportunity to discuss first-hand Saint Lucia’s newly developed 2021-2026 Medium-Term Development Strategy, and promote a common understanding of the Government’s development priorities.
In delivering Opening Remarks, Prime Minister Pierre urged development partners, to be mindful of the uniqueness of Saint Lucia, noting that whilst the Caribbean may be regarded as one space, every island, even in the OECS, is different. “One size does not fit all,” he cautioned, while calling for the provision of more efficient support to crisis victims, particularly the most vulnerable, thereby minimizing the bottlenecks to access funding.
Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Renata Clarke, in addressing the forum noted that the discussion was timely given the myriad development challenges facing Caribbean SIDS, which have been exacerbated by the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, the Triple Crisis of food, energy and finance. While commending the Government for meeting these challenges head on, she warned: “You simply cannot overcome them alone.”
The UN head emphasized that the situation demanded that stronger and more strategic partnerships be formed, through robust bi-lateral and multi-lateral dialogue, and concerted efforts to bring all parties to the table.
“We all recognize that Development Assistance is not a straightforward process with one-size-fits-all solutions. You can be assured of the UN’s continued commitment to the Government and people of Saint Lucia, to provide more integrated programming, to increase advocacy for SIDS, and to mobilize key resources to enhance resilience and protect the most vulnerable.”
The forum also provided an opportunity for the Saint Lucia Government to learn more about planned and ongoing development interventions in-country, including initiatives outlined in the UN Country Implementation Plan for Saint Lucia, which could be leveraged as a means to address national priorities with support from all development partners and International Financing Institutions.
Ultimately, the dialogue stimulated discussion aimed at ensuring better alignment of national priorities and development partners’ interventions, whilst ensuring that development assistance contributed to the acceleration of Saint Lucia’s achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Officer for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Kenroy Roach, closed the meeting noting the commitment of the UN to address Saint Lucia’s priority needs and sustain the dialogue. He welcomed the agreement among partners to explore how to work together to provide more targeted support to the government on key priorities such as the Youth Economy, capacity building to strengthen data and statistics, and enhancing access to development financing, and a proposal to continue the dialogue under the framework of Saint Lucia’s National Sustainable Development Goals Coordinating Committee.
The face -to-face element of the development partners coordinating meeting was held at the Harbor Club Hotel, Rodney Bay Saint Lucia. Overall, participants included senior staff of the Government of Saint Lucia, including Permanent Secretaries and Development Partners.
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For further Information please contact:
Carol A. Gaskin
Programme Communications and Advocacy Officer
UN Resident Coordinator Office
carol-ann.gaskin@un.org; 1 (246) 832 6110
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Press Release
17 September 2022
United Nations Announces 17 New Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals
Every two years, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth recognizes 17 young change-makers who are leading efforts to combat the world's most pressing issues and whose leadership is catalyzing the achievement of the SDGs. Since launching in 2016, the initiative has collectively reached millions of young people around the world.
Following an open call for applications earlier this year, which resulted in more than
5,400 applications from over 190 countries, this next cohort of Young Leaders for the SDGs hail from all corners of the world and work across all pillars of the UN, including sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security.
The group — who are all between the ages of 17 and 29 years old — includes an aspiring astronaut, medical doctor and fashion designer, Paralympic medalist, poet, artists, climate entrepreneurs, peacebuilders, gender justice advocates, and education innovators, among others.
“The 2022 class of Young Leaders for the SDGs represents an incredibly diverse, intersectional and inspirational group of young people who reflect the very best of global youth activism and advocacy when it comes to challenging the status quo and creating a better world for all,” said Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. “Even amidst the ongoing pandemic, climate crisis and global instability, these young people demonstrate immense resilience, resourcefulness and leadership in finding innovative solutions to the world’s biggest challenges.” The 2022 Class of Young Leaders for the SDGs include:
Mayada Adil (Sudanese refugee based in France; 29 years old; she/her);
Fashion Designer, Medical Doctor & Co-Founder of La Loupe Creative
Alyssa Carson (USA; 21 years old; she/her): Aspiring Astronaut & Girls in STEM
Advocate
Okan Dursun (Turkey; 26 years old; he/him): Education and Social Entrepreneur
& Co-Founder of Twin Science & Robotics
Emmanuel Ganse (Benin; 24 years old; he/him): Civic and Digital Rights
Campaigner & President of Tonafa Institute
Richa Gupta (India; 26 years old; she/her): Education Innovator, Social
Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of Labhya Foundation
Jamal Hill (USA; 27 years old; he/him): Paralympic Medalist, Disability Rights
Advocate & Founder of Swim Up Hill Foundation
Varaidzo (Vee) Kativhu (Zimbabwe/UK; 24 years old; she/her): Education
Activist, YouTuber & Founder of Empowered by Vee
Gibson Kawago (Tanzania; 27 years old; he/him): Climate Entrepreneur &
Founder of WAGA
Ronelle King (Barbados; 29 years old; she/her): Gender Justice Activist &
Founder of Life in Leggings
Luísa Franco Machado (Brazil; 23 years old; she/they): Digital Rights & Data
Justice Activist
Paul Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe; 23 years old; he/him): HIV/AIDS Advocate & Radio
Champion at Zvandiri
Karimot Odebode (Nigeria; 27 years old; she/her): Poet, Gender Equality
Activist & Founder of Black Girl’s Dream
Leonardo Párraga (Colombia; 29 years old; he/they): Peace Advocate, Artist &
Founder of Fundación BogotArt
Isidora Guzmán Silva (Chile; 17 years old; she/her): Inclusion and Disability
Rights Activist & Founder of Encuentra tu Lugar
Eddy Frank Vasquez (Dominican Republic; 26 years old; he/him): Climate
Activist & Founder of Jeventud Sostenible
Hanyuan (Karen) Wang (China; 26 years old; she/her): Climate Tech
Entrepreneur, Researcher & Founding Member of Carbonbase
Heela Yoon (Afghan refugee based in the UK; 24 years old; she/her): Peace
Advocate & Founder of Afghan Youth Ambassadors for Peace
A High-Level Selection Committee, composed of a group of influential leaders — representing national governments, civil society, the entertainment industry, private sector, and beyond — provided invaluable inputs and feedback as part of the selection process. The Selection Committee included: Connor Franta (Social Media Influencer,
Artist and Author), Sônia Guajajara (Indigenous Activist and Politician), Richard Curtis (Screenwriter, Director and Founder of Project Everyone), Adam Met (Member of AJR and Executive Director of Planet Reimagined), H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui (UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs), and Nikhil Taneja (Co-Founder and CEO of Yuvaa), among others.
More information on the Young Leaders for the SDGs, including the full profiles of the Young Leaders and their commitments to advancing the SDGs, is available at www.un.org/youthenvoy/2022class.
About the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth
In 2017, the UN Secretary-General appointed Jayathma Wickramanayake of Sri Lanka as his Special Envoy on Youth and as the youngest senior official in the history of the organization.
Ms. Wickramanayake's mandate is to harmonize the UN system efforts on youth development, enhance the UN response to youth needs, advocate for the development needs and rights of young people, as well as to bring the work of the United Nations on youth closer to them. The Envoy on Youth also acts as the advisor to and the representative of the Secretary-General on youth related matters.
For more information, follow @UNYouthEnvoy on social media and visit our website at un.org/youthenvoy.
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Press Release
14 September 2022
Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus Tools for enhanced climate resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean, one of the priority items during World Water Week
Around the Caribbean and Latin America, the need to focus on the full value of water to society is becoming increasingly important, like in the rest of the world, as the resource continues to face supply and demand challenges. Raising awareness on this was a central goal of the ‘’Focus on the Americas’’ sessions at the Stockholm International Water Institute’s World Water Week held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 24 August to 1 September 2022, in a hybrid online/in-person format.
In this context, the FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean (FAOSLC) joined forces with the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Organization of American States (OAS), RTI International and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to showcase regional examples of promising WEFE nexus tools for better decision-making across the board. Bringing to light water’s full value for Latin American and Caribbean societies requires finding innovative ways to address competing sectoral interests and ensure equitable resource allocation.
Jacinto Buenfil, Policy Officer for Environment and Climate Change at FAOSLC and Coordinator of the Mexico-CARICOM-FAO Initiative ‘’Cooperation for Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change in the Caribbean’’, participated in a panel discussion on the efficient use of water and climate data to inform cross-sectorial decision-making, and shared related lessons from the ongoing Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus project in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, and St. Kitts and Nevis. Agri-food systems within these small island developing states are highly challenged with the dwindling availability of renewable freshwater resources and the strong dependency on imported fossil fuels to meet the rising energy demand.
Buenfil explained that the South-South cooperation project, funded by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), supports beneficiary countries to implement climate-resilient solutions and practices, including water and energy efficient irrigation systems for small-scale agriculture, as well as data collection tools and decision support systems for policy makers to enhance water and food security in the Caribbean.
In her opening remarks for the session, Gloria Sandoval, General Director for the Execution of Projects Abroad at AMEXCID, reinforced Mexico’s commitment to help improve living conditions in the insular Caribbean and increase resilience of the most vulnerable populations, stressing that ‘’Mexico is and will continue to be deeply supportive of the sister countries that make up our region.’’
During his presentation, Buenfil introduced the audience to the AGRI (AGua para RIego – Water for Irrigation) World Sources tool, a web-based decision-support platform. AGRI was developed by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), now part of the Alliance of Bioversity International, with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and technical collaboration with FAO’s Investment Centre (CFI) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The platform, designed for technicians and institutional decision-makers, facilitates the planning and design of reservoirs and irrigation systems for small farms. It helps to identify suitable sites for rainwater harvesting or river intakes based on biophysical selection criteria and water needs for crops. Under the WEF nexus project, officers at the Ministries of Agriculture in the four countries are being trained to use the platform effectively.
Buenfil is convinced that the AGRI World Sources tool has the potential to be upscaled across the region and stated, ‘’FAO aims to support Caribbean small island developing states to increase the availability and reach of these climate-resilient interventions. For this we work closely with Governments and stakeholders to present funding proposals to international climate and environmental financing mechanisms such as the Adaptation Fund, the Global Environment Facility or the Green Climate Fund.”
World Water Week is the leading annual global event for the water and sanitation sector, which explores the value of water for people, the economy, development, nature and the climate. Guided by this year’s theme “Seeing the unseen: the value of water”, the IDB coordinated 13 region-specific ‘’Focus on the Americas’’ sessions and seminars, featuring high-profile water and sanitation experts from government agencies, utilities, international organizations, universities, the private sector and donor agencies, amongst others. The goal was to foster cross-regional and cross-sectorial dialogue on innovative financing mechanisms, novel water security experiences, nature-based solutions and other relevant information.
For more information, please contact:
Jacinto Buenfil
Policy Officer Environment and Climate Change
FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean
E-mail: jacinto.buenfil@fao.org
Marquita Sugrim
FAO National Communications Consultant
FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean
E-mail: marquitajuanne.sugrim@fao.org
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