The ILO joins other UN agencies and Government of Belize for SDG dialogue
Multi-stakeholder forum sought to assess progress and prepare country for 2023 SDG Summit.
17 August 2023
The International Labour Organization (ILO) was among several United Nations (UN) agencies operating in Belize that took part in a discussion on 17 August 2023 to determine opportunities for greater advancement towards the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The National SDG Partnership Dialogue featured a multi-stakeholder discourse with the Government, UN system, international development partners, civil society, academia, and the private sector, among other actors. The discussion focused on how to step up efforts to meet SDG targets by 2030.
The event was based on the 2023 Special Edition Report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on global progress towards the SDGs, which highlights that only 12 per cent of SDG targets are on track with an average regression of four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UN Secretary-General warns that while the world is inching closer to 2030, there is much left to achieve. He advises that a comprehensive, multi-sectoral transformative approach is needed with participation at all levels.
The dialogue in Belize also supported the preparation of the country’s national commitments at the under the 78th UN General Assembly which will take place from 18-19 September 2023. The Summit aims to stimulate global SDG acceleration through future-oriented commitments from world leaders including an ambitious action oriented political declaration. To help guide the discussion, the dialogue was structured on the 5 Ps of Sustainable Development: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships.
During the event, Ms. Pamela Bradley, ILO National Officer for Belize, joined Mr. Ishmael Quiroz, Executive Director of the Economic Development Council of Belize to lead a breakout session on the topic of prosperity. They also received support from Mr. Jose Castellanos, Economist/Development Coordination Officer at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Ms. Amilin Mendez, Programme Analyst of United Nations Development Programme, Mr. Joshua Pott, Chief Policy Analyst at the Belize Chamber of Commerce, and Industry, as well as Ms. Hunter Hales, Proposal Development Officer at the Belize Ministry of Economic Development. Approximately 25 persons were present in the Prosperity working group.
The five (5) SDGs assigned under the prosperity pillar that were discussed included:
Other topics elaborated upon during the session included scaling up finance to achieve the SDGs; private sector investments in the SDGs; and opportunities for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises; and nature-based solutions to achieving the SDGs through the grey or informal economy, which represents approximately 30 per cent of economy in which workers are without social protection, as well as the orange (creative), blue (ocean) and green (low carbon) economies.
For more information about the 2023 SDG Summit, please visit the UN website.
The National SDG Partnership Dialogue featured a multi-stakeholder discourse with the Government, UN system, international development partners, civil society, academia, and the private sector, among other actors. The discussion focused on how to step up efforts to meet SDG targets by 2030.
The event was based on the 2023 Special Edition Report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on global progress towards the SDGs, which highlights that only 12 per cent of SDG targets are on track with an average regression of four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UN Secretary-General warns that while the world is inching closer to 2030, there is much left to achieve. He advises that a comprehensive, multi-sectoral transformative approach is needed with participation at all levels.
The dialogue in Belize also supported the preparation of the country’s national commitments at the under the 78th UN General Assembly which will take place from 18-19 September 2023. The Summit aims to stimulate global SDG acceleration through future-oriented commitments from world leaders including an ambitious action oriented political declaration. To help guide the discussion, the dialogue was structured on the 5 Ps of Sustainable Development: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships.
During the event, Ms. Pamela Bradley, ILO National Officer for Belize, joined Mr. Ishmael Quiroz, Executive Director of the Economic Development Council of Belize to lead a breakout session on the topic of prosperity. They also received support from Mr. Jose Castellanos, Economist/Development Coordination Officer at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Ms. Amilin Mendez, Programme Analyst of United Nations Development Programme, Mr. Joshua Pott, Chief Policy Analyst at the Belize Chamber of Commerce, and Industry, as well as Ms. Hunter Hales, Proposal Development Officer at the Belize Ministry of Economic Development. Approximately 25 persons were present in the Prosperity working group.
The five (5) SDGs assigned under the prosperity pillar that were discussed included:
- SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Other topics elaborated upon during the session included scaling up finance to achieve the SDGs; private sector investments in the SDGs; and opportunities for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises; and nature-based solutions to achieving the SDGs through the grey or informal economy, which represents approximately 30 per cent of economy in which workers are without social protection, as well as the orange (creative), blue (ocean) and green (low carbon) economies.
For more information about the 2023 SDG Summit, please visit the UN website.