United Nations in Guyana

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth's environment, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. Kindly note that the data visualizations show an aggregate of the Caribbean. To view the disaggregated data for Guyana, please select it from the dropdown menu.

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28 June 2023

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22 May 2026

Resilience in action: Strengthening local capacity in Guyana

Guyana’s development is closely shaped by an evolving landscape of risk. The country’s diverse landscape, ranging from a narrow, low-lying coastal plain to a hillier sandy region, the Rupununi savannahs of the south, and vast tropical rainforests and interior highlands, shapes both its development and its exposure to risk. These include coastal flooding and sea level rise, riverine and rainfall-induced flooding, drought, and wildfires, with the adverse effects of climate change altering the intensity and frequency of many of these hazardous events.These realities are no longer distant risks, they are shaping how people live, work, and plan for the future. And increasingly, it is at the local level where the most meaningful responses need to take shape.The urgency to strengthen disaster risk reduction has been reinforced globally, particularly through the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which highlights the need to accelerate action before 2030. Yet its Midterm Review delivered a clear message: while progress has been made, efforts at the local level remain insufficient. With the 2030 deadline approaching, it is increasingly clear that resilience must be built where disasters are first felt, in cities, towns, and communities.In Guyana, this shift toward local action is gaining momentum. Through the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative, efforts are underway to strengthen resilience at the local level. Initiated in 2025, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), in close collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, and the Mayor and Town Council of Lethem, launched this process with the generous support of the Government of Australia, alongside the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and partners. Working alongside national institutions, local authorities, and a wide range of stakeholders, the process focuses on assessing capacities, identifying gaps, and supporting the development of local governance plans for disaster risk reduction and resilience. These efforts contribute to a broader movement to ensure that resilience is not just a concept, but something that is embedded in how cities and communities function.The process also connects closely with Guyana’s progress under the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, which marked a critical step toward strengthening multi‑hazard early warning systems to protect lives, livelihoods, and assets. As with resilience more broadly, the effectiveness of early warning systems depends on how well national frameworks translate into local action: how information reaches people, how it is understood, and how it supports timely response. By grounding resilience planning in local realities, the MCR2030 initiative is helping to strengthen these vital links.To reflect the diversity of risk across the country, the initiative focused on two distinct urban centers: Georgetown and Lethem. Each offers a different perspective on hazard, exposure, vulnerability and resilience, highlighting why local context matters.In Georgetown, the country’s capital and economic hub, as the center of government, commerce, and services, the challenges are shaped by its geography. The city lies on a narrow coastal plain, much of it below sea level, protected by a long-standing seawall, a canal network and stands of mangroves. Yet despite these protections, flooding remains a persistent challenge. Heavy rainfall, combined with clogged drains or pump failures, can quickly lead to widespread inundation.What has become clear through local engagement is that many of the challenges are not just technical, but institutional. While different agencies are actively working to manage risk, coordination has often been limited. Bringing stakeholders together revealed a shared understanding that more integrated, proactive planning is needed. There is growing recognition that resilience depends on how well information is shared, how systems are connected, and how decisions are made collectively rather than in isolation.It also brought forward a set of practical, locally driven actions to strengthen resilience. These include improving the clarity and accessibility of early warning messages so they reach all communities with gender‑inclusive and accessible language, developing disaster risk reduction plans that reflect diversity and the needs of most-at-risk groups, expanding training to ensure responders and institutions are better prepared, strengthening data sharing and interagency coordination, and advancing risk mapping and real-time monitoring. For a city like Georgetown, building resilience means not only strengthening infrastructure, but also strengthening the systems and partnerships that support it.In Lethem, Guyana’s southern urban center bordering Brazil, these challenges are shaped by the surrounding landscape and its seasonal rhythms. As the central business hub of Region 9, the town sits within the Rupununi savannah, a mosaic of open grasslands, wetlands, rivers, and forest patches that becomes especially dynamic as seasons change. During the rainy season, rising rivers overflow and inundate low-lying savannahs and communities, disrupting livelihoods, damaging infrastructure, and limiting access to essential services. As the seasons shift, prolonged dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires, which can spread rapidly across the savannah and affect farmlands and nearby communities.Through the MCR2030 engagement, stakeholders in Lethem deepened their understanding of these risks and identified actions that reflect local realities. The discussions helped surface a range of actions grounded in local realities, including consultations with Indigenous communities to integrate local knowledge into planning, the importance of strengthening preparedness through targeted training, including for women, the development of gender-responsive building codes and standards, and the need for infrastructure that is safe and accessible.Across both Georgetown and Lethem, the outcomes of these efforts go beyond plans on paper. They are already strengthening relationships, improving understanding of risk, and creating space for collaboration where it did not always exist before. Stakeholders who once worked separately are now engaging in shared dialogue, building a more coordinated approach to managing disasters and reducing risk.There is still much work ahead, particularly in moving from planning to implementation. But the foundations have been laid. By investing in local capacity, strengthening governance, and connecting national priorities to local realities, Guyana is taking meaningful steps toward a more resilient future.And in the face of growing uncertainty, that local foundation may be its greatest strength. This story was first published by UNDRR.

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20 May 2026

General Assembly backs historic World Court climate crisis ruling

The Secretary-General said it makes clear Member States’ responsibility to protect their own people from what is an “escalating climate crisis”.The resolution drawn up by Vanuatu - a Pacific island nation on the frontline of the climate crisis, and several other countries - was adopted after intense discussion including multiple proposed amendments with 141 votes in favour, eight against and 28 abstentions.Those voting against were Belarus, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the US and Yemen. When the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s principal judicial body, ruled in July 2025 that States have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the decision was hailed as a breakthrough. The UN chief described it simply as “a victory for our planet”.‘Legal duty’The Court also ruled that if States breach these obligations, they are legally responsible and may be legally required to stop the wrongful conduct, offer guarantees that it won’t happen again, and make full reparation, depending on the circumstances.Although the ICJ’s advisory opinions are not binding, they carry significant legal and moral authority – helping to clarify and develop international law by defining States’ legal obligations.Wednesday’s General Assembly adoption following up on the ruling, sends a strong message that tackling the climate crisis is a legal duty under international law, and not just a political choice. “The world’s highest court has spoken,” responded Mr. Guterres. “Today, the General Assembly has answered.”What’s in the resolution?The resolution calls on all UN Member States to take all possible steps to avoid causing significant damage to the climate and environment, including emissions produced within their borders, and to follow through on their existing climate pledges under the Paris Agreement.Governments are urged to cooperate in good faith and continuously coordinate efforts to tackle climate change globally and ensure that climate policies safeguard the rights to life, health, and an adequate standard of living.In a statement released after the General Assembly vote, Mr. Guterres declared that those least responsible for climate change are paying the highest price, and that the path to climate justice “runs through a rapid, just, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy.”The UN Secretary-General noted that renewables have proved to be the cheapest and most secure form of energy and that the goal of keeping global temperature rises to no more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is still within reach............................................................................This story was first published by UN News.

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18 May 2026

Government of Guyana and United Nations Sign Declaration of Intent Advancing UN Participation in the Global Biodiversity Alliance

The Government of Guyana and the United Nations in Guyana signed a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to formalise the United Nations’ participation in the Global Biodiversity Alliance, marking an important step in strengthening cooperation on biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, climate resilience and global knowledge exchange. Honourable Gail Teixeira, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and Jean Kamau, UN Resident Coordinator, signed the DOI on18th May, 2026. The signing ceremony hosted by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, took place at the Office of the President. It was attended by senior government officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, as well as representatives of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in Guyana. His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has conveyed that the partnership reflects Guyana’s long-standing commitment to responsible stewardship of its forests, biodiversity and natural resources. He expressed that the signing by the United Nations on to the Global Biodiversity Alliance, led by Guyana, is a powerful affirmation that biodiversity protection and the sustainable management of natural resources must remain central to global development. He underscored that Guyana’s leadership in climate and biodiversity, has shown that innovative partnerships can support environmental stewardship, and Guyana remains committed to sharing experiences and lessons with the international community. “The United Nations is pleased to join this important initiative, which closely aligns with the world’s shared objectives of sustainable development goals (SDGs) while championing South-South cooperation,” said Jean Kamau, UN Resident Coordinator.Through the Declaration of Intent, the Government of Guyana and the United Nations reaffirmed their shared commitments to integrating biodiversity considerations into national development planning and sustainable investment frameworks, in line with Guyana’s vision of pursuing development that is inclusive, low-carbon, and climate-resilient. The Declaration further underscores the importance of inclusive participation and the meaningful engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose knowledge, stewardship and lived experience are essential to biodiversity conservation. The Partnership is expected to contribute to stronger coordination, data-sharing and information exchange on biodiversity action within the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, while supporting Guyana’s ongoing leadership in climate and biodiversity diplomacy.

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24 April 2026

IVY2026 Travelling Logo Reaches Kaieteur Falls: A First for the Caribbean, SIDS, and the Amazon

In a landmark moment for the global International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026 (IVY2026) campaign, the travelling IVY2026 logo has been showcased at Kaieteur Falls, marking its first appearance in the Caribbean, as well as its first activation in a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) and within the Amazon region.Located deep within Guyana’s pristine rainforest, Kaieteur Falls is one of the world’s most powerful single-drop waterfalls, symbolizing both the natural richness of the region and the importance of sustainable stewardship. Against this extraordinary backdrop, the IVY2026 travelling logo initiative brought global attention to the vital role of volunteerism in advancing sustainable development.A Global Message, A Local SettingThe activation was facilitated by César Guedes, UNV Focal Point in Guyana and Senior Subregional Advisor (Caribbean), who engaged a group of 12 international visitors to participate in this symbolic moment. Representing a diverse range of countries and professions, including medical practitioners, academics, engineers, diplomats, and creatives, their participation reflects a shared understanding that volunteerism transcends borders, cultures, and disciplines, serving as a unifying force for collective action in addressing today’s complex global challenges.“Bringing the IVY2026 travelling logo to Kaieteur Falls was both symbolic and strategic. It reflects our commitment to positioning volunteerism at the heart of development efforts in the Caribbean and beyond, while engaging people from all walks of life in a shared global movement,” said Guedes. Advancing the Agenda 2030 through VolunteerismThe IVY2026 campaign aims to raise awareness about the critical contributions of volunteers to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as highlighted by UN General Assembly Resolution 78/127, encouraging Member States to promote volunteerism as a driver of the SDGs. “This initiative shows how volunteerism can connect people across cultures and places, even in remote locations, and highlights the vital role volunteers play in advancing sustainable development in Guyana,” said Jean Kamau, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guyana.Across the world, volunteers play a transformative role in strengthening community resilience, promoting inclusion, supporting service delivery, and fostering innovation at the grassroots level. In regions such as the Caribbean, characterized by unique vulnerabilities linked to climate change, economic shocks, and geographic isolation, volunteerism is an essential enabler of sustainable and inclusive development.From Guyana to the WorldThis milestone in Guyana underscores the country’s growing role within global development dialogues and highlights the Caribbean’s contribution to the global volunteerism movement. It also reinforces the importance of inclusive participation and partnerships in achieving the SDGs.As the travelling logo continues its journey across regions, its presence at Kaieteur Falls stands as a powerful reminder: volunteerism is everywhere, from remote natural landscapes to global policy platforms, connecting people and driving progress toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.

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22 April 2026

Youth Leadership: A Vital Contributor to a Sustainable and Inclusive Future for All

At a time of accelerating global crises and transformation, the question is no longer whether young people should be at the table, but how power is being shared with them. With more than 2.6 billion people aged 15–35 worldwide, this generation is not only the largest in history, but a decisive force in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future.The ECOSOC Youth Forum continues to serve as a key platform for young people, civil society, decision-makers and partners to engage and contribute to global discussions on sustainable development.Yet as Felipe Paullier, ASG for Youth Affairs and Head of the UN Youth Office, reminded participants, "Too many young people who should be in this room are not with us — because of conflict, because of displacement, because of visa restrictions, and because of growing inequalities, many voices have been left out of this space.” He emphasized that this is not simply a logistical challenge but a question of fairness and whose voices are included in global decision‑making. During this year’s forum, the plenary session, themed Youth leadership: a critical force in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future for all, explored how young people engage in shaping policies and influencing outcomes, particularly in challenging contexts, and how civic action can translate into institutional change. In today’s world, youth participation is increasingly visible across policy and development spaces. However, a critical gap remains between participation and actual influence. While young people actively contribute through civic engagement, community initiatives and advocacy, their ability to shape outcomes remains limited and fragmented.This raises an important question: how can youth participation move beyond representation toward real influence and shared power?Bringing these issues into conversation, the plenary featured speakers from across youth advocacy, multilateral institutions and public leadership, including Luis Mojica Perez, Founder and CEO of The Project to Decolonize Coffee; Rodrigo Cardoso, Youth Leader for the European Region within Amnesty International’s Global Youth Collective; Laurel Patterson, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications at the UNDP Crisis Bureau; Lena Goings, Member of the Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change; Ms. Federica Onori, Vice Chair of the OSCE PA Network of Young Parliamentarians and Special Representative on AI; and Rena Kawasaki, Founder and Director of Earth Guardians Japan.Rodrigo, Youth Leader for the European Region within Amnesty International’s Global Youth Collective, responded to this challenge by emphasizing the importance of both self-confidence and intentional inclusion: “Do not shrink yourself to fit the room. Once you enter it, you own it and you belong to it. And to the policymakers and ministers in the room: if you truly believe in leaving no one behind, do not just invite young people in. Be intentional about who you invite, whose realities are represented, and who is still missing.” Youth Leadership in Challenging ContextsThe plenary session highlighted the realities of youth leadership across different parts of the world, including in crisis areas and challenging contexts, where young people often operate under structural and political constraints. Even in these environments, youth are active contributors, leading grassroots initiatives, supporting social cohesion and responding to local needs.Despite this, significant barriers continue to prevent many young people from accessing formal decision-making spaces. Limited opportunities, restricted civic environments, weak feedback mechanisms and a lack of institutional support hinder their ability to meaningfully contribute and influence policies and outcomes. At the same time, youth are developing adaptive ways to engage. Through networks, community-led initiatives and alternative platforms, they continue to create opportunities for participation, even when formal systems remain inaccessible.These experiences underline a key message: youth leadership is present and active but often underrecognized within institutional processes. Addressing this gap is essential to ensure participation is not only visible but meaningful. From Civic Action to Institutional InfluenceThe session also explored how youth engagement can progress toward genuine institutional influence. As many participants noted, while young people are active in civil society and advocacy, the transition into formal decision-making spaces and power sharing processes remains uneven.Discussions emphasized the need to strengthen pathways for youth to influence policy, including through political participation, representation and engagement with institutions. Digital tools were also highlighted as key enablers, expanding opportunities for participation and amplifying youth voices. Yet access alone is not sufficient. Meaningful influence requires accountability, inclusive processes and a shift toward engaging youth as partners rather than just beneficiaries. Rena Kawasaki, Founder and Director of the NGO Earth Guardians Japan, stated, "[To] organizations that are in this room, delegations that are in this room, I think in order to create intergenerational collaboration... recognizing these people who aren't able to be in these rooms is crucial to a step forward...And I think that when we walk out of this grand hall today and we go out there and we do all of the amazing things... I hope we never forget the power and the privilege that we had in walking into this room."Bridging the gap between civic engagement and institutional influence is critical to strengthening youth leadership and ensuring lasting impact. The Way ForwardThis year’s ECOSOC Youth Forum, through this plenary session, reaffirmed that youth are already contributing to solutions across diverse contexts. The priority now is to ensure that this engagement translates into meaningful influence on decision-making at all levels.Moving forward, strengthening accountability, expanding inclusive participation pathways, and fostering genuine power sharing between youth and institutions will be essential to advancing youth leadership in practice.
This article was first published on the UN Youth Office's website.

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Press Release

12 February 2026

Strengthening Guyana’s Seafood Value Chain through One UN Action: FAO, ILO, and ITC Partner to Enhance Linkages in Guyana’s Seafood Sector

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Trade Centre (ITC) collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Labour to host a one-day workshop on Monday, 9 February 2026. Titled “Strengthening Guyana’s Agribusiness: From Fisheries Cooperatives to Seafood Markets”. The workshop brought together fisheries cooperatives, seafood and agrifood businesses, banks, business support organizations, and policymakers. Its main goal was simple: to help fisheries cooperatives connect more easily with buyers, markets, and sources of finance in Guyana. By creating space for these groups to meet, talk, and plan together, the event aimed to reduce gaps in the seafood value chain and to support more stable, profitable business relationships.Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Hon. Keoma Griffith, in his keynote address, said, “The forum is timely as it ensures that Guyana’s fisherfolk are fully part of the country’s ongoing development and transformation”. He indicated that the government supports these partnerships between international organizations, cooperatives, and the private sector to build more resilient agricultural and fisheries systems that can drive inclusive economic growth in Guyana and across the Caribbean.” Mr. Denzel Roberts, Chief Fisheries Officer of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, echoed Minister Griffith’s sentiments that the Government of Guyana supports the development of fish cooperatives and this workshop. He added that the event will create linkages between fisherfolk and financial institutions and help the sector access new markets, in line with the Government’s objectives.The event was supported by business stakeholders such as national banks, regional partners, and the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Their involvement facilitated discussions beyond ideas towards practical partnerships that can improve access to markets and finance. Over time, these partnerships can help cooperatives invest in better equipment, improve product quality, and increase production, leading to higher incomes and more secure jobs in fishing and related industries.Rory Osborne, a fisher from Wakenaam, noted, “This event opened my eyes to all the things required to run a coop and was great for networking with new people”.Victor Mangru, a fisher from Region Three, added that “The event is great because I’ve been able to meet people like business incubators, supermarkets, and banks, which can help my business grow”.Through focused discussions and networking sessions, participants shared practical ways to work together more effectively. They looked at how to strengthen relationships between suppliers and buyers, improve productivity and quality, and adopt responsible business practices across the fisheries and agrifood sectors. Special attention was given to the needs of cooperatives, small-scale producers, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), so that growth in the sector benefits a wider range of people.Labour standards and decent work were a key part of the conversation. By encouraging businesses and cooperatives to follow fair labour practices from the start, the workshop helped to link market growth with safer working conditions, skills development, and more stable employment for Guyanese workers.The workshop also allowed representatives from the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Agriculture to engage directly with private-sector actors. This will help to ensure that new business partnerships support national priorities, including sustainability, inclusive growth, and decent employment. When public policy and private investment work in the same direction, successful models can be expanded and have a greater impact across the sector.The representative of Survival Supermarket said that this was a beneficial event for first engagement, and he can see great potential with new seafood suppliers.The collaboration reflects the different but complementary roles of the partners involved:FAO works to strengthen sustainable fisheries, agrifood systems and livelihoods;ITC supports MSMEs to become more competitive and access markets;ILO promotes decent work and respect for labour standards; andGuyana’s Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Labour provide national leadership on sector development and employment.By strengthening links within Guyana’s seafood value chain, the workshop supports national development goals such as job creation, economic diversification and food system resilience. In the longer term, stronger and more inclusive value chains can increase incomes for workers and producers, attract investment, and boost the seafood sector’s contribution to the national economy.The event also supports the goals of the FISH4ACP programme, which aims to make fisheries and aquaculture value chains more sustainable, inclusive and resilient. It contributes to progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to decent work, economic growth, innovation and sustainable use of marine resources.FISH4ACP is an initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) aimed at making fisheries and aquaculture value chains in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific more sustainable. FISH4ACP is implemented by FAO with funding from the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Mr. Joan Nadal Sastre, Head of Cooperation for Guyana and Suriname, Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Suriname and CARICOM, said the EU supports this initiative that will create local added value, stimulate growth, generate decent jobs, and strengthen cohesion that are aligned with the European Union values – particularly inclusion, social cohesion and sustainable development.Looking ahead, the United Nations partners will focus on translating the workshop outcomes into concrete business opportunities for fisheries cooperatives. They hope to sustain the commercial linkages between cooperatives, banks, and supermarkets, strengthen cooperatives’ competitiveness to be more market driven, increase sales volumes, and position them as viable players in Guyana’s seafood market. FAO, ITC and ILO, together with national partners, reaffirmed their commitment to follow up on the outcomes of the workshop and continue supporting the development of competitive, sustainable, and inclusive fisheries and agribusiness value chains that deliver lasting benefits for Guyanese workers, communities, and the economy.

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Press Release

27 January 2026

UN announces new Expert Advisory Panel to advance efforts in quantifying countries’ multidimensional vulnerabilities

The UN General Assembly’s establishment of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) signals the international community’s recognition that vulnerability poses a major obstacle to sustainable development, particularly as countries face increasing exposure to exogenous shocks and stressors. The MVI measures the structural vulnerability and limited structural resilience of all developing countries and serves as a diagnostic tool to guide coordinated action, improve development decision-making and resource allocation. The Panel is mandated to help ensure the continued robustness, relevance, and credibility of the MVI. Its responsibilities include conducting triennial reviews of the index; monitoring progress by developing countries in reducing structural vulnerabilities; evaluating emerging concepts and data; and reviewing lessons learned from the use of the MVI across the UN system and beyond. Serving in their personal capacity, the Panel’s members bring diverse expertise spanning economic development, social development, environmental protection, vulnerability measurement, and resilience-building. The Panel reflects broad geographical and gender balance and includes leaders from the public sector, academia, civil society, and the international community. Congratulating the panel, Rabab Fatima, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), said, “The establishment of the MVI Advisory Panel marks a critical milestone in advancing our collective understanding of structural vulnerability. For far too long, the most vulnerable countries —LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS — have faced exogenous shocks that undermine hard-won development gains and constrain sustainable progress. The MVI is a long-overdue evidence-based instrument to capture these realities. I am confident that the distinguished members of this Panel will help ensure that the Index continues to evolve as a robust instrument to inform policy, enhance access to finance, and support more equitable and resilient development outcomes.”The MVI Advisory Panel will be supported by a dedicated Secretariat, responsible for maintaining the Index and conducting periodic updates. In addition, the Secretariat will carry out a range of functions aimed at strengthening and reporting on the index, including providing capacity-building support to Member States. As part of the governance framework, the UN Statistical Commission will conduct technical reviews of any future enhancements to the index.“The establishment of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) signals a vital recognition that vulnerability to external shocks is a primary obstacle to sustainable development…. To capitalize on the momentum developing countries must advance transformative national development agendas that shockproof their vulnerable economies,” stated Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). He added, “In parallel, the international community must deliver targeted financing at speed and scale. For this to work, consideration of multidimensional vulnerability and its impact cannot be an exception; it must be the norm in the financing policies of IFIs and development partners.” Panel MembershipThe Advisory Panel comprises 15 experts selected from across regions, sectors, and disciplines. Their CVs are available here. Ms. Sabina Alkire — United States Ms. Amatalalim (Amat Al Alim) Alsoswa — Yemen Mr. Tumasie Blair — Antigua and Barbuda Mr. George Carter — Samoa Mr. Paul Cheung — Singapore Mr. Jean‑Christophe Donnellier — France Mr. ZENG Fei — China Ms. Salmou Gourouza Magagi — Niger Mr. Edgar Gutiérrez‑Espeleta — Costa Rica Ms. Fahmida Khatun — Bangladesh Mr. José Antonio Ocampo — Colombia Ms. Adela Raz — Afghanistan Ms. Therese Turner‑Jones — Bahamas Ms. Dzodzi Tsikata — Ghana Mr. Kerfalla Yansane — GuineaNext StepsThe Panel will convene its first meeting in 2026 to adopt its work programme and initiate preparations for the first triennial review of the MVI due in 2028. Additional information: Report:High-level panel on the development of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index Multidimensional Vulnerability Index for SIDS (UN DESA)Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (OHRLLS) For more information and for interview requests, please contact: May Yaacoub | UN Office for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States | yaacoubm@un.orgSharon Birch | UN Department of Global Communications | birchs@un.org Helen Rosengren |UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs | rosengrenh@un.org

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Press Release

08 January 2026

Global economy shows resilience, but trade tensions and fiscal strains cloud outlook, UN warns

New York, 8 January 2026 – Global economic output is forecast to grow by 2.7 per cent in 2026, slightly below the 2.8 per cent estimated for 2025 and well below the pre-pandemic average of 3.2 per cent, according to the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026, released by the United Nations today.During 2025, unexpected resilience to sharp increases in U.S. tariffs, supported by solid consumer spending and easing inflation, helped sustain growth. However, underlying weaknesses persist. Subdued investment and limited fiscal space are weighing on economic activity, raising the prospect that the world economy could settle into a persistently slower growth path than in the pre-pandemic era. The report notes that a partial easing of trade tensions helped limit disruptions to international commerce. However, the impact of higher tariffs, coupled with elevated macroeconomic uncertainties, is expected to become more evident in 2026. Financial conditions have eased amid monetary loosening and improved sentiment, but risks remain high given stretched valuations—especially in sectors linked to rapid advances in artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, high debt levels and borrowing costs are constraining policy space, especially for many developing economies.“A combination of economic, geopolitical and technological tensions is reshaping the global landscape, generating new economic uncertainty and social vulnerabilities,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. “Many developing economies continue to struggle and, as a result, progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals remains distant for much of the world.”Regional economic outlook: expansion broadly steady, but uneven Economic growth in the United States is projected at 2.0 per cent in 2026, compared to 1.9 per cent in 2025, supported by monetary and fiscal easing. However, a softening labour market will likely weigh on momentum. In the European Union, economic growth is forecast at 1.3 per cent in 2026, down from 1.5 per cent in 2025, as higher U.S. tariffs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty dampen exports. Output in Japan is expected to expand by 0.9 per cent in 2026, compared with 1.2 per cent in 2025, with a modest domestic recovery partly offsetting weaker external conditions. In the Commonwealth of Independent States and Georgia, growth is projected at 2.1 per cent in 2026, mostly unchanged from 2025, even as the war in Ukraine continues to weigh on macroeconomic conditions. In East Asia, growth is projected at 4.4 per cent in 2026, down from 4.9 per cent in 2025 as the boost from front-loaded exports fades. China’s economy is expected to grow by 4.6 per cent, slightly lower than in 2025, supported by targeted policy measures. In South Asia, growth is forecast at 5.6 per cent in 2026, easing from 5.9 per cent, led by India’s 6.6 per cent expansion, driven by resilient consumption and substantial public investment. In Africa, output is projected to grow by 4.0 per cent in 2026, marginally up from 3.9 per cent in 2025. However, high debt and climate-related shocks pose significant risks. In Western Asia, GDP is expected to grow by 4.1 per cent in 2026, up from 3.4 per cent in 2025, yet the region remains exposed to geopolitical tensions and security risks. In Latin America and the Caribbean, output is expected to expand by 2.3 per cent in 2026, slightly down from 2.4 per cent in 2025, amid moderate growth in consumer demand and a mild recovery in investment.International trade facing headwinds; investment remains subduedGlobal trade proved resilient in 2025, expanding by a faster-than-expected 3.8 per cent despite elevated policy uncertainty and rising tariffs. The expansion was driven by the front-loading of shipments early in the year and robust growth in services trade. However, momentum is expected to ease, with trade growth projected to slow to 2.2 per cent in 2026. At the same time, investment growth has remained subdued in most regions, weighed down by geopolitical tensions and tight fiscal conditions. Monetary easing and targeted fiscal measures have supported investment in some economies, while rapid advances in artificial intelligence fuelled pockets of strong capital spending in a few large markets. The report cautions, however, that the potential gains from AI, when realised, are likely to be unevenly distributed, risking a widening of existing structural inequalities.Inflation continues to slow, yet strains to the cost of living persist The report also underscores that high prices remain a key global challenge even as disinflation continued. Headline inflation declined from 4.0 per cent in 2024 to an estimated 3.4 per cent in 2025 and is projected to slow further to 3.1 per cent in 2026. While overall inflation has moderated, elevated prices continue to weigh on real incomes. Unlike the globally synchronized surge of previous years, inflation trends have become more uneven, shaped by recurring supply bottlenecks amid rising geopolitical and climate‑related risks. Policymakers face an increasingly complex inflation landscape, where supply risks call for a more coordinated and forward-looking approach. Monetary policy remains central but needs to work with credible fiscal frameworks and targeted social measures to protect vulnerable groups. Sectoral polices also play a role by expanding productive capacity and strengthening supply chains, especially in food, energy and logistics. Coordinated action across monetary, fiscal and industrial policies will be critical to managing persistent price pressures without compromising social stability or long-term growth.“Even as inflation recedes, high and still rising prices continue to erode the purchasing power of the most vulnerable,” said Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “Ensuring that lower inflation translates into real improvements for households requires safeguarding essential spending, strengthening market competition, and tackling the structural drivers of recurring price shocks.”Call for renewed multilateral actionThe report underscores that navigating an era of trade realignments, persistent price pressures, and climate-related shocks will demand deeper global coordination and decisive collective action at a time when geopolitical tensions are rising, policies are becoming more inward-looking, and impetus towards multilateral solutions is weakening. Sustained progress will depend on rebuilding trust, strengthening predictability, and renewing the commitment to an open, rules-based multilateral trading system.The Sevilla Commitment, the outcome document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, offers a forward-looking blueprint to strengthen multilateral cooperation, reform the international financial architecture, and scale up development finance. Delivering on its key priorities—including clearer debt workout modalities and expanded concessional and climate finance—is essential to reducing systemic risks and fostering a more stable and equitable global economy. ~The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 will be available on 8 January, 12:45 pm EST at desapublications.un.org.Hashtag: #WorldEconomyReportMedia Contacts: Martin Samaan, UN Department of Global Communications,  samaanm@un.orgHelen Rosengren, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, rosengrenh@un.org

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Press Release

06 May 2025

Guyana’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Guyana is one of 14 States to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its upcoming session from 28 April to 9 May 2025. The first, second and third UPR reviews of Guyana took place in May 2010, January 2015 and January 2020, respectively.The UPR Working Group is comprised of the 47 Member States of the Human Rights Council. However, each of the 193 UN Member States can participate in a country review.The documents on which the reviews are based are: 1) national report - information provided by the State under review; 2) information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the special procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; 3) information provided by other stakeholders including national human rights institutions, regional organizations, and civil society groups.The three reports serving as the basis for the review of Guyana on 6 May can be found here.Location: Room XX, Palais des Nations, Geneva.Time and date: 14:30 – 18:00, Tuesday, 6 May 2025 (GMT+1).The UPR is a peer review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. Since its first meeting was held in April 2008, all 193 UN Member States have been reviewed thrice. During the fourth UPR cycle, States are again expected to spell out steps they have taken to implement recommendations posed during their previous reviews which they committed to follow up on and highlight recent human rights developments in the country.The delegation of Guyana will be led by Ambassador Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations in New York, accompanied by Ms. Oneidge Walrond, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.The three country representatives serving as rapporteurs (“troika”) for the review of Guyana are Belgium, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Dominican Republic.The webcast of the session will be at: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1q/k1qw0iej2oThe list of speakers and all available statements to be delivered during the review of Guyana will be posted on the UPR Extranet.The UPR Working Group is scheduled to adopt the recommendations made to Guyana on Friday, 9 May 2025, between 16:00 and 18:00 (GMT+1). The State under review may wish to express its positions on recommendations posed to it during its review.// ENDS // For more information and media requests, please contact Pascal Sim, Media Officer, at simp@un.org, David Díaz Martín, Public Information Officer at david.diazmartin@un.org, and Matthew Brown, Public Information Officer, at matthew.brown@un.orgTo learn more about the Universal Periodic Review: www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-mainSign up for the UN Human Rights Council Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/a3a538479938/hrc-mailshot-to-ohchr-global

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Press Release

09 October 2024

United Nations Development Programme in Guyana partners with the Ethnic Relations Commission to address hate speech in Guyana, support institutional strengthening and build public resilience against it

This partnership comes when Guyana prepares for the 2025 General Elections, a period that historically witnesses a surge in ethnic and racial hate speech.In an age of unprecedented information access, a click, a swipe, or a scroll can open a constant stream of news, articles and social media posts competing for our attention. However, within this ocean of data lies a hidden danger: hate speech from information pollution. Understood as the spread of false, misleading, manipulated and otherwise harmful messages, information pollution can quietly shape opinions, instigate conflict, and erode trust in reliable information. As experienced during the pandemic and now with the multiple crises worldwide, information pollution is threatening our ability to make informed decisions, participate in democratic processes, and contribute to the building of inclusive, peaceful and just societies. In fact, the United Nations Secretary-General has identified this phenomenon as a major contemporary threat, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat it.In this scenario, UNDP, as the largest United Nations provider of electoral assistance and with extensive experience in the field of democratic strengthening, is developing a series of innovative tools to support national, regional, and global efforts to promote information integrity and the resilience of information systems. Similarly, the ERC, being a constitutional entity mandated to promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination, has long recognized the impact of hate speech on societal divisions and is committed to proactive measures to counteract it. As part of the MoU, UNDP will provide comprehensive support to the ERC, including:1. Technical assistance to strengthen ERC’s existing methodologies for mapping and countering disinformation and hate speech.
2. Strengthen ERC’s capacities to access social media data, providing crucial insights into information pollution.
3. Enhancing the ERC’s technological infrastructure to better respond to these challenges.Central to this initiative is the ‘Digital Kit for Democracy,’ which includes the powerful eMonitor+ system—a state-of-the-art social media monitoring and analysis tool that leverages artificial intelligence to track and analyse harmful content across various platforms. eMonitor+ facilitates the extraction and analysis of thousands of pieces of information from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and others. This information increases knowledge of pernicious phenomena in the information ecosystems of countries and regions.Furthermore, as it is deployed simultaneously in various countries with different information dynamics, eMonitor+ is helping establish a standardized language and comparative data collection, analysis, and dissemination methodologies, so that cross-border dialogue, learning and cooperation can be facilitated. This makes eMonitor+ particularly useful in contexts with little research or data available on these topics. Only in 2024, six countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have started implementing eMonitor+ (Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Venezuela), and have since accessed a portfolio of good practices, innovative approaches, and partnership possibilities to tackle electoral mis/disinformation and hate speech. The UNDP Resident Representative for Guyana and Surinam, Mr. Gerardo Noto said, "by equipping the ERC with the tools and methodologies to combat hate speech and misinformation, we are taking proactive measures to strengthen democracy and promote social cohesion."The Chairman of the ERC, Shaikh Moeenul Hack, noted that “the ERC launched a proactive Countering Hate Speech campaign aimed at reducing racial and ethnic violations in the lead-up to the elections. The E-Monitoring Tool will be instrumental in enhancing our capacity to capture a wider reach of content. This innovative, automated system will efficiently identify key words and phrases that are racially and ethnically offensive, allowing us to respond more swiftly and effectively.”Through this collaboration, the ERC will enhance its Media Monitoring Unit's capacity to identify and address racially- and ethnically-motivated hate speech, disinformation, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence. The implementation of eMonitor+ will provide ERC with the necessary tools to extract and analyse large volumes of data, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges posed by information pollution.The signing of the MOU forms part of the wider ERC-UN System campaign to ‘Counter Hate Speech’, which was launched in June 2024. This campaign is an element of UN Guyana’s national implementation of the global United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, which highlights the UN’s ongoing commitment to promote peaceful, inclusive and just societies.As this initiative unfolds, both UNDP and ERC look forward to setting a benchmark for collaboration against information pollution in the region, ultimately working toward a more equitable and democratic future for all Guyanese citizens.

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