13 September 2017

IOE participates in the Annual Forum of the Regional Centre of the Global Compact for Latin America and the Caribbean

Roberto Suárez Santos, IOE Deputy Secretary-General was invited to give a presentation on public-private partnerships for social inclusion and to participate in an informal dialogue with other relevant actors on this topic. His presentation (available in Spanish from the link in the side panel) was based on an assessment of recent social and educational achievements and challenges in the region. It also referred to the difficulties and problems in achieving effective public-private partnerships within the process of reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A very active exchange with the audience followed the discussion. Other areas of interest were also treated during the Forum, including innovation and the SDGs and sustainability in financial markets.

IOE is member of the Management Board of the Regional Centre and opened the session, together with ANDI, the most representative business organisation in Colombia. The agenda of the Forum focused on business case studies and presented the work that local business networks have done to implement the Global Compact. The previous editions of this Forum have been held in Mexico, Peru and on other occasions in Colombia, Argentina and Chile. Each year the Forum attracts more than 200 participants from more than 12 countries in Latin America. The objective of the event was to provide an exchange platform for decision-makers around sustainability issues, and to learn about trends and practical implementation of UN initiatives by the private sector.

A number of high-level participants were present at the event, including: the Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia, General Óscar Naranjo Trujillo; Minister of Production of the Republic of Peru, Pedro Olaechea Álvarez Calderón and the Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations of the Republic of Peru, Ana María Choquehuanca. The Deputy Minister of Labour Administration of the Republic of Guatemala, Guillermo Gándara also joined the Forum, together with practitioners and specialists on Human Rights and sustainability from various Latin-American countries.

The IOE participated in the VII Business Forum Global Compact in Latin America and the Caribbean: Responsibility and Sustainability on 31 August 2017 in Medellín, Colombia. The Business Forum is an event organised by the Regional Centre of the Global Compact for Latin America and the Caribbean.

For more information, please contact Roberto Suárez Santos, IOE Deputy Secretary-General