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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recently unveiled the 2025 Regional Human Development Report for Latin America and the Caribbean, titled “Under Pressure: Recalibrating the Future of Human Development,” during a high-level event in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

UNDP shared via press release that the gathering was hosted by the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, with participation from government officials, civil society representatives, academics, and international partners.

As outlined by the release, amidst ongoing challenges faced by the Caribbean and Latin America—such as the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasingly severe climate-related disasters, rising debt levels, economic instability, political polarization, and persistent social inequalities—the report foregrounds resilience as a central element of development strategy. It underscores that progress in human development hinges on the capacity of nations and communities to anticipate, withstand, and adapt to shocks.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar remarked, “Why should geography determine dignity? The Caribbean knows vulnerability—but we also know resilience. We know how to rise, and we must rise together. Not just for ourselves but for the generations to come. These times of global uncertainty demand proactive strategies. They demand quick action with long-term vision. And that is the kind of leadership I am committed to delivering.”

She further stated, “This report shines a light on the path forward. It challenges us to recalibrate our development model—to make it more inclusive, more just, and more future-proof. In a region marked by both vulnerability and resilience, it is a timely call to action for leaders, institutions, and communities across the Caribbean.”

According to the UNDP, while highlighting the Caribbean’s position at the forefront of multiple crises—from hurricanes and rising sea levels to external economic shocks and fragile governance structures—the report also offers a message of optimism, emphasizing the resilience, ingenuity, and courage of the region’s populations.

It stresses that development efforts must incorporate resilience to be effective, proposing a new development framework centered on what it terms the three I’s of resilience:

– Instruments: Implementing smarter policies and financial mechanisms that safeguard populations and enable risk anticipation. – Institutions: Developing transparent, inclusive systems capable of responding effectively to crises and fostering trust. – Infrastructure: Building resilient physical and digital assets that withstand shocks and broaden access to opportunities.

Mischelle Muschett, UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasized the importance of resilience, stating, “Building resilience is not optional—it is a necessity in the world we live in today. And it is a shared responsibility: individuals should not be left to shoulder risks alone; governments cannot manage them in isolation; the private sector cannot innovate in a vacuum; and international partners cannot just borrow solutions from outside”.

She added, “Nor does resilience emerge automatically as a byproduct of growth or poverty reduction. It must be built—through concrete action, through innovation, through dialogue, through trust. It requires investing in people, strengthening institutions, and re-imagining the social contract for a new era of uncertainty.”

The report notes that, over recent decades, the Caribbean’s Human Development Index (HDI) has shown consistent growth, despite setbacks following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to 2020, the region experienced an average annual HDI growth rate of 0.3%, which has since slowed to 0.1%. Additionally, the report highlights the critical role of digital technologies in fostering resilience, emphasizing that genuine digital resilience involves more than just infrastructure—it’s about leveraging technology to enhance governance, expand opportunities, and safeguard rights.

However, it warns that access to digital tools remains uneven across the Caribbean, where fewer than 40% of households have a computer. The report advocates for a shift from basic connectivity to inclusive digital ecosystems that empower all individuals to thrive digitally, recommending investments in digital public infrastructure such as secure digital identification systems and interoperable platforms, alongside efforts to develop digital literacy and ensure affordable device access, especially in rural and marginalized communities.

The report also underscores the need for a renewed social contract—one that reduces inequality, bolsters civic trust, and protects fundamental freedoms like living healthily, learning, earning a livelihood, and participating fully in society. As the region faces an increasingly unpredictable future, UNDP asserts that the 2025 Human Development Report provides a strategic roadmap for navigating uncertainty and encourages a reimagining of development—not as a straightforward trajectory but as a resilient, collective journey spanning generations, sectors, and borders.

An interactive digital version of the report is available, featuring country-specific data, animated visualizations, practical policy recommendations, and an AI-powered chatbot to facilitate quick consultations on the report’s content.