Aruba hosted a successful side-event at UNGA 73

New York, September 2018 – On September 24, 2018, Aruba, together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) hosted a side event at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, on Social Innovation: Human-Centered approach toward SDG implementation. Among those in attendance were the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the United Nations, Karel Van Oosterom, Director of Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, Luis Felipe López-Calva, Chief Innovation Officer of the Government of Aruba, Varelie Croes and Chair of the National Aruba SDG Commission, Jocelyne Croes.

As the main speaker at the side-event, Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes presented Aruba’s progress on SDG implementation, focusing on social innovation and a human centered approach. Aruba, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), developed a roadmap for SDG implementation on the island. Aruba is a front runner in the implementation process of the SDGs, in the region and among SIDS.

The side-event was a great opportunity for governments to exchange experiences and share insights on how to boost social innovation to achieve the United Nations 2030 agenda. This session also showcased how the human-centered approach is being utilized by the private sector (Repsol), academia (Columbia University) and by other countries (Moldova) and cities (New York) that are in the implementation stage of the SDGs.