Allegra Baiocchi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Costa Rica, reflects on her tenure, emphasizing that sustainable development is a practical, day-to-day effort that succeeds when implemented at the community level. She highlights that even countries with strong institutions and human capital face persistent inequalities, environmental pressures, and challenges in managing digital spaces, underscoring the need for locally grounded solutions.
Baiocchi stresses that localisation is not merely implementation but the origin of transformative change. In Costa Rica, initiatives like the Network of SDG-Promoting Cantons have shown that when local governments embed the Sustainable Development Goals into planning and budgets, development becomes measurable and enduring. Coordination between municipalities fosters shared learning, partnerships, and policies that outlast political cycles.
She emphasizes the UN’s value in helping countries “see to act,” providing evidence-based insights to tackle sensitive issues. In Costa Rica, the UN supported research on digital hate speech and discrimination, enabling the development of strategies to promote social cohesion and inclusion. This work demonstrates that what is measured and recognized can be effectively transformed.
Innovation, according to Baiocchi, is about applying new approaches to real problems. The UN supported Costa Rica in developing AI guidance for educational institutions and convened a national dialogue on AI ethics. These efforts showcase how foresight, ethical governance, and multi-stakeholder engagement can harness technology to solve societal challenges while mitigating risks.
Baiocchi also notes that high-income countries still benefit from UN support. Issues such as human mobility, climate change, cyber risks, and social polarization transcend borders, making global cooperation and technical expertise essential. The UN serves as a platform for dialogue, evidence-based decision-making, and protection of global public goods, regardless of national income levels.
Finally, she underscores the power of coordination. When UN agencies collaborate around clear priorities and leverage technical capacity, their collective impact grows. Citizens perceive the UN not as disparate agencies but as a cohesive system delivering solutions. Baiocchi concludes with a message of hope, highlighting the progress made through partnerships, evidence-based advocacy, and the embrace of the Sustainable Development Agenda at the community level.
Sustainable and inclusive development, she argues, requires courageous decisions, effective cooperation, and shared humanity rather than empty promises.
