Panama City, 15 May 2026 — A delegation of ambassadors from the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has concluded its visit to Panama. 

The visit, strongly supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored the important partnership between the United Nations and the Government of Panama at both the national and regional levels, and provided an opportunity to observe first-hand how the United Nations system is working coherently to support national development priorities, including in the context of ongoing discussions on the UN80 initiative.

During the mission, the delegation engaged with senior government officials, including representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Government; Health; Social Development; Women; Public Works; and Culture. The delegation also met with key State institutions beyond the Executive Branch, including the Supreme Court of Justice, the Office of the Ombudsperson, and the Panama Canal Authority, alongside national counterparts, the United Nations Country Team, and community partners to discuss initiatives supporting Panama’s national development priorities.

The delegation visited the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal and the watershed community of Cirí Grande in Capira, where Executive Board members met with local stakeholders to discuss UNDP support for water governance, environmental sustainability and incentive-based initiatives benefitting coffee farmers. At the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation, discussions focused on UNDP and UNOPS support for science, technology and innovation as drivers of sustainable development and economic diversification, as well as the construction of the Coiba Scientific Research Station.

At the Ministry of Government and during a visit to the Remenditos workspace, the delegation engaged with partners on UNDP support for Panama’s social reintegration model under Plan Libertad. At the Ministry of Culture, discussions focused on inclusive programmes in the arts and efforts to coordinate public policies that promote social cohesion.

The visit also included meetings with the National Institute for Vocational Training and Training for Human Development (INADEH) and the Specialized Higher Technical Institute (ITSE), where discussions focused on UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS support for technical education, skills development and the links between infrastructure investment, employability and economic inclusion. The delegation also engaged with the Ministry of Public Works on the role of UNOPS in supporting sustainable infrastructure and the implementation of major construction projects, including the Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal.

In San Miguelito, the delegation visited the Cerro Batea Health Center and engaged with youth and other partners on UNFPA support for comprehensive and participatory health services for adolescents and youth. The delegation also engaged with representatives of the Ministries of Health, Social Development, and Women, as well as other national partners, to discuss the use of population data to support public policy, inclusion. and strengthened responses to violence against women and girls.

The Executive Board delegation commended the close collaboration between UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS and the wider United Nations system with national institutions, local authorities, and community partners. The delegation welcomed Panama’s progress and underscored the importance of sustaining joint efforts to advance resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development, in line with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the context of UN80, the visit also highlighted the importance of a coherent, responsive and results-oriented United Nations development system that builds on the comparative advantage of its entities and delivers tangible impact for the people it serves. 

About the Executive Board 

Established by General Assembly resolution 48/162 in 1993, the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS comprises 36 Member States. The Executive Board provides intergovernmental support and oversight to the three organizations, in line with the guidance of the United Nations General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.