Focus on building resilient institutions as CDB launches annual meeting

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has unveiled plans for its 55th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, set to take place in Brasilia, Brazil, from June 9-12. The event will centre on the theme, Building the Future: Resilient Institutions for a Greener, Stronger, and Inclusive Caribbean, highlighting the critical role of robust institutions in addressing the region’s development challenges.

At the launch event held at the Hilton Hotel, CDB President Daniel Best emphasised the importance of strong institutions in implementing key projects and supporting a dynamic private sector. “There is no path to the realisation of the just energy transition without resilient and innovative institutions,” Best said, adding that such institutions are “needed in every aspect of our country’s development”.

The choice of Brazil as the host country was described as “significant” by Best, who noted that the country’s extensive experience and culture of innovation present an opportunity to deepen cooperation and leverage Latin America’s strengths to support the Caribbean’s development agenda.

Best also highlighted the alignment with Brazil’s upcoming hosting of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 30), viewing it as a key opportunity to “synchronise our efforts on climate action, maximising our collective impact on sustainability”.

The meeting’s agenda will cover a range of pressing issues, including the climate crisis, financing needs, and building resilient communities. Best emphasised the need for “honest conversations” about private sector engagement and its role in delivering regional development outcomes.

Reflecting on his recent experience with the Government of Barbados, Best addressed the capacity gaps hindering effective governance across the Caribbean. He called for more concrete action from multilateral organisations: “We need to go even further looking at the skill sets that are there and how we can bolster those skill sets, looking at in many cases even the number of warm bodies that are in some of our institutions.”

The annual meeting will be led by chairperson
Vivian Becky Mendez Mueller, Brazil’s deputy secretary for International Affairs and Development at the Ministry
of Planning and Budget. Mueller emphasised Brazil’s commitment to promoting social inclusion and addressing climate change challenges: “Strong institutions are fundamental to sustainable development, with resilience being key to their effectiveness.” (BT)