Trinidad and Tobago registered its 13^th consecutive year of expansion in 2007.  The country is ranked ‘high’ on the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI), being placed 59 out of 177 countries.  The energy sector is the main engine of growth which is attributed to the performance of oil and gas exploration and also makes possible the availability of funds to finance the achievement of the MDGs.  In spite of its strong economic base, Trinidad and Tobago continues to be challenged with how to maintain favorable prospects for growth, job creation and poverty reduction in the face of exogenous factors such as a possible downturn in energy process.  A recently completed study Survey of Living Conditions (2005) shows poverty estimates of 17%.

In 2002 UNDP supported the Government in localizing targets and relevant indicators within the framework of the MDGs.  This exercise in fact significantly informed the completion of the first draft MDG Baseline Report.   This work was subsequently integrated into the formulation of the long term development plan, Vision 2020 such that the latter’s achievement will be measured by the degree to which the MDGs are achieved. The annual report (Transformation in Progress 2007) of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago on the implementation of Vision 2020 was issued in 2007. It provides an account of the progress being made towards the achievement of specific targets identified in the Vision 2020 Operational Plan 2007 - 2010. Essentially, this represents the first step towards establishing a common framework for reporting on actions being taken across the public sector towards the achievement of specific outputs and outcomes consistent with Vision 2020.

UNDP therefore has continued to support a number of initiatives aimed at meeting the MDGs in Trinidad and Tobago.  They include:

·    Capacity building in DevInfo – In 2005, UNDP conducted training for selected staff of 22 government Ministries and Departments.  Additional training sessions were held in 2007 in order to continue to build a cadre of professional staff who will be able to use this tool to manage the data challenges in regular MDG reporting as well as informing national policy and programming.   This is also part of a larger vision to restructure the Central Statistical Office (CSO) to better respond to data needs for national planning.    

·     Collaborating with Development Partners to support the national development processes (Vision 2020).  Through an on-going dialogue with development partners resident in Trinidad and Tobago which commenced in 2005, UNDP established a round table for discussing pertinent issues, inclusive of the strategies of multilateral agencies to address national priorities, using the MDG framework.  Concrete results from this effort have been the development and implementation of strategies to address disaster preparedness in Tobago.

·     MDG Advocacy – UNDP has promoted the MDGs to different target groups.  Through the University of the West Indies, as well as other tertiary institutions, a series of lectures were held with students preparing theses on the subject of MDGs and Development. Through the National Youth Council, there have been annual promotional events on International Youth Day (12 August) which have included  Food Fair with the proceeds going towards charitable causes; a street parade with colour-coded banners of the eight MDGs.