CAF, ECLAC, IDB, and PAHO Advancing Equity and Sustainable Development in the Americas at Brazil’s G20 Summit – PAHO/WHO

November 19, 2024

Overview:

The Regional Organizations of the Americas – the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Pan American Health Organization ( PAHO) – congratulate the government of Brazil for a very successful presidency of the G20. In particular, the organizations praise the Brazilian G20 presidency’s ability to build consensus around critical development issues, including poverty and hunger, global governance and climate change. Through this Joint Declaration, the organizations reaffirm their commitment to translate the aspirations of Brazil’s G20 Presidency into tangible actions that promote equity and sustainable development in the Americas.

Background:

For the first time, four regional organizations from the Americas formally participated in a G20 presidency, reflecting the region’s unique role in shaping global development. During Brazil’s leadership in the G20, CAF, ECLAC, IDB and PAHO provided technical experience, regional knowledge and strategic guidance aligned with our respective mandates. Under the leadership of the Inter-American Development Bank, which this year held the presidency of the Group of Heads of Multilateral Development Banks, the MDBs published an Overview Note outlining 16 key outcomes for joint action. The G20 incorporated 14 of these results in its Roadmap for MDB reform. Brazil’s theme, “Building a just world and a sustainable planet,” reflects our shared mission: promoting inclusive growth, equity and resilience in the Americas.

The launch of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, a highlight of Brazil’s presidency, underscores the urgency of coordinated and targeted investment to address persistent inequalities. In the Americas, this challenge is particularly acute, where deep-rooted inequalities undermine progress despite vibrant economic potential. The organizations will work together to promote sustainable and equitable growth and regional collaboration while supporting the work of their member countries to achieve the sustainable development goals.

Regional Coordination for Regional Challenges

The Americas is a region of contrasts: the economic prosperity of certain groups exists alongside persistent poverty and hunger, revealing the systemic and multidimensional inequalities that limit inclusive social development and economic growth. Reversing this requires bold multi-sector action that leverages our collective expertise to accelerate change and scale up evidence-based best practices.

Organizational commitments within the framework of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty

In addition to the commitment to cooperate and promote more integrated approaches, each of our organizations will assume the legacy of the G20 2024 Process through the following actions to promote equity and fight hunger and poverty in the Americas:

• Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – CAF

  • CAF is committed to addressing poverty and inequality by improving the lives of vulnerable populations. The bank aims to allocate $22 billion by 2035 to provide financing and technical assistance to improve infrastructure and expand access to essential services such as healthcare, education and food security. Additionally, CAF will promote social protection mechanisms to directly impact key social indicators.

    To advance its mission, CAF will prioritize improving health services in Amazonian communities affected by diseases such as malaria. The bank will also strengthen countries’ capacity for evidence-based policy formulation and institutional development through technical assistance and training. By fostering alliances, CAF seeks to mobilize resources and knowledge to advance SDG3. CAF is also committed to optimizing resource allocation and aligning its efforts with the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. The bank currently has $1.6 billion in financial resources dedicated to fighting hunger and poverty, with $865 million approved for 2023 and 2024.

• Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean – ECLAC
  • Hunger and poverty go against inclusive social development, affecting the exercise of rights and the well-being of those who suffer from them. They also act as a brake on economic growth and productive development. ECLAC is committed to providing technical assistance, strengthening the exchange of information and knowledge on public policies and collaborating with other members of the Alliance to develop innovative solutions, mobilize financial resources and share good practices to combat hunger, poverty and inequality.
• Inter-American Development Bank – IDB

  • The IDB committed to providing up to US$25 billion in financing to support Alliance-led policies and country-led programs to end hunger and poverty. It is also committed to ensuring that at least 50% of newly approved IDB projects and 60% of IDB Lab projects go directly to vulnerable populations. The IDB also intends to serve as a key financial arm for the Alliance, seeking to reallocate Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund as a hybrid financing mechanism to multilateral development banks.

    In addition, the IDB could provide up to US$200 million in technical assistance to its member countries to design, implement, evaluate, improve and scale priority policies and programs within the framework of the Alliance.

• Pan American Health Organization – PAHO
  • As eliminating hunger and poverty is essential to ensuring healthy lives for all, and equitable access to health is crucial to accelerating progress in these areas, PAHO will support the Global Alliance by working with other members to develop policies that strengthen primary health care, boost disease elimination efforts and ensure equitable access to services to address non-communicable diseases and other critical health challenges. In addition, PAHO will collaborate with Alliance partners to provide technical assistance, capacity development, training and knowledge exchange, emphasizing the interconnection of achieving SDG 3 with addressing poverty, hunger and food insecurity, while that promotes socioeconomic inclusion.