Day: April 12, 2024

The Latin America and the Caribbean Results-Based Budgeting Network meeting proposes addressing climate change as a commitment of member countries.

The Dominican Republic hosted this meeting, which brought together representatives from 17 countries and served as the venue for a plenary session and elections. Punta Cana, La Altagracia – The 21st Meeting of the Results-Based Budgeting Network of Latin America and the Caribbean concluded successfully. The meeting convened budget directors and representatives from 17 countries to exchange and leverage best practices, strengthen collaboration among the countries, and develop a work plan for the Network for the 2024-2025 period. The event, held from April 10-12, included the participation of representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Barbados, Belize, and Guyana. Teodora Recalde, president of the Results-Based Budgeting Network, delivered the closing remarks, emphasizing the urgent need to address climate change as a commitment of the countries in the region. He also pointed out that “appropriate policies will depend on the individual challenges and circumstances of each country, and their determination always requires in-depth analysis.” Recalde praised the working sessions as a major step forward in the challenge of combating climate change and mitigating its effects. In this regard, he emphasized the creation of new sources of financing for global climate action, so that the budget reaches the people to improve and develop their countries. Finally, he reiterated the commitment of the Network's member countries to “continue investing in strengthening human capital through training, transparency, and accountability.” The presentations on the final day focused on governance in climate action, evaluation methodologies to improve governance by integrating finance ministries into inter-ministerial climate action, challenges and the work plan for the Latin America and the Caribbean Results-Based Budgeting Network for the 2024-2025 period, the Network's sustainability, and next steps. The meeting was attended by staff from the General Directorate of Budget, as the host institution, with the collaboration of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); In addition to the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPYD), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the National Office for Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (ONESVIE), the Commission for the Promotion of Technological Upgrading of the National Irrigation System, the Technical Unit for the Execution of Agroforestry Development Projects (UTEPDA), the National Botanical Garden, and qualified technicians and personnel from the Latin American and Caribbean Results-Based Budgeting Network, the event program included topics related to fiscal challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean in the face of the global climate emergency and the role of results-based budgeting, transparency of climate public policy, progress in identifying climate public spending in Latin America and the Caribbean, how to leverage practices implemented in LAC to have a positive impact on the environment, monitoring and evaluation of climate-related spending and its potential to contribute to mitigating climate change, and the use of advanced information technology in budgeting. El Salvador, Presidency and Host Country. As part of the agenda of the XXI Meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Results-Based Budgeting Network, held in the Dominican Republic, representatives of the member countries held a plenary session to address important issues related to country management. They also set the date and host country for the next meeting. As a result of the elections, Carlos Salazar was chosen as the new president of the Latin American and Caribbean Results-Based Budgeting Network, and El Salvador was selected as the host country for the next meeting of member countries. Brazil and Uruguay assumed the vice-presidency of the group. By unanimous decision, Teodora Recalde, the outgoing president, was declared president for life of the Network as a way to honor and recognize her work and contributions. The Latin American and Caribbean Results-Based Budgeting Network was created in 2003 to unite the efforts of its member countries, share best practices, and implement improvements in budget management through results-based methodology.