UNDP and ACS to collaborate to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals

October 29, 2021

Strategic partnerships like this are crucial to achieve SDGs and enhance the quality of people’s lives in the region and beyond. Photo: UNDP Jamaica

New York/Port of Spain, October 29, 2021 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) to expand South-South cooperation, address climate change, promote gender equality, strengthen state capacity for disaster risk reduction and foster sustainable tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by ACS Secretary-General, Rodolfo Sabonge, and Luis Felipe López-Calva, Regional Director for the UNDP in LAC.

“UNDP is proud to join forces with ACS, at the core of our organization’s work is connecting countries to global knowledge networks to share ideas, experiences, know-how, and best practices to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ACS, due to its nature and role, is strategically positioned to serve as a bridge of knowledge and cooperation between countries in the region”, said Luis Felipe López-Calva, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for UNDP Latin America and the Caribbean.

As highlighted by 2021 UNDP’s Regional Human Development Report “Trapped: High Inequality and Low Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean”, the region is in a trap of high inequality and low growth. The concentration of power, violence, and inefficient social protection policies fuel this vicious circle and limit human development. In that sense, innovative solutions are needed and must lead to greater growth with environmental sustainability, greater inclusion, social mobility while building resilience to climate change.

“We at the ACS are very pleased to begin formalizing this relationship with the UNDP. It is a critical moment for all the countries of the Greater Caribbean. The pandemic has set us back as a region and sustainable development in the region is now more important than ever as we seek to recover in the areas of work we focus on. The ACS has been positioning itself to ensure that the membership will benefit from this collaboration,” said ACS Secretary General Rodolfo Sabonge.  

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an opportunity for new and creative thinking, strategic partnerships like this are crucial to achieve SDGs and enhance the quality of people’s lives in the region and beyond. Economic recovery strategies must consider climate change risks and potential impacts in economic activities and all sectors.

Media contacts:

UNDP:

Vanessa Hidalgo - Vanessa.hidalgo@undp.org

ACS

Jabari Fraser – jfraser@acs-aec.org

###  ###  ###

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

ACS was established in 1994, the Association of Caribbean States is an organisation for consultation, cooperation and concerted action in the Greater Caribbean. The Organisation’s work is focused on: cooperation, disaster risk reduction; sustainable tourism; trade, transport & external economic relations; and the protection of the Caribbean Sea. The ACS has 25 Member States, 10 Associate Members 7 Founding Observers and 29 Observer States.