| Country | Ministry of Social Development or equivalent | Year of creation of specific first instance | Mission | Minister (year of entry) | Poverty and social development | Social protection | Wellbeing of specific segments | Intersectoral Commission for Social Development or equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment | 2004 | It is the government entity responsible for planning, developing and managing policies related to public health, social welfare and environmental protection in the country. Its main mission is to improve citizens' quality of life by providing accessible, quality health services, promoting healthy lifestyles and managing natural resources sustainably. | Michael Joseph (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Argentina | Ministry of Human Capital | 1981 | The mission is to accompany every Argentine throughout all stages of life: from childhood, with an education that supports economic development and is capable of transforming society as a whole, to competitive employment. | Sandra Pettovello (2023) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Barbados | Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs | 1999 | To contribute to the overall socioeconomic development of Barbados and to the empowerment of all members of society through the full use of all available human, financial and technological resources; the formulation of evidence-based policies; and the implementation of timely, effective and equitably accessible social programs and services. | Adrian R. Forde (2026) | 1 |
1 |
||
| Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | Ministry of the Presidency | 2006 | To coordinate the political and administrative management of the Executive Branch and its liaison with the other State Branches, social movements and autonomous territorial entities, ensuring efficient results-based public management, regulatory development, digital government, and the implementation of social and territorial management policies in order to consolidate the Plurinational State. | Fernando Aramayo (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Brazil | Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and the Fight Against Hunger | 1990 | To promote social inclusion, food security, comprehensive care and a minimum citizenship income for families living in poverty. | Wellington Dias (2023) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Bahamas | Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting | 1992 | To guarantee equitable access to social assistance and rehabilitation services that provide basic protection and security to people living in poverty, vulnerability or need, promoting their autonomy, well-being and comprehensive development, as well as the prevention of social problems. | Barbara Cartwright (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Belize | Ministry of Human Development, Families and Gender Affairs | 1998 | Committed to promoting human dignity, equality and empowerment through programs that support families, protect rights and strengthen communities. | Thea Garcia-Ramirez (2025) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Chile | Ministry of Social Development and Family | 2011 | To contribute to the design and implementation of policies, plans and programs on social development, especially those aimed at eradicating poverty and providing social protection to vulnerable persons or groups, promoting social mobility and integration. | María Jesús Wulf (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Colombia | Administrative Department for Social Prosperity | 2011 | To formulate, adopt, direct, coordinate and execute policies, general plans, programs and projects for overcoming poverty, social inclusion, reconciliation, recovery of territories, care for vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities, social and economic reintegration, and assistance and reparation for victims of violence. | Sandra Suárez Pérez (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Costa Rica | Ministry of Human Development and Social Inclusion / Joint Social Aid Institute (IMAS) | 2018 | It provides and coordinates social protection and promotion services, in an inclusive and supportive manner, for the development of the population living in poverty and extreme poverty, through the execution and coordination of social and economic programs and projects, using a multidimensional approach. | Yorleni León Marchena (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Cuba | Ministry of Labor and Social Security | 1994 | To advance the implementation of the promotion of, and access to, quality employment and unpaid work. To evaluate the impact of measures for the prioritized care of groups, family-households, communities and people in vulnerable situations. To improve social security services and procedures. | Jesús Otamendiz Campos (2025) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Dominican Republic | Social Policy Coordination Cabinet | 2004 | To coordinate, articulate, monitor and evaluate the objectives and actions of the various sectoral bodies and social programs, in order to achieve integrality, equity, efficiency and consistency in social policy that promotes the development of human and social capital. | Geanilda Vásquez (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Ecuador | Ministry of Labor and Human Development | 1980 | To establish and implement policies, regulations, programs and services for the social inclusion and life-cycle care of children, adolescents, young people, older adults, persons with disabilities and those living in poverty, in order to contribute to their social mobility and their escape from poverty. | Diana Ramírez (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Grenada | Ministry of Social and Community Development, Housing and Gender Affairs | 2004 | To improve the quality of life of the people of Grenada. | Gloria Ann Thomas (2022) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Guatemala | Ministry of Social Development | 2012 | Abelardo Pinto Moscoso (2024) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Guyana | Ministry of Human Services and Social Security | 2015 | Committed to the sustainable development and rehabilitation of children, women, families and older persons, as well as to providing training and social and welfare services and programs to people in difficult and disadvantaged situations. In addition, the Ministry maintains a stable climate in labor relations. | Vindhya Vasini Persaud (2020) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Honduras | Secretariat of Social Development | 2008 | To plan, design, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the State's public social development policies aimed at the population living in poverty and extreme poverty and at groups in vulnerable situations, in order to create the foundations for a Honduras that is supportive, inclusive and free of violence. | Fátima Juárez (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Haiti | Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor | 1983 | Marc-Elie Nelson (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Jamaica | Ministry of Labour and Social Security | 1980 | To promote sound labor relations and deliver effective social protection services that empower individuals and their families, while fostering a culture of productivity and decent work. | Pearnel Charles Jr (2023) | 1 |
1 |
||
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Ministry of Education, Youth, Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities | 2001 | It ensures that citizens of all ages and backgrounds receive support through access to education, opportunities for advancement, and systems that protect vulnerable people and strengthen communities. | Geoffrey Ian Hanley (2022) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Saint Lucia | Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Gender, Older Persons, Labour, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs | 1990 | To promote, support and facilitate the participation, development and organization of our people, so that they use their resources to achieve self-directed change leading to their own economic, social, cultural, political and spiritual progress, and that of their communities and the nation. | Emma Hippolyte (2025) | 1 |
1 |
||
| Mexico | Secretariat of Welfare | 1992 | To guarantee the effective exercise of the social rights of all people, especially those who have been historically and systematically excluded, ensuring well-being, autonomy and dignity throughout life. | Leticia Ramírez Amaya (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Nicaragua | Ministry of the Family, Adolescence and Childhood | 1993 | To guarantee the restitution and protection of the fundamental rights of children and adolescents who are in a situation of greater disadvantage, vulnerability or risk. | Erika Vanessa Espinoza | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Panama | Ministry of Social Development | 1997 | To exercise stewardship of comprehensive social policy, plans and programs on equity and/or social development, for the benefit of families and vulnerable groups at different stages of the life cycle, under a human rights and sustainable development approach that enables protection and the eradication of poverty, inequality and social inequity. | Beatriz Carles de Arango (2024) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Peru | Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion | 1996 | To ensure that the social policies and programs of the different sectors and levels of government act in a coordinated and articulated manner, in order to close the gaps in access to quality universal public services and to opportunities that enable economic growth. | Maritza Canales (2026) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Paraguay | Ministry of Social Development | 2018 | Governing body for the design, implementation and coordination of public policies on social development and equity, with the aim of improving the quality of life of the population living in poverty and vulnerability. | Tadeo Rojas (2023) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Suriname | Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing | 1980 | To carry out welfare and housing programs aimed at meeting the needs of low-income people and other vulnerable groups, as well as to adopt measures and create opportunities so that these groups are able to develop by themselves. | Diana Pokie (2025) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Trinidad and Tobago | Ministry of Social Development and Family Services | 1989 | To positively transform the lives of the people of Trinidad and Tobago through the delivery of quality social services. | Vandana Mohit (2025) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Uruguay | Ministry of Social Development | 2005 | It is responsible for national social policies, as well as for the coordination (both sectoral and territorial), articulation, monitoring, supervision and evaluation of plans, programs and projects in its areas of competence, aiming at the consolidation of a redistributive and progressive social policy. In addition, it is the mission of this ministry to contribute to the development of spaces for social participation that strengthen the active citizenship of Uruguayans, promoting the broadest integration of stakeholders into its activities. | Gonzalo Civila (2025) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, the Family, Gender Affairs and Persons with Disabilities | 2001 | To promote the well-being and protection of families, advance gender equity, guarantee the inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities, and strengthen labor systems through effective policies and partnerships. | Laverne Gibson-Velox (2025) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | Ministry of People's Power for Communes, Social Movements and Urban Agriculture | 1999 | To promote popular participation and local development. | Ángel Prado (2024) | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Mention 
Information not available.Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of official information from the countries.
/a The countries for which the date of creation of the Ministry of Social Development are not available are not included in the chart (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago).
/b It should be mentioned that in Uruguay previously there was the Ministry of Housing and Social Promotion which was dissolved in 1977.
* he Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Cuba was created in 1994, through the Decree Law 147 of the reorganization of the agencies of the Central State Administration. In 2001 the National Institute of Social Security was created making the work of the Ministry more complex. In the year 2012 through the Agreement No. 7335 of the Council of Ministers the Ministry of Labor and Social Securityis given the mission to propose, direct and control the policy of the State and the Government on labor, protection, safety and health of work, social security and prevention, assistance and social work.
Note: The registered years in the data base show the creation of the instance with the explicit mandate.
