Strategy to fight poverty.

• Position: OAS

MINISTERS AND HIGH AUTHORITIES of OAS member states charged with overseeing social development met recently in Cali, Colombia with the objective of advancing in the fight against poverty by strengthening social protection strategies and recognizing the need to improve coordination with the organizations and mechanisms of Inter-American integration.

In the context of this Second Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Social Development, the document entitled "Strengthening and Providing Sustainability to Social Protection Systems" was adopted. The document expressed a commitment to "minimize the consequences of the crisis and, where possible, to keep from reversing the progress made thus far in poverty reduction." To do so, the document states: "We must strengthen and consolidate the institutions that oversee social policies and ensure fiscal sustainability in social protection programs."

During the meeting, the authorities discussed topics such as: the need to strengthen social protection systems as a comprehensive strategy to assist vulnerable populations; partnerships between the public sector, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector; and challenges faced by social development ministries and agencies on matters such as job creation and income generation, food security policies, and social risk management to reduce vulnerabilities in...