The work programme of the Social Development Unit supports Member States as well as Associate Member States in improving social and economic development. The work of the Unit also seeks to build and strengthen institutional capabilities for generating and compiling reliable social, economic and environmental statistics in the Caribbean.

During the last five years the Caribbean subregion faced many social development challenges brought about by the intensification of poverty and social inequalities, migration, escalating food prices and the concomitant problems such as the financial crisis, rising health problems, particularly non-communicable diseases, crime and violence, unemployment and social dislocation.

The social development programme focuses on three specific areas, namely the promotion of gender equality, population and development and monitoring progress towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals (IADGs), such as the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

This programme is implemented through the provision of technical support, as well as the conduct of training workshops in the three areas of focus which includes:

Social Development: The work undertaken in social development seeks to achieve a better understanding among member states, of how to formulate and implement social policies and programmes and to promote evidence based policy making and programming within the Caribbean.

Activities seek to build the capacity of government officials, non-governmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders to measure progress towards the MDGs and other IADGs. The work focuses on the analysis of social policy and demographic dynamics in the Caribbean; poverty reduction and assistance with the construction of appropriate development indicators to advance national and subregional progress in the achievement of IADGs.

Gender and Development: Programme activities in the area of gender is guided by the overall objective of ECLAC's work programme to achieve dynamic, sustainable and equitable economic and social development while improving the Caribbean's linkages with the global economy and consolidating the integration of a gender perspective to enable the subregion to fulfil the goals set forth in the Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, and other global commitments including the Beijing Platform for Action.

The promotion of gender equity and equality goals is facilitated through the provision of technical assistance to member states through the national machineries for the advancement of women/gender in support of their gender mainstreaming policies and programmes. Support is also provided in the design and implementation of gender-mainstreaming projects and policies, including national gender policies, needs assessment, training and gender analysis.

Population and Development: In the area of population and development the work programme focuses on the promotion of support to the implementation of population issues such as migration, ageing and disability linked to internationally agreed development goals, such as the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing, the ICPD and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This work is facilitated through technical meetings, the generation of interregional dialogue, enhancing knowledge sharing and enhancing cooperation among sub-regional, regional and global development partners within and outside the United Nations system.