Improving broadband quality and affordability in the Caribbean: Policies to advance digital inclusion in the subregion. Policy Brief

In this digitally transforming world, digital inclusion is becoming increasingly important to social inclusion and sustainable development. Affordable access to broadband is an essential precondition to digital inclusion. Internet quality, as measured by speed and other indicators, is also important, as digital inclusion is ultimately about ensuring equal access to the benefits and opportunities offered by digital technologies and the Internet. This policy brief provides insight into Internet speed and affordability across the Caribbean, and offers some recommendations for policymakers working…

Un compromiso renovado con el desarrollo social inclusivo en la región para avanzar hacia la próxima Cumbre Social Mundial 2025

Con la ambición de fortalecer la institucionalidad social y una mirada hacia el futuro concluyó en Santiago de Chile la Quinta Reunión de la Conferencia Regional sobre Desarrollo Social de América Latina y el Caribe y el XV Foro Ministerial para el Desarrollo en América Latina.…

ECLAC Will Present its Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean 2023 Report

Next Thursday, November 23, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) will unveil its flagship annual report Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean 2023: Labour inclusion as a key axis of inclusive social development, which includes the latest data available on poverty, inequality and social spending in the region. The main topic addressed this year is labor inclusion. The document – comprising four chapters – will be presented by José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, during a hybrid press conference (in-person and virtual) held at 1…

Report of the twenty-ninth session of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Director’s Desk: Artificial Intelligence for Caribbean sustainable development

2023 saw Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools becoming widely available to the general public, leading to the generation of new works of art, songs, text, and computer code. This explosion in new outputs has led to much excitement around AI’s potential, but also brought to the forefront concerns about countries and communities being left behind, and the technology’s potential to harm individuals and societies. This issue of FOCUS magazine discusses the potential impact of AI on the Caribbean, and avenues to develop tailored AI policies, governance systems, and to engage with AI issues at the int…

Where are we now: Building a digital Caribbean for all.

This infographic introduces the findings from Study 112, focusing on the digital transformation journey across Caribbean nations. It highlights the varying stages of digital inclusion within countries like Anguilla, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, and others. The central aim is to ensure equal access to digital tools and technologies, addressing digital inequalities that mirror social inequalities, particularly in gender, migration, disability, and rural populations. Key challenges for policymakers include broadband access, digital skills training, and cybersecurity. The infographic presents…

Artificial Intelligence for Caribbean Sustainable Development