Background

Diagrama

The Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean was held for the first time in 2007 with the aim of offering ministers and other decision makers a space to discuss experiences in public policies in the field of human and social development, and respond to the new challenges of the region.

This event, organized by the host government with the support of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as various entities, focuses on issues that are particularly important and relevant to the region.

This is how the discussions in the Forum have revolved around topics such as: social cohesion, youth inclusion, social responses to the global crisis, financing of social policies and social stratification.

2023, Santiago, Chile

The fifth session of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean is organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) jointly with the XV Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The meeting will be attended by authorities from the region's social areas. Following the presentation of the document "Institutional frameworks for social policy in Latin America and the Caribbean: a central element in advancing towards inclusive social development" five panel discussions will be held to address issues of relevance in the area of social institutions identified as priorities in the document and in the Regional Agenda for Inclusive Social Development.

2022, Cuenca, Ecuador

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with the Government of Ecuador organized the XIV Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Fifth Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), was held in virtual format on September 29 and 30, 2022.

2021, Antigua and Barbuda (virtual)

IV Meeting of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean and the XIII Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Position paper: ‘Disasters and inequality in a protracted crisis: towards universal, comprehensive, resilient and sustainable social protection systems in Latin America and the Caribbean’.

2020, Colombia (Virtual)

XII Ministerial Forum for Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Fourth Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development of Latin America and the Caribbean. Discussions focused on “COVID-19 - Beyond recovery: Towards a new social contract for LAC”.
Keynote Speaker: Doctor Francis Fukuyama. UNDP presented: ‘Latin America and the Caribbean: Effective Governance, beyond Recovery’.

2019, Mexico

III Meeting of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the XI Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2018, Panama

X Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Second Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Keynote speaker: Achim Steiner

2017, Uruguay

II Meeting of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean and the IX Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2016, Dominican Republic

VIII Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
First meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Keynote speaker: Esther Duflo.

2015, Lima

I Meeting of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
Position paper: ‘Inclusive social development: The next generation of policies for overcoming poverty and reducing inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean’.

2014, Mexico City

VII Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The keynote speaker was offered by Sabina Alkire, Director of Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. More than 30 ministers, ministers and other specialists from governments in the region discussed how to measure poverty, beyond income.
Opening Remarks: Helen Clark. UNDP Administrator. Organized with AECID.

2013, New York

VI Ministerial Forum.
Attended by the competitiveness expert from Harvard University, Michael Porter.
Focused on the challenges of social cohesion in the region, beyond poverty reduction.
Opening Remarks: Helen Clark.
Organized with AECID.

2012, Brasilia

V Ministerial Forum.
Inaugurated by the former president of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Focused on social development in favor of the poor, a debate with ministers from
Africa, in addition to Latin America.
Organized with AECID.

2011, New York

IV Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Attended by Carlos Slim. Focused on combating inequality.
Opening Remarks: Helen Clark. UNDP Administrator.
Organized with AECID.

2010, New York

III Foro de Pensamiento Social Estratégico de América Latina.
Focused on the social responses of Latin America to the global crisis.
Muhammad Yunus participated in the opening.
Organized with AECID.

2009, New York

II Foro de Pensamiento Social Estratégico de América Latina.
Focused on youth. Opened by Joseph Stiglitz.
Organized with AECID.

2007, New York

I Foro de Pensamiento Social Estratégico de América Latina.
Keynote: Amartya Sen.
Organized with AECID.