Port of Spain, 30 April 2024 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the Digital 4 Development Hub in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to promote and accelerate digital transformation in the region. 

LAC is among the most unequal regions in the world when it comes to technology. About 74.3 per cent of the population currently has broadband access, but only 37 per cent have internet connections at home required to study, work, or complete online transactions. In that context, the Hub seeks to articulate digital knowledge, expand capabilities, open spaces for knowledge exchange, strengthen support in policy development, and promote alliances around inclusive digitalization in the region. 

“The Digital 4 Development Hub aims to serve as a centralized regional project that promotes inclusive digitalization in Latin America and the Caribbean”, said Michelle Muschett, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director of UNDP for Latin America and the Caribbean. "In light of the pressing need to accelerate digital transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean, the establishment of the Digital 4 Development Hub represents a significant milestone in our regional development journey. By leveraging digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, we aim to shape a future where innovation drives inclusive and sustainable growth, leaving no one behind”. 

This initiative underscores the critical importance of collaboration among policymakers, international financial institutions, and partners to define a foundational framework guiding our region towards digital maturity. The Digital 4 Development Hub prioritizes four thematic areas: Digital for Effective Governance, Digital for Inclusion, Digital for Productivity, and Digital for Resilience, aligning with the region's sustainable development priorities.

The Digital 4 Development Hub serves as a nexus for expertise and thought leadership on leveraging digital technologies to advance sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. By consolidating initiatives and programs, the hub positions UNDP as a central actor in the digital transformation landscape. It collaborates closely with various stakeholders, including governments, private enterprises, civil society, and academia, fostering partnerships to drive digital solutions and co-create strategies for sustainable development.

Also UNDP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, announced the Digital Support Facility for the Caribbean that will be housed within UNDPs Digital 4 Development Hub and will provide technical assistance for countries in the region, including support for resource mobilization and accompanying Caribbean countries to develop Digital Action Plans to implement the SIDS 2.0 vision.

The Digital Hub was launched at the regional conference "SIDS 2.0: Defining the Pathway for Small Islands Digital States in the Caribbean" held at the High-Level Conference in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, underscoring UNDP’s commitment to driving digital transformation for sustainable development in the region.

Media queries:  

In Port of Spain: Solange Fletcher, Solange.fletcher@undp.org 

In Panama: Vanessa Hidalgo, vanessa.hidalgo@undp.org (+1 646 338 9462) 

In New York City: Marcela Barrientos, marcela.barrientos@undp.org (+1 347 923 1572) 

About UNDP 

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