19 November 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 Brazil's government on a very successful G20 Presidency. In particular, the organizations commend the ability of Brazil’s G20 Presidency to build consensus around critical development issues, including poverty and hunger, global governance and climate change. Through this Joint Statement, the organizations reaffirm their commitment to translating the aspirations of Brazil’s G20 Presidency into tangible actions that drive equity and sustainable development across the Americas.
Background:
For the first time, four Regional Organizations from the Americas were formally engaged by a G20 Presidency, reflecting the region’s unique role in shaping global development. Throughout Brazil’s G20 leadership, CAF, ECLAC, IDB, and PAHO brought forward technical expertise, regional insight, and strategic guidance aligned with our respective mandates. Under the leadership of the Inter-American Development Bank, which held this year’s presidency of the Group of Heads of multilateral development banks, MDBs published a Viewpoint Note outlining 16 key deliverables for joint action. The G20 incorporated 14 of those deliverables into its Roadmap for MDB reform. Brazil’s theme, “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet,” mirrors 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, targeted investment to address persistent inequalities. In the Americas, this challenge is particularly acute, with deep-rooted inequities undermining progress despite vibrant economic potential. The organizations will work together to promote sustainable, equitable growth and regional collaboration while supporting the work of their member countries to meet sustainable development goals.
Regional Coordination for Regional Challenges
The Americas is a region of contrasts: economic prosperity of certain groups exists along with persistent poverty and hunger, revealing the systemic and multidimensional inequalities that limit inclusive social development and economic growth. Reversing this situation requires bold, multi-sector action that builds on our collective expertise to accelerate change and scale up evidence-based best practices.
Organizational Commitments Under the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty
In addition to the commitment to cooperate and promote more integrated approaches, each of our organizations will take on the legacy of the 2024 G20 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 US$ 22 billion by 2035 to provide funding and technical assistance to enhance infrastructure and expand access to essential services like healthcare, education, and food security. Additionally, CAF will promote social protection mechanisms to directly impact key social indicators.
To further its mission, CAF will prioritize improving health services in Amazonian communities affected by diseases like malaria. The bank will also strengthen countries' capacity for evidence-based policymaking and institutional development through technical assistance and training. By fostering partnerships, CAF aims to mobilize resources and knowledge to advance SDG3. CAF has also committed to optimizing resource allocation and aligning its efforts with the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. The bank currently has USD 1.6 billion in financial resources dedicated to fighting hunger and poverty, with USD 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 provide technical assistance, strengthen the exchange of information and knowledge on public policies, and collaborate 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 $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 and 60% of IDB Lab projects go directly to vulnerable populations. The IDB also aims to serve as a key financing arm to the Alliance, by pursuing the reallocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund as a hybrid financing mechanism to multilateral development banks.
Additionally, the IDB could provide up to $200 million in technical assistance to its member countries to design, implement, evaluate, improve, and scale priority policies and programs under the Alliance framework.
- 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 for accelerating progress in these areas, PAHO will support the Global Alliance by working with other members to develop policies that strengthen primary health care, drive disease elimination efforts, and ensure equitable access to services for tackling noncommunicable diseases and other critical health challenges. Additionally, PAHO will collaborate with Alliance partners to provide technical assistance, capacity building, training, and knowledge-sharing, emphasizing the interconnectedness of achieving SDG 3 with addressing poverty, hunger, and food insecurity, while promoting socioeconomic inclusion.
