Trinidad and Tobago will host a Symposium on Sustainable Development Goals for the Caribbean

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean will convene a Symposium on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the Caribbean within the post-2015 Development Agenda in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from 24-25 June.

This meeting, supported by the Caribbean Development Bank, brings together Ministers and senior policy makers in the fields of planning and development, the environment, and social affairs, to consider among the SDGs those goals that are central to the sustainable development needs of the Caribbean.

Specifically, the meeting will highlight and raise awareness of the challenges faced by Caribbean countries in pursuing sustainable development, and provide a rationale for the selection of these priority goals. The symposium will also facilitate a reflection on what indicators might be useful to assess these goals.

Panel discussions will provide a forum for policy makers and experts to deliberate on the region’s development strategy as it transitions from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the SDGs. Discussions will take into consideration the immediate and medium term constraints facing the region and the resource gaps that need to be filled from both domestic and international sources.

Strategies and opportunities for Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to implement the SDGs including Financing for Development, as well as data and institutional capacity needs will also be taken into consideration.

Officials of the United Nations system, representatives of regional civil society organizations, academia, regional development institutions and international development partners will also be invited to participate and contribute to the discussions.