Building Resilient Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Credit: UNDP

The development trajectory of Latin America and the Caribbean is going through a period of unprecedented vulnerability and uncertainty. The significant achievements of past decades, as well as the possibility of continued progress, are under threat from growing geopolitical tensions, unresolved structural challenges, and multiple crises—environmental, political, health, technological, and social.

These challenges intertwine and reinforce each other, magnifying their impact and overwhelming the capacity of institutions to respond. Against this backdrop, a fundamental question arises: how can we protect the gains made in human development while continuing to move forward in this new reality?

The answer lies in the essence of the concept of human development. Since its formulation by economists Amartya Sen and Mahbub ul Haq in the first UNDP Human Development Report in 1990, the focus has been on expanding people’s capabilities so they can lead lives they value and find meaningful.

It is not only about income or material goods, but also about health, education, participation, freedom, and dignity. Yet human development is not static and can suffer setbacks. To safeguard progress in the face of recurring shocks and to keep expanding capabilities, resilience must become a core requirement.

In the context of human development, resilience is not just about enduring sudden shocks or returning to a previous state. It is the capacity and agency of human beings to live valuable lives in such a way that they can prevent or mitigate crises in their own lives and communities and, if necessary, rebuild and continue to thrive.

Resilience means that people and communities can reorganize, adapt, and move forward, even—especially—in the midst of adversity. A system is resilient not because it is immune to shocks, but because it can respond effectively, learn from experience, and emerge stronger.

Just as a modestly built house is resilient if it withstands an earthquake and protects its inhabitants, a health system is resilient if, despite its limitations, it reorganizes resources, mobilizes staff, welcomes volunteers, seeks external aid, provides psychological support, and emerges better prepared for future emergencies.

The key is not to avoid all damage—that would be impossible—but to respond with purpose and strengthen systems based on experience. In short, resilience is not improvised; it is built.

Resilient human development rests on three pillars: capabilities, human security, and agency. Capabilities are the opportunities people have to live lives they value—being healthy, learning, participating, and working with dignity. Human security protects this essential core from persistent or sudden threats such as hunger, violence, disasters, or disease.

Agency, meanwhile, is the ability to act according to one’s own values. It is not only about being included and able to choose but also about actively influencing one’s life and environment—organising, participating, and imagining alternatives even in times of crisis.

When people live with limited freedoms or insecurity—caused by violence, exclusion, or instability—their agency weakens. They may lose trust, withdraw, become demobilised, or adopt extreme positions. This is why a resilient vision of development must go beyond material aspects to strengthen interpersonal trust and civic belonging—the fabric that enables us to act, decide, and rebuild.

For Latin America and the Caribbean, embedding resilience into development is urgent. Without it, each crisis risks erasing years of progress. But with resilience, societies can prepare collectively, reduce damage, and transform systems with every challenge.

For governments, this means adopting risk-aware public policies—such as education systems that can continue in emergencies, social protection mechanisms that expand during crises, and care systems that enable reintegration into the labour market. It also means strengthening support networks and institutions that anticipate, adapt, and act effectively.

Resilience in public policy requires investment, planning, and consensus around a long-term vision. Yet it does not always demand large budgets, even in fiscally constrained contexts. The key is to innovate and prioritise—identifying which capabilities must be protected, which services must be preserved, and which social bonds must be reinforced before they break.

Innovation can be social, institutional, and territorial—not just technological. The region already uses tools with high potential, such as the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and inclusive financing instruments, to expand capabilities and create opportunities.

Resilient human development adapts the classic vision of development to modern challenges. It combines a transformative outlook with human security and acknowledges people as agents of their own destinies.

In today’s uncertain world, resilience is both ethical and practical—a compass of hope. For Latin America and the Caribbean, it is an opportunity not to resign to risk but to use each challenge as a springboard towards more just and cohesive societies.

The future is not written; it is built collectively. Resilience must be at the heart of development strategies, driving inclusive growth, innovative policies, and human dignity. Only through collaboration can societies create sustainable, valuable, and resilient life paths for all.

Michelle Muschett is Regional Director, UNDP Latin America and the Caribbean; Sabina Alkire is Director, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford.