Achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will require closing the structural gaps that drive low growth and inequality in the region, said Hugo Beteta, director of the Economic Commission for Latin America’s subregional headquarters in Mexico-Caribbean. ECLAC.
Opening the international seminar “Inequality gaps in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean”, Beteta pointed out that ECLAC together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) had proposed creating a regional agenda for a new rurality, the two narratives taken into account: One on the topic of “New Ruralism” and another on structural gaps.
The changes in the definition of rural areas in its demographic, technological, involvement in globalization, production and risks of climate change have not been sufficiently considered in the public policies of the countries, which for the most part continue to see urbanization and industrialization as the risks only ways to to achieve development; The ECLAC-FIDA project is committed to looking at rural areas as an innovative development path for the territories.
A second narrative has to do with the idea that if nations reach the GDP per capita of middle-income countries, they will have to withdraw from development aid, without considering that 72% of the world’s poor live in low-income countries life. average income.
“Even if GDP growth per capita picks up, inequality will not go away unless the structural gaps preventing compliance with the 2030 Agenda are addressed,” Beteta said. “Prioritizing growth without addressing inequality will not allow us to meet our goals.”
Costa Rica Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy Laura Fernández said that the government had developed public policies that guarantee all opportunities and recognized that to reduce inequality, a more equitable distribution of resources with a gender perspective and the reduction of gaps is needed in territorial development.
We are aware, said Fernández, that the SDGs give us a solid framework and that achieving them requires the joint work of all national institutions, together with the contributions of organizations like ECLAC, which are a “seedbed of wonderful knowledge that we need to use .” to benefit from and know their best practices.
Seidy Álvarez, President of the Executive Board of the Board of Pensions and Retirements of the National Teachers (JUPEMA) of Costa Rica, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and exposed the reality of the most vulnerable populations, listing the challenges The country faces the digital divide in education, the accelerated aging of its population, uneven territorial development and the disadvantaged situation of women, indigenous people and migrant populations.
“This calls us to reflect and make clear that the public policies established must take into account the diversity and complexity of the challenges and find differentiated solutions to the reality and needs of each territory and its needs
We can really talk about closing the gap effectively,” Álvarez said.
The international seminar “Inequality gaps in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean” will continue on Wednesday 21 June analyzing the following topics: Inequality gaps in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, Poverty and income inequality, Wealth and social protection gaps, Rural inequality gaps , innovation and sustainability gaps, investment and productivity gaps, and data measuring inequality gaps.
The event will be attended by scientists, researchers and officials from the region.