The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) presented the main initiatives being advanced through the Digital Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean (eLAC) to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) governance across the Caribbean. The presentation took place during the 1st CTU Caribbean Artificial Intelligence Forum, held on 23 and 24 July in Trinidad and Tobago under the theme “AI for Caribbean Transformation: Governance, Innovation and Resilience for a Shared Digital Future.”

eLAC as a regional platform for cooperation

Representing ECLAC, Demetris Herakleous, Associate Economic Affairs Officer in the Digital Transformation Unit, explained how eLAC has become the region’s leading cooperation mechanism on digital transformation and how its instruments can help countries move towards responsible, inclusive and sustainable AI adoption.

ECLAC has served as the Technical Secretariat of eLAC since 2005. Artificial intelligence has been incorporated as one of the strategic priorities of the Agenda’s current cycle of work.

In this context, the Commission presented a set of tools designed to assist governments in developing and implementing public policies on artificial intelligence. These include the Digital Transformation Laboratory (DLAB), developed jointly with the German Cooperation (GIZ), which enables countries to experiment with, assess and refine regulatory frameworks and technological applications through simulations and testing in controlled environments before broader implementation.

The presentation also addressed the methodological guide developed by ECLAC and GIZ to facilitate the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into the public sector. The tool provides a ten-step process that guides institutions from the identification of needs and priorities to the design, piloting, evaluation and scaling of AI-based solutions.

A methodology for developing national AI strategies

As a central component of the presentation, ECLAC introduced the methodology it is developing to support the formulation of national artificial intelligence agendas and strategies adapted to the particular characteristics of Caribbean Small Island Developing States.

The methodology establishes a structured process connecting national readiness diagnosis with institutional design, ethical and normative alignment, policy prioritisation, implementation and evaluation. It also incorporates tools for assessing maturity levels, identifying binding constraints and determining progressive interventions according to each country’s institutional, fiscal, technological and human capacities.

This approach seeks to prevent the mechanical replication of models designed for larger economies. Instead, it promotes realistic, adaptable and results-oriented strategies that combine national action with regional cooperation in areas such as data, computing infrastructure, talent, regulation and knowledge generation.

Digital governance to strengthen Caribbean resilience

The presentation emphasised that effective artificial intelligence governance also requires stronger digital trust, data sovereignty and resilient digital infrastructure.

In this context, ECLAC presented progress on the Data Embassies initiative, an international cooperation model designed to ensure the continuity of digital services and protect critical information from natural disasters and other disruptions through the secure storage of strategic data.

The Belize City Declaration and the establishment of the Caribbean Data Embassies Coalition were highlighted as important steps towards strengthening digital sovereignty, public-service continuity and regional data governance.

Building capacity and evidence for responsible AI adoption

Another key theme was the need to strengthen institutional capacities and generate evidence to guide public policy decisions on artificial intelligence.

In this area, ECLAC highlighted the School of Digital Transformation (SoDTIC), which held its third Caribbean edition this year with a specialised programme focusing on AI governance, digital sovereignty and the development of national AI agendas.

The presentation also covered evidence-based tools for policymaking, including the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA 2025), developed by the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA) and ECLAC, as well as the Commission’s ongoing monitoring of AI strategies, legislation, institutions and governance mechanisms across the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

ECLAC’s participation in the 1st CTU Caribbean Artificial Intelligence Forum reaffirmed eLAC’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacities, regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing to ensure that artificial intelligence contributes to sustainable development.

These efforts will continue at the 10th Ministerial Conference on the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean, to be held on 2–3 December in São Paulo, Brazil, where countries from across the region will define the next steps for the Digital Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean.