Dialogues about the Future of Uruguay

Discussing the Future of Uruguay

What does the future hold for Uruguay in the next decade? What are the aspirations of its population? Is it possible to make a leap to the highest levels of sustainable development? What gaps must the country close in terms of environmental, economic, and social issues? What public and private resources are required? Many of these questions do not have a single answer.

Development is a complex issue. No country on the planet can boast of achieving total gender equality, zero corruption, or sustainable resource consumption. In this sense, the Sustainable Development Goals, subscribed to by more than 190 countries in the 2030 Agenda, are a compass that allows for establishing a direction to advance globally. Due to its diverse social, economic, and environmental conditions, Uruguay is called to be an example to follow.

Furthermore, there are risks to sustainable development today that go beyond the devastating effects of the pandemic and include the impacts of the war in Ukraine, the consequences of climate change, or the vicissitudes of drug trafficking. Neither democracy nor development can be taken for granted anywhere in the world. Today, it is necessary to prepare for an uncertain future, as evidenced by the rapid progress of artificial intelligence.

In this context, it is necessary to reflect with strategic vision, weighing future risks and opportunities. Just as the country had the diagnostic and planning exercise of the CIDE more than half a century ago, numerous managers, academics, and Uruguayan experts have ventured to explore the future with a strategic outlook. It should not be surprising, therefore, that Uruguay, in addition to being a pioneer in social rights in the region, has experienced notable transformations in issues such as renewable energy or digital infrastructure.
 

The initiative "Dialogues on the Future of Uruguay" emerged in mid-2022 with the aim of encouraging strategic reflection and fostering a pluralistic and participatory dialogue around the main challenges the country faces in achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda and advancing towards sustainable development. It also seeks to create spaces for the construction of strategic agreements and broad alliances.

With this purpose in mind, over nearly two years, 16 workshops and work meetings were held, involving around 2,000 participants, including government authorities, representatives of subnational governments, political parties, civil society organizations and associations, business chambers and networks, trade unions, universities, think tanks, media outlets, and cooperation organizations, as well as groups of adolescents and young people, and citizens participating in a personal capacity. This work was supported by a Future Advisory Council, which was formed specifically for this initiative and included the President of the Astur Foundation, Cr. Enrique Iglesias, scientist Martina Crispo, sculptor Pablo Atchugarry, and journalist Carolina García.

This space was built through the joint efforts of the agencies, entities, funds, organizations, and programs that make up the United Nations system in Uruguay. Leading the organization of these dialogues or participating in panels with experts, 18 United Nations agencies were part of this initiative: OHCHR, UNHCR, World Bank, ECLAC, FAO, IOM, ILO, UNIDO, UN Women, PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNEP, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNODC, and UNOPS.

The "Dialogues on the Future of Uruguay" aim to contribute to the sustainable development of the country by promoting strategic and forward-looking reflection on the trends and development challenges facing Uruguay's economy and society. The goal is to encourage the construction of political agreements and the formation of alliances that can bring them to fruition. At the same time, this initiative may inspire similar efforts in other contexts, as well as provide valuable lessons and best practices.

As Foreign Minister Omar Paganini stated during the closing event of these dialogues:

"United Nations promoted these dialogues that culminate in a summit on the future to be held in September in New York, and in this sense, various state and civil society organizations have been participating in these dialogues on different topics in a global context of much conflict and a certain weakening of international organizations. We need to rethink the future to address the major problems the world is facing, such as peace, climate change, or how to achieve sustainable development."

More about the Summit of the Future: https://www.un.org/es/summit-of-the-future