From April 3 to 5, 2025, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) hosted the Eighth Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development in Santiago, Chile. The Forum brought together governments, civil society—including youth and women’s organizations—the private sector, academia, and United Nations representatives to exchange experiences and advance regional efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On April 5, a high-level session featured national success stories from Barbados, Chile, Panama, and Uruguay. These experiences were presented jointly by national government leaders and United Nations Resident Coordinators. Opening the session, Roberto Valen, Regional Director of the United Nations Development Coordination Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, said:
“We hope this session energizes you and motivates practical, new approaches to accelerate the SDGs in your countries.”
Representing Chile, UN Resident Coordinator María José Torres and Acting Minister of Agriculture María Ignacia Fernández introduced Connected Communities—a multisectoral digital inclusion programme that is helping bridge longstanding development gaps. The programme demonstrates how digital transformation can be a powerful enabler for the SDGs, improving access to food systems, healthcare, education, and economic opportunity in remote rural communities.
The programme, supported by the Joint SDG Fund, was launched in late 2024 and will run for three years. Its impact is centered in Chile’s Ñuble and La Araucanía regions, where high Indigenous and rural populations face some of the country’s deepest inequalities. In many of these areas, over 50 percent of households still lack access to the internet, and more than 70 percent of students are unable to participate in online education due to limited digital infrastructure.
“Rural digital connectivity is not only one of the government’s top priorities,” said Acting Minister Fernández, “but also one of the most urgent demands from the people.”
She emphasized that the programme aligns with Chile’s broader agenda to address digital exclusion, noting the value of collaboration with the United Nations and private sector to advance both connectivity and digital literacy.
By improving digital infrastructure and skills in rural communities, the Connected Communities programme is enabling more than 8,500 people to access the internet through the installation of 50 public connectivity points. In addition, over 2,000 smallholder farmers, women, youth, and Indigenous people will receive training in digital tools, sustainable agriculture, and e-commerce. More than 25,000 people are expected to benefit from improved access to telehealth and digital services for social protection.
María José Torres, the UN Resident Coordinator in Chile, highlighted the importance of collaboration:
“With technical leadership from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and support from ECLAC, UN Women, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), we are working closely with regional and national governments to deliver lasting impact. Our aim is to not only close the digital divide in Ñuble and La Araucanía, but to create a replicable model for rural transformation throughout Chile.”
Chile’s presentation was part of a broader regional conversation on SDG acceleration.
Uruguay’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining and its UN Resident Coordinator spoke on advancing access to clean and affordable energy (SDG 7).
From the Eastern Caribbean, the UN Resident Coordinator of Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), alongside Saint Lucia’s Minister for Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, discussed strategies to promote decent work and inclusive growth (SDG 8).
Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its UN Resident Coordinator presented on water security and marine sustainability (SDG 14), with a focus on the environmental stewardship of the Panama Canal.
Originally published by UN Chile.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
