ECLAC, in the area of economic development, aims to promote equitable long-term economic growth and the effective generation and allocation of financial resources to support development and equality in the Latin American and Caribbean countries. ECLAC pursues this goal through a threefold strategy: the systematic monitoring of macroeconomic policies and reforms; the evaluation of their impact in terms of sustainability, efficiency and equity; and substantive support for the formulation and implementation of these policies by governments.
The mission of ECLAC in the area of social development consists in promoting integral human development with a rights-based approach in Latin America and the Caribbean; conducting and disseminating analyses of the social situation in the region on particular issues and with respect to specific groups of the population; analysing the impacts, levels of investment and management of social policies and programmes implemented by the governments in the region, at their various levels; disseminating details of successful or innovative experiences to inform decision-making in countries; advising governments in the region on issues of social development; and helping train the professionals and technicians of the relevant public bodies.
In its statistical work, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) aims to promote the creation and use of internationally comparable, accurate and timely statistical information of relevance in the formulation, follow-up and evaluation of economic, social and environmental development policies in the region. This mission is based on three lines of action: (a) promoting best practices and disseminating internationally comparable methodologies; (b) providing advisory and technical cooperation services to strengthen countries’ technical and institutional capacities in the statistical field and facilitate horizontal cooperation and the sharing of expertise; and (c) carrying out methodological development activities (proposing and adapting indicators).
The mission of ECLAC in the area of population and development is to increase and enhance the ability of the region’s countries to describe, analyse, comprehend and address population dynamics and their links to economic and social development, with a view to incorporating demographic factors into public policies and programmes, especially those aimed at reducing poverty and inequality. To achieve its strategic objective, the Division has received extensive support from organizations of the United Nations system, especially the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and other donors.
The mission of ECLAC in this area is to generate and disseminate analyses and policy proposals aimed at strengthening the participation of the Latin American and Caribbean region in global trade and fostering regional integration, particularly as it relates to economic matters. To this end, ECLAC produces studies and publications, organizes conferences and seminars, provides technical assistance to governments and integration bodies in the region, and develops and maintains a range of databases. The work of the International Trade and Integration Division covers quantitative and qualitative aspects of both themes, through coordination with other ECLAC divisions and national and subregional offices.
The mission of ECLAC in the field of development planning is to contribute to improving the public administration and economic and social planning processes of the region’s national and subnational governments. ECLAC advocates the agenda put forward by its subsidiary body, the Regional Council for Planning (CRP), to strengthen planning in the region. To this end, ECLAC provides the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean with training, professional development and capacity-building services in subjects related to development planning, forecasting, strategic State management and territorial development.
The ECLAC mission in the area of production, productivity and management is to prepare and disseminate analysis and policy proposals on the structure and dynamics of production and innovation systems at the sectoral and microeconomic level, as well as their determinants. It also focuses on economic, social and environmental impacts in this area. ECLAC evaluates and prepares public policy proposals, promotes the exchange of experiences, provides technical assistance and supports capacity-building among relevant economic actors in the region.
The ECLAC mission in the area of sustainable development and human settlements is to contribute to evaluation of progress in public policies, instruments and institutions, with a view to promoting more inclusive economic activity with a smaller environmental footprint in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Accordingly, ECLAC addresses the three dimensions of sustainable development simultaneously. In sum, the ECLAC’s efforts are aimed at translating the sustainable development vision of Latin America and the Caribbean into operative public policies.
The primary mission of ECLAC in the area of natural resources and infrastructure is to foster competitiveness and greater productivity for economic and social development through the sustainable management of natural resources and the provision of infrastructure services in the countries of the region. To this end, ECLAC works to build countries’ institutional capacities to devise and implement public policies and regulatory frameworks with a view to increasing efficiency in the sustainable management of natural resources and in the provision of public utilities and infrastructure services. It also strives to achieve greater policy harmonization and coordination, to promote exchanges of best practices at the subregional and regional levels in these areas and to make best use of experiences at the global level.
The Division for Gender Affairs plays an active role in gender mainstreaming within regional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. It works in close collaboration with the national machineries for the advancement of women in the region, civil society, the women’s movement, feminist organizations and public policymakers, including national statistics institutes.
Established in 1951, the subregional headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Mexico serves 10 countries: Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.
It is a centre of excellence in technical assistance and research, advising governments in the region at the highest level on the design, formulation, follow-up and evaluation of public policies, and training public officials.
The mission of the ECLAC subregional headquarters for the Caribbean is to deepen the understanding of the development challenges facing the Caribbean, and to contribute to solutions by conducting research and analysis and providing sound policy advice and technical assistance to Caribbean governments, focused on growth with equity and recognition of the subregion’s vulnerability.
The ECLAC office in Bogota Develops Studies and Technical Cooperation Activities In partnership with national and governmental Institutions. The Office Contributes with visions of Latin America and the Caribbean to the Economic Development Policies, social, environmental and institutional in Colombia and the Colombian Brings perspective to the work of regional nature of ECLAC.
The ECLAC office in Brazil undertakes research and technical cooperation activities underpinned by agreements with various federal government bodies. It analyses changes in the Brazilian economy, offers technical assistance, implements development projects, delivers human resources training and organizes seminars and the exchange of technical staff. The office also provides support to States, municipalities, trade associations and universities.
Located in Buenos Aires, the ECLAC office in Argentina was created in December 1973 by virtue of a cooperation agreement between the Office of the Executive Secretary of ECLAC and the Government of Argentina. The new office started work in 1974. In March 2002, senior cabinet members of the Office of the President of Argentina and the Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC signed a new Cooperation Agreement between the Commission and the Government of Argentina.
The ECLAC office in Montevideo conducts research and advises public institutions in Uruguay, bringing its international experience to bear in deepening understanding of the country’s economic, social and environmental policy issues.
The ECLAC Washington Office serves as liaison with the Government of the United States, the Government of Canada and international organizations based in Washington, D.C. Through research and technical assistance the Office contributes to the analysis of the economic relations between Latin America and the Caribbean, the U.S. and Canada.
A miscellaneous collection of titles published by ECLAC throughout its history, now discontinued.