Trinidad and Tobago is taking significant strides towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) despite facing unique challenges. According to Joanna Kazana, the UN Resident Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, small island developing states like Trinidad and Tobago face a daunting task in achieving the ambitious SDG agenda.
Trinidad and Tobago faces an added layer of complexity due to its high per capita income, which makes the country ineligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA) finance. This creates challenges as the country deals with structural vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change, global shocks, and the illegal trade of weapons and drugs.
Trinidad and Tobago heavily relies on its own budgetary resources for SDG financing and new investments. While the UN, bilateral donors, and international financial institutions provide grants for important projects, they are limited in scale and duration. Therefore, achieving sustainable development requires greater domestic resource mobilization, innovative thinking, and unconventional partnerships.
To address these challenges and accelerate SDG progress, Trinidad and Tobago recently held an SDG Roundtable consultation in the capital, Port of Spain. The consultation brought together over 100 voices from the public and private sectors, civil society, international financial institutions, community-based organizations, and the global development community.
During the consultation, participants discussed the areas where Trinidad and Tobago has made significant progress on the SDGs, as well as the targets that have slowed or stagnated. They also deliberated on strategic commitments to accelerate SDG progress and the story they want to tell future generations about the efforts made to build a better future.
One key theme that emerged from the consultation was the need for better data and national statistics. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of robust tools and data-driven decision-making to track the SDGs and target stimulus funding effectively. Digitization of government services and collaboration with the private sector in sharing relevant data were also highlighted as potential solutions.
Poverty was another critical issue discussed during the consultation. Participants recognized the interplay between poverty, education outcomes, inequality, and access to healthcare and housing. They called for a multidimensional approach to measuring poverty and highlighted the need to produce job creators through an improved education system that addresses the challenges of AI and prepares students for future disruptions.
Violence was also identified as a significant challenge affecting Trinidad and Tobago. Participants acknowledged the impact of crime on society, including its costs on social protection programs and the economy. They emphasized that progress in achieving other SDGs linked to inequality, education, and poverty could contribute to reducing violence and investing in human capital development.
Trinidad and Tobago has been asked, like all UN Member States, to declare three clear, targeted actions it will take to rescue the SDGs, as the country holds the presidency of the UN General Assembly. The recent roundtable consultation has provided direction for the government’s halftime strategy review and a revitalized plan of action for the SDGs over the next six years.
Despite the challenges, Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to achieving equitable progress and prosperity. The roundtable consultation fostered collaboration among development partners and highlighted the determination of the nation to achieve its SDG goals. With innovative solutions, increased domestic resource mobilization, and sustainable partnerships, Trinidad and Tobago is on the path towards realizing the SDGs by 2030.
