Joint National Steering Committee Reviews UN Progress for 2023

On August 23, 2023, the UN Resident Coordinator in Trinidad and Tobago, Joanna Kazana, together with Minister of Planning and Development, Pennelope Beckles, co-chaired the meeting of the Joint National Steering Committee which guides the work the UN System in Trinidad and Tobago.  

The Committee, comprised of senior UN officials and Trinidad and Tobago government leaders, including multiple Permanent Secretaries, reviewed the UN’s accomplishments for the year so far, including work to enhance economic opportunities for women and rural communities, develop new industries within the food production sector, accelerate the country’s transition to renewable energies and the digitalization of Government operations, contradict violence especially against women and girls, make the skills supplied by the education system more attuned with those demanded by employers, and modernize the data and statistics ecosystem.

Government officials provided valuable input that will make the UN’s work even more effective and synergistic with priorities of the state. 

The UN Country Implementation Plan (CIP) which underpins implementation of the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) between the UN and governments of the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean, is the main joint document encapsulating the ongoing UN System activities in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Through the CIP, the UN links its activities with national and regional development priorities, respectively set forth in the country’s Vision 2030 National Development Strategy and sectoral plans.  

In 2022, the UN delivered a record US $10 million in development support to Trinidad and Tobago.

Through strong partnerships with the Government and civil society, the UN is on track to see its 2023 expenditures exceed last year's result.