Democracy and Development Report

Democracies Under Pressure. Reimagining the Futures of Democracy and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

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Press Releases
Latin America and the Caribbean Continues to Believe in Democracy but Demands More from It: UNDP

atin America and the Caribbean remains the most democratic developing region in the world. Yet the future of democracy increasingly depends on the State capacity…

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Blog
Why planning recovery before disasters is key to the Caribbean’s future

El Caribe se caracteriza por una resiliencia extraordinaria y ambientes impresionantes, pero los peligros extremos amenazan constantemente el progreso…

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Events
Launch of the Democracy and Development Report in Dominican Republic

On June 8, in Santo Domingo, we will present our new Report on Democracy and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Blog
Seeds that Endure: Biodiversity, Resilience, and Strengthening Rural Livelihoods

The conservation and equitable access to the seeds that safeguard our agricultural biodiversity is not just a technical issue—it is key to ensuring food security…

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News
New Report Explores How Latin America and the Caribbean Can Turn Democratic Discontent into Development Progress: UNDP

Latin America and the Caribbean is today the most democratic developing region and the third most democratic worldwide. More than four out of five citizens in…

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What we do

Our focus is to help countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean region build and share solutions in their sustainable development pathways, with inclusive and effective democratic governance, building climate and disaster resilience.

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development, knowledge and experience-sharing and the empowerment of women.

Regional Human Development Report 2025

Under Pressure: Recalibrating the Future of Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Development progress in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is under pressure. The region is navigating a complex landscape marked by heightened uncertainty, recurring and overlapping crises and multiple interlinked stressors—rapidly evolving technologies, deepening social fragmentation, and an increasingly changing climate. These factors have exposed profound vulnerabilities in the region’s development trajectory, challenging its ability to sustain and advance human development. This Report argues that reimagining development strategies with resilience at their core is not merely beneficial, but imperative for shaping a future in LAC where human development can be secured and sustainably advanced.

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Publications
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UNDP LAC Working Paper Series

This series aims to disseminate research in progress relevant to advancing our understanding of complex development issues in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Publications
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UNDP LAC Policy Documents Series

This series aims to draw from UNDP's own global experience and knowledge and from the expertise and capacity of our partner think tanks and academic institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to promote a collective reflection on the region's development challenges.

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Publications
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UNDP LAC Policy Notes

The purpose of the UNDP LAC Policy Notes series is to make visible the work carried out by our offices in the region.

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Blog
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Graph For Thought

Graph For Thought is a series of technical articles that shows data illustrating how different economic, social or environmental problems are taking shape in the region.

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Publications
Learning from Innovation

Learning from Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean is a thematic knowledge brief series jointly developed by the UNDP's Regional Bureau for LAC and the UNDP Accelerator Labs

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Publications
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Development Tools Series

This series aims to provide practical and accessible instruments that translate analytical frameworks, experience, and lessons learned into useful guidance for policymakers and development practitioners in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Publications
Development Futures Series

Analysis and practical insights for the future of sustainable development

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Dialogues

Reimagining our Future in Latin America and the Caribbean

A series of talks and dialogues that will take place throughout 2026. Policy Dialogues and Democracy & Development Talks will take place on a monthly basis with the aim of bringing together global events and local perspectives engaging experts, decision-makers, and UNDP partners, in collaborative, evidence-based debates.

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Stories

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Stories
Before the Winds Rise: How UNDP is working to prepare the Caribbean for the next hurricane

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Stories
Justice, Leadership, and Action for Women and Girls in Latin America and the Caribbean

Cada 8 de marzo, el Día Internacional de las Mujeres nos reafirma que la igualdad se manifiesta en la capacidad real de las mujeres y niñas de ejercer y gozar…

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Stories
Words that Unite: Journalism as a Bridge for Peace in Peru and Bolivia

Latin America carries in its history voices that unite, that build trust, and that — from the Andes to the Amazon — turn words into the cornerstone of…

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Stories
Empowering Women, Protecting the Planet

This April 22nd marks International Mother Earth Day with the slogan “Our Power, Our Planet”, which calls for us to rethink our role in ensuring that the use of…

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Stories
The Power of Entrepreneurship: Women Transforming the Region with Courage and Vision

Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are the engine of the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, representing more than 99.5% of the formal…

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Library

Publications
Democracy and Development Report | Democracies Under Pressure: Reimagining the Future of Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean 2026

Latin America and the Caribbean is today the most democratic region among developing regions and the third worldwide. More than four out of five citizens live…

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Publications
A Region in Motion: Gender-Responsive Climate Action in Latin America and the Caribbean

A Region in Motion: Gender-Responsive Climate Action in Latin America and the Caribbean is an inventory that provides a comprehensive overview of how countries…

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Publications
Small Business, Big Impact

The guide Small Business, Big Impact offers a practical introduction to Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) for micro, small, and medium-sized…

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Publications
Imagining Possible Futures for Human Mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean

The application of futures thinking on human mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) by UNDP highlights a growing need to explore methodologies that…

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Publications
Nature x The Human Development Report

Nature is a foundational pillar of sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, underpinning resilience, prosperity, and human progress. Drawing…

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