Message from the Executive Secretary

Dear Friends,  

Last year represented both change and renewal within the OAS’s Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (OAS-SEDI) spurred on by a robust dialogue among member states and internal Secretariat review that resulted in the consolidation of several programs and a sharper focus on technical cooperation programs and policy discussions.

At the same time, OAS-SEDI continued to open doors of opportunity for youth, rural and marginalized communities, entrepreneurs, innovators and others, impacting lives and communities in ways that are both immediate as well as long term. In 2013, over 200,000 individuals benefited from OAS-supported education and training opportunities; a growing number of technical exchanges were facilitated among ministries of labor, competitiveness and social protection; the Inter-American Teachers Education Network (ITEN) grew to 18,000 members; and programs in energy efficiency, natural resource management and sustainable cities leveraged over $18 million to support in-country initiatives.

Going forward, OAS-SEDI intends to keep strengthening strategic partnerships, cognizant of the fact that effective alliances support economies of scale and can produce better and more sustainable results in advancing integral development and helping to eliminate extreme poverty.

Indeed, as countries consider their own national development strategies and foreign policy imperatives, development cooperation is becoming even more important. In response, OAS-SEDI has been working towards a more comprehensive development cooperation program to attract contributions of technical and financial support that can respond more nimbly and effectively to the expressed needs of member states. In the first half of 2014, we plan to further solidify collaboration with cooperation agencies, private sector, international agencies and other stakeholders in a hemispheric network of partners for development. Additional cooperation will also be facilitated through our thematic Networks in areas such as labor, competitiveness, social protection and energy.

OAS-SEDI is also committed to remaining fully engaged in the post-2015 Development Agenda. The last United Nations General Assembly referred to the need for better coordination among institutions (international, national and also local governments), and a more cohesive approach to be able to respond to all three dimensions of its sustainable agenda -- inclusive economic growth, social development and protection of the environment. This dovetails with the OAS approach and provides the framework for policy discussions as well as our technical contributions to related UN Working Groups.

Finally, I wish to express our profound appreciation to member states and other donors for your support in 2013. That tangible support represents a powerful expression of confidence that the OAS-SEDI continues to provide demand-driven, effective and cost-efficient development support to countries. We invite you to join us during 2014 on this journey of continuous improvement to strengthen and sharpen the development agenda of the Organization and further contribute to equitable economic growth and democracy in the hemisphere.  

Sherry Tross

Executive Secretary for Integral Development