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Policy-Based Loans

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PBL Policy-Based Loans PBL

Policy-Based Loans (PBLs) provide flexible, fungible funds that are not tied to specific goods, works, or services. The resources are directly connected to the implementation of policy reforms by governments.
 
Modalities

Multi-tranche
Adequate for short to mid-term reforms whose policy actions are completely defined at the approval of the loan  The fulfillment of all the policy actions for each tranche is required before the tranche can be disbursed. eginning.

Programmatic
Programmatic are more flexible to support mid to long term reforms that need time to mature and whose policy actions are yet to be defined at the moment of the approval of the series. That said, programmatic lines contain indicative actions to be completed by the second and subsequent operations in the series. 

Examples of use: A progressive transition of a state to 0 net Greenhouse   gas emissions or contribute to the water safety and environmental sustainability of a country, focused on climate resilience.
 

Financial Terms

Lending rate: SOFR base rate + IDB Ordinary Capital variable lending spread: 

SOFR base rate is USD SOFR daily overnight compounded rate + IDB's funding margin.

Funding margin for 3rd quarter 2025 is 40 bps.

IDB’s Ordinary Capital lending spread - for 2025 is 80 bps.

Fees: Commitment fee 50 bps: applicable on undisbursed loan amount and starts to accrue 60 days after loan contract signature.

Interest and Currency conversion options are available. 

For applicable loan charges and conversion option fees, please refer to www.iadb.org/rates


Deferred drawdown option (DDO) 
A deferred drawdown option (DDO) can be requested for all PBL modalities. The DDO  allows the deferral of the disbursement (up to 3 years, renewable for another 3 years) after the completion of the policy actions for a fee. 

Flexible repayment options subject to a maximum maturity of 20 years, and maximum Weighted Average Life (WAL) of 12.75 years. 

Standard Grace Period: 5.5 years.

Standard amortization schedule (semiannual, straight-line payments), bullet repayment structures, extended grace periods, uneven amortization schedules, and shorter repayment periods are available without additional cost.










All financial terms for PBLs applies to DDO except for: 
Upfront fee: 50bps; Commitment fee: 38bps.
 

Instruments that this can be combined with:

Investments with defined objectives and scopes

Specific Investment Loans

(ESP)

Finances one or more specific projects or subprojects that are wholly defined at the time the IDB's loan is approved.
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Contingent credit line for immediate response after a disaster

Contingent Credit Facility for Natural-Disaster and Public-Health Emergencies

(CCF)

Provides resources for immediate response after a natural disaster or a public heath event of severe catastrophic proportions.
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Results of an existing or new government program

Loan Based on Results

(LBR)

Finance the achievement of results of new or existing Government program. The LBR disburses once results have been achieved.
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Post-disaster response activities

Immediate Response Facility for Emergencies caused by disasters

(IRF)

Provides rapid financial support for addressing the effects of disasters.
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Small independent investment projects

Multiple Works Loans

(GOM)

Finance groups of similar works (a sample of which are fully defined) with specific characteristics.
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Loans to small and medium-size enterprises

Global Credit Loans

(GCR)

Finances multi-sector projects granted to intermediary financial institutions to enable them to on-lend to end- borrowers.
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Transfer of technical know-how

Reimbursable Technical Cooperation

(TCR)

Transfers technical know-how to strengthen the capacity of entities in developing countries and requires repayment like a regular investment loan.
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Project's preparation and start of activities

Project Preparation and Execution Facility

(PROPEF)

Finances project's preparation for individual operations under a global line of credit.
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Risk of investment projects

Partial Credit Guarantees

(PCG)

Provides credit enhancement for loans, bonds, or other debt instruments by covering various risks that could lead to default.
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Sovereign non-performance risks leading to debt default

Political Risk Guarantees

(PRG)

Covers sovereign non-performance risks of contractual obligations that could trigger debt payment default.
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Credit line to support investment loans

Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects

(CCLIP)

Provides a credit line to finance investment loans as well as issuing guarantees that support investment projects.
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Case studies Honduras Program to Support Social Protection Reforms

The “Program to Support Social Protection Reforms I and II” aimed to help the Government of Honduras reduce extreme poverty through policy measures. It focused on financial sustainability, efficiency in social protection, and institutional coordination. The program included two operations executed in 2018 and 2019, targeting improvements in health, education, and social protection services.

Impact

The program significantly reduced extreme poverty in Honduras by allocating 15.5% of the Solidarity and Social Protection Fund to the Better Life Voucher program, surpassing the 10% target. It expanded decentralized health services to 94 of the poorest municipalities, reducing maternal mortality rates, and integrated third-cycle education services into the national budget, with 25% of schools managed by the Ministry of Education. The program covered up to 310,000 households with the Better Life Voucher program, improving targeting through updated algorithms and socioeconomic data. Health compliance for 62.65% of participants was verified via the National Vaccination System. A new poverty measurement methodology was implemented, reducing moderate poverty to 42.7% and extreme poverty to 22.9%. Additionally, data sharing among social sector entities improved with four inter-institutional agreements, enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of Honduras’s social protection system.

Households covered under the Better Life Voucher program 310,000
Reductions in moderate and extreme poverty 42.7%, 22.9%
See the full instrument policy Reach your local IDB Office
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