Transformational change in Latin America and the Caribbean: A mission-oriented approach

The current economic and social challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean have highlighted both the region’s structural problems and the urgent need to find new drivers of economic growth. The old approaches to economic development will not enable Latin America and the Caribbean to overcome the present-day economic, health and climate crises. Governments must set bold goals and work with willing private sector partners to promote a truly sustainable and inclusive economy. By advancing mission-oriented industrial policies, countries can stimulate cooperation, diversify production, increase productivity and direct economic growth that is both sustainable and inclusive. There is a unique opportunity to shape economic development that maximizes public benefits through mission-driven innovation, better use of available tools, smart public-private partnerships and purpose-driven institutions, underpinned by a strong public service, results-based evaluation, inclusive stakeholder engagement and a commitment to a renewed social contract. The mission-driven industrial strategy is about imbuing governments and economies of the region with a new sense of purpose and ensuring that everyone in society benefits from the structural changes ahead.Preface .-- Executive summary .-- Chapter I. A new sense of purpose for Latin America and the Caribbean .-- Chapter II. Structural problems and bottlenecks in Latin America and the Caribbean .-- Chapter III. A renewed call for industrial policy at the centre of development strategy .-- Chapter IV. Learning from challenge-driven cases in Latin America and the Caribbean .-- Chapter V. Governing missions: public sector capabilities, tools, and institutional design .-- Chapter VI. New social contract .-- Chapter VII. Conclusions and key recommendations

Informe del Primer Foro Anual sobre Defensoras y Defensores de los Derechos Humanos en Asuntos Ambientales de América Latina y el Caribe

El primer foro anual sobre defensoras y defensores de derechos humanos en asuntos ambientales en América Latina y el Caribe se realizó en Quito los días 22 y 23 de noviembre de 2022. El foro fue convocado por la CEPAL en calidad de Secretaría del Acuerdo de Escazú, en alianza con el PNUMA, el ACNUDH y el Gobierno de Ecuador y con el apoyo del Fondo Fiduciario de Derechos Humanos, Inclusión y Empoderamiento del Banco Mundial. Su objetivo fue generar un espacio de reflexión y diálogo sobre la situación de las personas defensoras de derechos humanos en asuntos ambientales de América Latina y el Caribe, que reuniera a las Partes del Acuerdo de Escazú, a especialistas reconocidos en el tema, y al público en general, especialmente, a personas defensoras de derechos humanos, pueblos indígenas y comunidades locales y personas o grupos en situación de vulnerabilidad que defienden el medio ambiente. Para ello, el foro se enfocó fundamentalmente en las siguientes temáticas: La situación y desafíos que experimentan las personas defensoras de derechos humanos en asuntos ambientales en América Latina y el Caribe y testimonios de personas defensoras; Experiencias y buenas prácticas en la promoción de los derechos de las personas defensoras del ambiente; Mecanismos de protección de personas defensoras en el marco del Acuerdo de Escazú y contenidos específicos del Artículo 9; y Discusión inicial sobre la elaboración del Plan de Acción sobre Defensoras y Defensores del Acuerdo de Escazú. El presente documento contiene el informe oficial del primer foro anual, el cual resume los distintos paneles, diálogos y presentaciones. Asimismo, incluye una sistematización de las propuestas de las mesas de trabajo que servirán de insumo para la preparación del Plan de Acción sobre Defensoras y Defensores del Acuerdo de Escazú

Economic Survey of the Caribbean 2022

This survey examines the economic performance of economies of the Caribbean in 2021 and the first few months of 2022 and comprises five chapters. The first chapter gives an overview of global, regional and subregional economic performance in the Caribbean. The second provides an analysis of the subregion’s fiscal performance and debt burden. The third looks at monetary policy and their impacts. The fourth is focused on the external sector, while the fifth concludes.Abstract .-- I. Global and subregional performance .-- II. Fiscal and debt performance .-- III. Monetary Policy and Prices .-- IV. External sector developments .-- V. Conclusion

Análisis de mediación del efecto de la pandemia de enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19) sobre la fecundidad a nivel subnacional en Colombia

Este artículo estudia algunos de los factores que pueden haber contribuido al descenso de las tasas de fecundidad subnacionales (departamentales) en el primer bimestre de 2021 debido a la pandemia de enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19). Entre ellos, se encuentran la interrupción del acceso a los servicios de salud, el aumento del desempleo y las restricciones a la movilidad. Se utilizan modelos de mediación en un panel por departamentos de 2014 a 2021. Según los resultados, el efecto de 2020 sobre la tasa general de fecundidad (TGF) departamental para mujeres casadas (o que cohabitan) está mediado por el desempleo y el cierre de establecimientos comerciales y de ocio, mientras que para las mujeres solteras (sin pareja) no se encuentran mediadores. Esto significa que la TGF departamental de las mujeres casadas podría estar relacionada con la contracción económica, mientras que la de las mujeres solteras parece haber sido afectada principalmente por el confinamiento estricto

Public debt and development distress in Latin America and the Caribbean

Unfavourable global macrofinancial conditions have given rise to concerns about public debt sustainability in developing economies, including those of Latin America and the Caribbean. These adverse conditions threaten to worsen the already weak economic growth in the region. Public debt in the region is at levels last seen two decades ago, with a sharp increase in 2020 capping a progressive rise over the past decade. History suggests that countries may undergo development distress when similar macrofinancial and debt conditions coincide. High debt service may lead countries to face critical trade-offs between debt service and pursuing development objectives. When these trade-offs are no longer viable and market conditions deteriorate, a country may face a debt crisis, with severe and long-lasting disruptions to development, as experienced in the region after the debt crisis of the 1980s. Against the backdrop of the current macrofinancial and debt environment, there is greater urgency to transform the international sovereign debt architecture. The United Nations SDG Stimulus proposal outlines concrete steps in this direction, with solutions for all countries that are aligned with development.Foreword .-- Executive summary .-- I. A stormy macrofinancial context has thrust debt sustainability concerns to the fore .-- II. Public debt in Latin America and the Caribbean .-- III. Debt-related development distress .-- IV. Potential lasting solutions to sovereign debt resolution and restructuring processes

Halfway to 2030 in Latin America and the Caribbean: progress and recommendations for acceleration

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are halfway through the time frame set for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that underpin the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The progress towards the Goals and targets was drastically hampered by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has taken a heavy toll across the globe since 2020 and undermined efforts to achieve the Agenda in many regions of the world, including Latin America and the Caribbean, hardest hit by the pandemic. The last biennium has also been marked by global developments that have adversely affected progress towards the SDGs, such as the conflict in Ukraine, trade tensions and geopolitical conflicts, forced migration and a resurgence of inflation. This report looks at three key issues. First, it reviews overall progress towards the achievement of all the SDGs, with a more in-depth focus on progress towards five of them: clean water and sanitation (Goal 6); affordable and clean energy (Goal 7); industry, innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9); sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11); and partnerships for the goals (Goal 17). Second, it posits that getting back on track to meet the SDG targets by 2030 requires not only greater investment and financing but also a paradigm shift in public policymaking. Third, the report analyses the institutional processes that have been put in place for the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs. Document updated, June 29, 2023.Foreword .-- Chapter I. Latin America and the Caribbean is facing a development crisis .-- Chapter II. Institutional progress on means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development .-- Chapter III. Measuring progress towards the 2030 targets of the Sustainable Development Goals .-- Chapter IV. Progress in the achievement of Goals 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development .-- Chapter V. Final reflections: looking towards the future