Uruguay’s Sustainable Development: Time to Move Up a League

In football, staying in the same league can only take a team so far. At some point, a decision must be made: either remain in place or strive for promotion to the next level. Uruguay finds itself at a similar crossroads today in the realm of sustainable development.

With a population of 3.4 million, Uruguay has distinguished itself in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Boasting a high per-capita income, a growing middle class, and a largely egalitarian society, the country has enjoyed notable economic and social stability.

However, it is now time for Uruguay to step up its game. The stakes are higher in the next league, where progress is faster, but challenges are more complex. Success will not come from ambition alone; it will require every player—policymakers, civil society, the private sector, and citizens—to unite in pursuit of a future where economic, social, and environmental goals are seamlessly aligned.

Over the past year and a half, “Dialogues of the Future”, spearheaded by my team at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, with support from 18 UN entities, has provided the platform for these essential deliberations. 

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So, what makes these dialogues “unique”?

Our endeavor has been to foster an enabling environment for open dialogue and idea generation. Collaborating closely with the government, our UN Country Team (UNCT) designed a multi-stakeholder process that encouraged constructive discussions on Uruguay's sustainable development path. We ensured that diverse voices—spanning generations, perspectives, and sectors—were included and respected.

Through this, we engaged a diverse set of participants from political parties, the private sector, academia and civil society, including influential voices such as artists and journalists. Additionally, leveraging the convening power of the Resident Coordinator’s Office, we established an advisory committee comprised of prominent opinion leaders, ensuring that every voice was heard.

In total, 15 dialogues were held across a wide range of critical topics—often in highly efficient, cost-effective, and collaborative ways, with the involvement of UN entities. These discussions showcased how meaningful public engagement can be achieved through strong leadership and a commitment to collaboration.

These dialogues allowed participants to shape a long-term vision for Uruguay. From topics like jobs and migration to the circular economy, clean water, gender equality and security, these dialogues offered an opportunity to build consensus on some of the most pressing challenges facing the country.

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Here are three potentially game-changing areas for Uruguay:

1. Tackling Child Poverty:

One in five children in Uruguay lives in poverty. While there is broad political agreement on addressing this issue, more decisive action is needed. In this sense, my Office has led the creation of a policy paper that outlines the need for a systemic approach, from enhanced social protection and transfers that provide immediate relief to long-term investments in education and workforce development.

2. Driving Digital Public Infrastructure:

For Uruguay to advance, investments in science, digital technology, and innovation are critical. The dialogues uncovered numerous opportunities for Uruguay to leverage technology for development. While significant progress has been made in areas like digital education platforms and the "one laptop per child" initiative, there is much more to explore. From advancing agriculture and food security to digital upskilling for the jobs of tomorrow, the dialogue made it clear that a unified national strategy for digital innovation is urgently needed, alongside increased regional cooperation.

3. Leveraging Uruguay’s Position in Multilateralism:

Uruguay is a champion for multilateralism. Uruguay should foster multilateralism as a bridge to a sustainable future. In a world marked by geopolitical uncertainty, Uruguay has a unique opportunity to strengthen its international economic integration. This goes beyond traditional trade and investment; it involves advancing technology and knowledge transfers and fostering greater South-South cooperation. To seize this opportunity, Uruguay will need bold new development policies. 

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Looking Ahead

While these areas are not exhaustive, they highlight key actions that, when implemented together and sustained over time, can help Uruguay achieve significant progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

As the country approaches its presidential elections next month, these insights will serve as a foundation for informing candidates and engaging the public.

Moreover, they will help shape Uruguay’s participation in the Summit of the Future, taking place later this week.

As the Summit concludes, my team and I stand ready to kick-start the next phase. With our expertise, partnerships, and convening power, we will help create the conditions necessary for Uruguay to keep scoring for the team by anticipating and addressing the global challenges ahead.

The clock is ticking, and the final whistle on the 2030 Agenda is approaching. It’s time for Uruguay to claim its rightful place as a champion of sustainable development and a model for other nations to follow.

This blog has been written by the UN Resident Coordinator in Uruguay Mr. Pablo Ruiz Hiebra. For more information about the UN’s work in Uruguay, please visit uruguay.un.org