The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reaffirmed its dedication to fostering a positive and constructive working environment towards achieving global Sustainable Development Goals during the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) retreat held in Trinidad and Tobago on January 17-18, 2024 under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator. The event served as a collaborative platform for the UN family to identify priorities in Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

The UNDP's active engagement at the retreat underscored the organization's commitment to addressing the interconnected challenges that nations face in the 21st century. Discussions centered on leveraging digitalization for inclusive development, promoting economic diversification to enhance resilience, and implementing strategies to combat climate change while accelerating energy transition. Participants emphasized the importance of collective efforts in advancing these priorities to build a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Highlighting the significance of the retreat, the UNDP Resident Representative assisted with the facilitation of a session on Financing for Development. The session brought together representatives from UN development partners such as HE Peter Cavendish, Ambassador of the European Delegation to Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Bernardo Requena, Representative of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) in TT and colleagues from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The collaborative dialogue explored innovative financing mechanisms to support sustainable development initiatives, fostering a spirit of partnership and cooperation among the participating organizations.

Under the “innovation for impact” vision, the UNDP multicountry office team in TT remains committed to working hand-in-hand with its partners to turn shared visions into impactful realities.