UNDP highlights role of local governments in Cuba’s development

Havana, Jul 7 (Prensa Latina) Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the UN Development Porgramme (UNDP), Luis Felipe Lopez-Calva, on Thursday highlighted the role of local governments during his last day in Cuba.

The UN deputy secretary-general highlighted the role of these structures in his visit to the western province of Artemisa on Thursday, where he met with officials from the center of promotion of local development, he tweeted.

They also talked about the role of universities in the decentralized development initiatives within the framework of the Articulated Platform for Territorial Comprehensive Sustainable Development.

This meeting strengthened ties with the UNDP in order to continue jointly working on projects that promote inclusive and multidimensional development.

On Wednesday, Lopez-Calva met with Minister of Economy and Planning, Alejandro Gil, and ratified UNDP’s support for environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and ecosystem preservation programs as well as strategic issues that make possible economic and social growth.

For his part, the Cuban minister thanked this agency’s support for the implementation of the National Economic and Social Development Plan and the UN 2030 Agenda. On Wednesday, he also met with Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña, with whom he discussed matters such as the strengthening of the capabilities of health personnel and institutions that provide prevention, diagnosis, treatment and medical care to HIV patients services.