Statement to be delivered on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the joint meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) titled “From Risk to Resilience: Advancing social cohesion through job creation in peacebuilding contexts”

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the fourteen (14) Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

I thank the President of ECOSOC and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission for convening this important meeting.

Young people are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building peaceful, prosperous societies. Yet across our region, too many are being left behind.

In 2024, youth unemployment in the Caribbean, excluding Haiti, stood at 17.6 per cent—nearly four times the adult unemployment rate. When Haiti is included, youth unemployment rises dramatically to 30.5 per cent, exceeding levels recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young women face even greater challenges, with unemployment rates 1.6 times higher than those of young men. Many remain trapped in low-productivity, informal and insecure jobs - conditions that undermine long-term growth and social cohesion.

The situation in Haiti is particularly alarming. The country continues to grapple with successive economic shocks, unprecedented insecurity driven by gang violence, and a humanitarian crisis affecting more than 6.4 million people—more than half the population. Nearly 45 per cent of Haiti's population is under the age of 18.

For many young Haitians, poverty, hunger, displacement, and lack of educational and economic opportunities create fertile ground for gang recruitment. When legitimate opportunities disappear, criminal networks step in to fill the void.

Excellencies,

Creating sustainable jobs is therefore not only an economic necessity — it is a peacebuilding imperative.

Decent work provides income, dignity, purpose, and hope. It strengthens communities, reduces vulnerability to violence, and offers young people a viable alternative to gang involvement.

CARICOM therefore welcomes the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund project being implemented by the International Labour Organization on "Youth, Agroecology and Green Jobs" in Haiti's Grand'Anse region. Through skills training, entrepreneurship development, and support for micro-enterprises, this initiative is equipping young people with the tools to build livelihoods and contribute positively to their communities.
We also welcome the recent signing of the two-year Country Programme between the Government of Haiti and the International Labour Organization, which places particular emphasis on employment opportunities for youth and women, as well as support for internally displaced persons and workers in the informal economy. These interventions are especially important because they align with the broader regional direction articulated in our own CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan (CYDAP) which provides a regional framework for advancing youth empowerment, resilience, inclusion and social cohesion across the Community. This plan allows CARICOM to situate youth employment not only as an economic issue, but also as a matter of stability, protection, participation and long-term peacebuilding, particularly in crisis and conflict-affected settings.

In this regard, Haiti has also benefited in the past from our Aspiring Youth Empowerment Programme and the Creativity for Employment and Business Opportunity Programme (CEBO), both of which support young people’s entrepreneurial capacity, life skills, social and emotional development, and livelihood readiness. However, there are presently no resources available to support implementation. We would welcome the support of the international community.

CARICOM also remains deeply appreciative of the support of the United Nations system. We look forward to continued collaboration through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Haiti, particularly the shared objective of creating resilient livelihoods and diversified employment opportunities. We welcome the contributions of the ILO, UNDP, FAO, and IOM and other regional organizations and the Private Sector in helping Haitians rebuild lives, livelihoods, and communities.

At the same time, economic recovery cannot take root without security. CARICOM therefore thanks those countries supporting the multinational security effort and the Gang Suppression Force. Improved security is indispensable to restoring economic activity, rebuilding confidence, and creating opportunities for the Haitian people.

Excellencies,

The youth of Haiti do not lack talent, ambition, or resilience. What they need are opportunities.
By investing in decent work, livelihoods, and security, we can help transform vulnerability into opportunity and despair into hope. In doing so, we will not only support Haiti's recovery but also strengthen the foundations for lasting peace.

I thank you.