During the 1980s the Latin American and Caribbean countries experienced the worst economic crisis of all time resulting in growing unemployment , impoverishment and a lack of money to finance social programmes. The adverse economic situation was worsened with the servicing of a large external debt that forced governments to resort to drastic economic adjustment measures under pressure from international financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF paying no attention to the human dimension consequences. In fact, the region was a net exporter of financial resources to the industrialized world.
The resulting adjustment policies included cutback of social sector expenditures with damaging consequences to programmes benefiting children. In addition, the region has seen a rapid process of urbanization with the resulting negative consequence for most of the people living in the slums and shanty towns in many capital cities with poor housing, poor health, poor nutrition, poor sanitation and exploitation by all kinds of social evils. The impoverishment forced an increasing number of children onto the streets in many countries enduring abusive conditions to support themselves and their families.
Likewise, a widening imbalance and inequality between social groups in most countries of the region was noted. A situation that has created social tensions and seriously undermined the political stability in the region. There was mounting pressure and rising demands for structural change, social justice and equality of opportunities.
The economic crisis was further complicated by war and violence in various countries of the region such as the armed conflicts in El Salvador and Nicaragua, guerilla warfare in Colombia and Peru, social unrest in many countries that has manifested itself in street protests and violence. These hostilities have claimed the lives of at least a hundred thousand people. Consequently, the number of households headed by women and children in difficult circumstances has multiplied. Important to mention was the rise in drug production in some countries of the region that displaced the production of basic food crops with a disruptive social effect reflecting an increased use of drugs and an escalation of violence among the drug dealers.
Another serious problem was the enormous extent of deforestation and environmental damage that occurred in many countries. The amount of usable farmland was reduced due to natural disasters like flood and recurrent drought. Various countries of the Caribbean and Central America were struck by hurricanes. Others on the mainland have faced devastation caused by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. These natural disasters brought material losses and extensive human sufferings. The socio-economic effects were felt for many years.
These crises and the harsh adjustment measures led to the deterioration of quality of life of a large segment of the population in the region particularly children and women and worsened the inequality and social marginality, a reality in many countries.
How UNICEF has helped the countries respond to the crisis
UNICEF responded with imagination and in an appropriate manner helping governments to mitigate the difficult economic situation and meet the needs of their children, especially the millions living in poverty.
The constrained financial resources had forced governments to search for innovative and low-cost social interventions strategies to respond to the needs of the population particularly the children. It was under these circumstances that the UNICEF CSDR interventions and the basic services strategy became relevant.
The UNICEF country offices seized the opportunity offered by the crisis to advocate for the innovative low-cost CSD interventions and the UNICEF concept of adjustment with a human face. These two initiatives were widely accepted by the governments and represented the two main dimensions of UNICEF cooperation to help the countries respond to the difficult economic situation. They represented the cornerstone of the UNICEF country programmes of cooperation.
The UNICEF structure in the region saw the transfer of the UNICEF Regional Office from Santiago, Chile to Bogota ,Colombia and later to Panama City. This led to the consolidation of the regional concept that implies a cohesive and unified thinking between the Regional Office and the country offices regarding the definition of UNICEF strategy and priorities in the region. Along this line the sub-regional concept was also developed in the Caribbean, Central America, the Southern Cone countries and the Andean region.
Rather than debilitating UNICEF action and unity within the region these country groups allowed UNICEF to provide a more effective response to common problems and challenges facing them as was seen in Central America with the Child Survival Programme, the English- speaking Caribbean Early Childhood development programme, the Regional Special Adjustment Facility programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (SAFLAC) developed by the Regional Office. The latter was an important tool that allowed UNICEF in the region to provide an adequate response to the challenges created by the economic crisis and the adjustment measures in place. SAFLAC has helped countries define strategies and programmes to mitigate the socio -economic deterioration and its impact on children.
CSDR has been the driving force of UNICEF cooperation in the region to tackle the main causes of the high level of infant mortality. National CSD plans were developed and successfully implemented in several countries with very good achievements. In the words of the Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil, “UNICEF has started a small fire that has begun to spread; it cannot be stopped”. Likewise, alliances were forged with organizations not traditionally involved in health interventions such as the Catholic Church, labour unions, Scouts and the communication media.
It is important to underline the high-level advocacy to mobilize political leaders and secure their commitment for the CSD interventions undertaken by the UNICEF Executive Director who visited the region on several occasions, the Regional Director, other UNICEF senior leadership and the UNICEF country Representatives. This advocacy combined with social communication has been a key element in the successful implementation and achievements of the CSD interventions in the region .
The economic crisis was further complicated by war and violence in various countries of the region such as the armed conflicts in El Salvador and Nicaragua, guerilla warfare in Colombia and Peru, social unrest in many countries that has manifested itself in street protests and violence. These hostilities have claimed the lives of at least a hundred thousand people. Consequently, the number of households headed by women and children in difficult circumstances has multiplied. Important to mention was the rise in drug production in some countries of the region that displaced the production of basic food crops with a disruptive social effect reflecting an increased use of drugs and an escalation of violence among the drug dealers.
Another serious problem was the enormous extent of deforestation and environmental damage that occurred in many countries. The amount of usable farmland was reduced due to natural disasters like flood and recurrent drought. Various countries of the Caribbean and Central America were struck by hurricanes. Others on the mainland have faced devastation caused by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. These natural disasters brought material losses and extensive human sufferings. The socio-economic effects were felt for many years.
These crises and the harsh adjustment measures led to the deterioration of quality of life of a large segment of the population in the region particularly children and women and worsened the inequality and social marginality, a reality in many countries.
How UNICEF has helped the countries respond to the crisis
UNICEF responded with imagination and in an appropriate manner helping governments to mitigate the difficult economic situation and meet the needs of their children, especially the millions living in poverty.
The constrained financial resources had forced governments to search for innovative and low-cost social interventions strategies to respond to the needs of the population particularly the children. It was under these circumstances that the UNICEF CSDR interventions and the basic services strategy became relevant.
The UNICEF country offices seized the opportunity offered by the crisis to advocate for the innovative low-cost CSD interventions and the UNICEF concept of adjustment with a human face. These two initiatives were widely accepted by the governments and represented the two main dimensions of UNICEF cooperation to help the countries respond to the difficult economic situation. They represented the cornerstone of the UNICEF country programmes of cooperation.
The UNICEF structure in the region saw the transfer of the UNICEF Regional Office from Santiago, Chile to Bogota ,Colombia and later to Panama City. This led to the consolidation of the regional concept that implies a cohesive and unified thinking between the Regional Office and the country offices regarding the definition of UNICEF strategy and priorities in the region. Along this line the sub-regional concept was also developed in the Caribbean, Central America, the Southern Cone countries and the Andean region.
Rather than debilitating UNICEF action and unity within the region these country groups allowed UNICEF to provide a more effective response to common problems and challenges facing them as was seen in Central America with the Child Survival Programme, the English- speaking Caribbean Early Childhood development programme, the Regional Special Adjustment Facility programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (SAFLAC) developed by the Regional Office. The latter was an important tool that allowed UNICEF in the region to provide an adequate response to the challenges created by the economic crisis and the adjustment measures in place. SAFLAC has helped countries define strategies and programmes to mitigate the socio -economic deterioration and its impact on children.
CSDR has been the driving force of UNICEF cooperation in the region to tackle the main causes of the high level of infant mortality. National CSD plans were developed and successfully implemented in several countries with very good achievements. In the words of the Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil, “UNICEF has started a small fire that has begun to spread; it cannot be stopped”. Likewise, alliances were forged with organizations not traditionally involved in health interventions such as the Catholic Church, labour unions, Scouts and the communication media.
It is important to underline the high-level advocacy to mobilize political leaders and secure their commitment for the CSD interventions undertaken by the UNICEF Executive Director who visited the region on several occasions, the Regional Director, other UNICEF senior leadership and the UNICEF country Representatives. This advocacy combined with social communication has been a key element in the successful implementation and achievements of the CSD interventions in the region .
A lesson learned, among others, was the importance of setting goals and a timeframe for achievement. The goal of UCI by 1990 has been a powerful force in the successful effort to mobilize political will, financial resources and technical support necessary to reach it. At the end of 1989 many countries had already reached 80% coverage.
Significant headway was made in the implementation of the CSD interventions in a large number of countries of the region. In the case of immunization all countries went national in their efforts to reach the goal. This was possible thanks to an unprecedented level of high-level political leadership commitment and support from UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, donor countries and other partners such as the Catholic Church and also a sustained and innovative social communication/mobilization strategy. Similarly comprehensive child survival and development programmes were developed in several countries of the region. We have seen a change of attitude of government decision makers towards providing a better response to children's problems and needs, thus putting the child on the political agenda.
In the area of child development some important initiatives with a low -cost family- based approach were developed with the technical support of UNICEF. For example, the Colombian family- based day care programme that provided an integral care to young children was considered a successful strategy that was taken to national scale. Several other initiatives, strategies and interventions linked child development to other social services: health and nutrition as was implemented in the English-speaking Caribbean countries.
The deteriorating economic situation in the region forced onto the streets in almost all countries an increasing number of children; most of them abandoned and living in the street. Several community-based approach initiatives developed with the technical support of UNICEF were successfully implemented in many countries with the final objective: the re-integration of the child in the family and the community.
Worth mentioning is the important work carried out in the region in the promotion of the UNICEF initiative: Adjustment with a Human Face” to respond to the economic crisis as an alternative to the structural adjustment measures imposed by the World Bank and IMF and their negative consequences on the social sector particularly on the poor population . Based on UNICEF advocacy and technical support provided by the Regional Office many countries took steps to mitigate the social cost of the adjustment measures. Through the Special Adjustment Facility ( SAFLAC) , UNICEF was able to respond creatively helping countries to define strategies and interventions to counter the socio economic deterioration.
What we witnessed in the region was that the innovative and low- cost interventions advocated and supported by UNICEF gained a great acceptance and credibility among political leaders.
To advance its cooperative work UNICEF, while continuing to maintain close working relationship with PAHO/WHO, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Inter American Development B (IDB), forged alliances with different strategic partners namely Parliament, the Catholic Church, the communication media and other allies. The Catholic Church hierarchy in the region played an important role in the promotion of CSDR, one example being the successful intervention of the Archbishop of El Salvador with the warring factions to observe the "Days of Tranquility" in order to vaccinate children.
Worth mentioning also is the Child Pastorate programme in Brazil that incorporated the CSD interventions. Similar agreements were signed in Guatemala and Bolivia between the Health Ministries, the Church and UNICEF. Of special significance was the audience granted early 1989 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the UNICEF Regional Director who was accompanied by some country Representatives and staff of the Regional Office. In the audience the Pope expressed support of the Church for UNICEF work in the region and issued a message supporting the CSD interventions.
Good cooperation was also developed with Parliaments in many countries to secure political support to the CSD interventions, the adjustment with a human face, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its ratification. This resulted in a heightened awareness of Parliamentarians of child problems and their rights and the negative social impact of the proposed economic adjustment measures. Such cooperation led to a supportive climate among Parliamentarians in many countries of the region to the UNICEF advocated initiatives. The working relationship developed with Parliaments also led to a rapid ratification of CRC by countries of the region.
The economic and social crisis provided a unique opportunity for UNICEF in the region to advocate and help implement the low-cost CSD interventions that prevented millions of children from dying. Second, the Adjustment with a Human Face initiative has helped countries respond to the crisis by not sacrificing the social sector particularly programmes benefiting the poor population. As Richard Jolly once said; "an adjustment which helps people, not harms them”
The UNICEF Regional office and country offices acting as a team have seized the opportunities at hand to help governments provide their children with a chance to survive, develop better and become productive citizens. In that pursuit the UNICEF offices received the firm support of the Executive Director and his Deputies, the Americas Section and other HQs Divisions.
UNICEF entered the 1990s with the complex legacy left by the 1980s and a tight agenda namely the achievement of the UCI goal in 1990, the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an acceleration of the implementation of the CSD interventions and continuous efforts to ensure that children well-being is assigned a high priority in the political agenda of the countries. The agenda also included support to other priorities such as women empowerment, protection of the rights of children and the strengthening of interventions on behalf of children in especially difficult circumstances.
Finally, what we have witnessed was an increasing awareness of political leaders of children’s problems and needs, a commitment and concrete positive actions on their part to address these issues. We have seen support for the Convention on the Rights of the Child that has led to its rapid ratification by countries of the region. In other words, the economic crisis has also led to a complete change of attitude on the part of political leaders and other sectors of society about children's well-being and their rights. We have also seen the emergence of a new ethic “Children First” that became a major social mobilization initiative on behalf of children in the region. Likewise, the concept of children as a bridge for peace was demonstrated in the vaccination campaign in EL Salvador.
Very important was a new thinking about the social significance of children among political decision makers that has led to the definition of policies in many countries of the region placing children high in the political agenda.
As I have worked in the region for almost 21 years, this plunge into the past to write this article on UNICEF in Latin America and the Caribbean has recalled memorable instances of my work in different positions as Programme Officer, Representative and Deputy Regional Director. It was indeed an enjoyable and rewarding journey that I very much treasure.
Significant headway was made in the implementation of the CSD interventions in a large number of countries of the region. In the case of immunization all countries went national in their efforts to reach the goal. This was possible thanks to an unprecedented level of high-level political leadership commitment and support from UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, donor countries and other partners such as the Catholic Church and also a sustained and innovative social communication/mobilization strategy. Similarly comprehensive child survival and development programmes were developed in several countries of the region. We have seen a change of attitude of government decision makers towards providing a better response to children's problems and needs, thus putting the child on the political agenda.
In the area of child development some important initiatives with a low -cost family- based approach were developed with the technical support of UNICEF. For example, the Colombian family- based day care programme that provided an integral care to young children was considered a successful strategy that was taken to national scale. Several other initiatives, strategies and interventions linked child development to other social services: health and nutrition as was implemented in the English-speaking Caribbean countries.
The deteriorating economic situation in the region forced onto the streets in almost all countries an increasing number of children; most of them abandoned and living in the street. Several community-based approach initiatives developed with the technical support of UNICEF were successfully implemented in many countries with the final objective: the re-integration of the child in the family and the community.
Worth mentioning is the important work carried out in the region in the promotion of the UNICEF initiative: Adjustment with a Human Face” to respond to the economic crisis as an alternative to the structural adjustment measures imposed by the World Bank and IMF and their negative consequences on the social sector particularly on the poor population . Based on UNICEF advocacy and technical support provided by the Regional Office many countries took steps to mitigate the social cost of the adjustment measures. Through the Special Adjustment Facility ( SAFLAC) , UNICEF was able to respond creatively helping countries to define strategies and interventions to counter the socio economic deterioration.
What we witnessed in the region was that the innovative and low- cost interventions advocated and supported by UNICEF gained a great acceptance and credibility among political leaders.
To advance its cooperative work UNICEF, while continuing to maintain close working relationship with PAHO/WHO, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Inter American Development B (IDB), forged alliances with different strategic partners namely Parliament, the Catholic Church, the communication media and other allies. The Catholic Church hierarchy in the region played an important role in the promotion of CSDR, one example being the successful intervention of the Archbishop of El Salvador with the warring factions to observe the "Days of Tranquility" in order to vaccinate children.
Worth mentioning also is the Child Pastorate programme in Brazil that incorporated the CSD interventions. Similar agreements were signed in Guatemala and Bolivia between the Health Ministries, the Church and UNICEF. Of special significance was the audience granted early 1989 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the UNICEF Regional Director who was accompanied by some country Representatives and staff of the Regional Office. In the audience the Pope expressed support of the Church for UNICEF work in the region and issued a message supporting the CSD interventions.
Good cooperation was also developed with Parliaments in many countries to secure political support to the CSD interventions, the adjustment with a human face, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its ratification. This resulted in a heightened awareness of Parliamentarians of child problems and their rights and the negative social impact of the proposed economic adjustment measures. Such cooperation led to a supportive climate among Parliamentarians in many countries of the region to the UNICEF advocated initiatives. The working relationship developed with Parliaments also led to a rapid ratification of CRC by countries of the region.
The economic and social crisis provided a unique opportunity for UNICEF in the region to advocate and help implement the low-cost CSD interventions that prevented millions of children from dying. Second, the Adjustment with a Human Face initiative has helped countries respond to the crisis by not sacrificing the social sector particularly programmes benefiting the poor population. As Richard Jolly once said; "an adjustment which helps people, not harms them”
The UNICEF Regional office and country offices acting as a team have seized the opportunities at hand to help governments provide their children with a chance to survive, develop better and become productive citizens. In that pursuit the UNICEF offices received the firm support of the Executive Director and his Deputies, the Americas Section and other HQs Divisions.
UNICEF entered the 1990s with the complex legacy left by the 1980s and a tight agenda namely the achievement of the UCI goal in 1990, the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an acceleration of the implementation of the CSD interventions and continuous efforts to ensure that children well-being is assigned a high priority in the political agenda of the countries. The agenda also included support to other priorities such as women empowerment, protection of the rights of children and the strengthening of interventions on behalf of children in especially difficult circumstances.
Finally, what we have witnessed was an increasing awareness of political leaders of children’s problems and needs, a commitment and concrete positive actions on their part to address these issues. We have seen support for the Convention on the Rights of the Child that has led to its rapid ratification by countries of the region. In other words, the economic crisis has also led to a complete change of attitude on the part of political leaders and other sectors of society about children's well-being and their rights. We have also seen the emergence of a new ethic “Children First” that became a major social mobilization initiative on behalf of children in the region. Likewise, the concept of children as a bridge for peace was demonstrated in the vaccination campaign in EL Salvador.
Very important was a new thinking about the social significance of children among political decision makers that has led to the definition of policies in many countries of the region placing children high in the political agenda.
As I have worked in the region for almost 21 years, this plunge into the past to write this article on UNICEF in Latin America and the Caribbean has recalled memorable instances of my work in different positions as Programme Officer, Representative and Deputy Regional Director. It was indeed an enjoyable and rewarding journey that I very much treasure.
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