UN Deputy Chief Mobilizes Latin America and Caribbean RCs ahead of Summit of the Future

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed recently wrapped up a visit to Chile, a pivotal stop in her mission to boost Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Her visit included participation in the Seventh Meeting of the Sustainable Development Forum of Latin America and the Caribbean, where she championed the upcoming Summit of the Future.

Throughout the visit, Ms. Mohammed engaged with regional ministers, as well as Chile's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gloria de la Fuente. She was accompanied by UN officials including Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Guy Ryder, Assistant Secretary-General for Development Coordination Oscar Fernandez-Taranco and Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Development Coordination Office Roberto Valent. 

A critical component of the visit was a meeting with Resident Coordinators (RCs) leading UN country teams (UNCTs) in countries throughout the region. RCs shared their on-the-ground experiences regarding host government engagement on commitments stemming from the SDG Summit and the 2023 High-Level Political Forum. The exchange explored key global and regional challenges in the context of the SDGs.

Deputy Chief Mohammed underscored the value of the UN development system, stating, "Our Resident Coordinators, UN country teams, and regional capacities are the engine room that powers the transformations needed for progress in Latin America and the Caribbean."

Citing recent examples of regional leadership, DSG Mohammed highlighted the active roles played by countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. "Countries from Latin America and the Caribbean are showing their leadership for sustainable development in many forums - from Colombia hosting the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity in October to Antigua and Barbuda, hosting the Small Island Development States Conference next month. And we already see that the Summit of the Future will be no exception,” she said.

"The Resident Coordinators meeting in Chile this week is crucial in the face of mounting regional challenges," says Mr. Valent. "We're witnessing low economic growth, daily threats to human rights, and political and social turbulence across the region, with democratic setbacks and the rise of authoritarianism and populism” he said.

RCs share insights and implementation strategies

The upcoming Summit of the Future served as a crucial discussion point during the RC meeting. Mobilizing governments, stakeholders, and the international community was highlighted as paramount in reinvigorating the spirit of multilateralism.

DSG Mohammed underscored the region's important voice, noting, "Countries from Latin America and the Caribbean have been actively engaged in intergovernmental negotiations in New York, promoting a strong development outcome in the Pact for the Future/summit outcome. Voices from this region have been loud and clear, advocating to put people at the center of our efforts."

Stressing the Summit's importance the RC in Chile María José Torres highlighted that "This is a unique moment for deepened global governance cooperation and reaffirming multilateralism. As a world grappling with conflict and crisis, this will enable us to better reach those in need."

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The RC of Uruguay Pablo Ruíz Hiebra shared the country’s "Dialogues of the Future" initiative as a national model for Summit preparation. These discussions engage experts, government officials, and civil society in open discourse about pathways to accelerate SDG implementation.

Expressing the significance of the regional meeting, the RC in Argentina Claudia Mojica noted that "This productive exchange with the UN Deputy Secretary-General allowed us to align the work of UN offices with the development priorities of the region's nations, especially within a complex global environment." Similarly, the RC in Costa Rica Allegra Baiocchi added that "Discussions with the Under-Secretary General and regional Resident Coordinators facilitate partnerships, learning, and the vital alignment of local and regional visions to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda and the fulfillment of the 17 SDGs."

The discussion also centered on the six transformative areas identified as essential levers for accelerating SDG progress: food systems, energy access and affordability, digital connectivity, education, jobs and social protection, and climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. RCs emphasized the need for system-wide UN support to help countries navigate these key changes effectively, including policy shifts, targeted project design, and the building of strategic partnerships.

The challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean underscore the importance of coordinated action. Mr. Valent notes "The stakes are high, as only 25 per cent of the targets of SDGs are on track to be met by 2030. Our Resident Coordinators are engaging at the highest level to ensure that there is strong political commitment, renewed international cooperation, and effective support from multilateral institutions so that we can tackle these pressing issues head-on and make significant strides towards achieving the SDGs in Latin America and the Caribbean.