IDB Approves $200 Million to Boost Childhood Development in Argentina

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $200 million loan to support early childhood in Argentina. The operation seeks to increase the coverage and quality of public care and education institutions and services, aimed at promoting the development of physical, language and communication, cognitive, social, and affective skills of girls and boys from 0 to 5 years old.

The loan plans to expand access and improve the quality of care in early childhood facilities and kindergartens for initial education. The program includes refurbishment and construction of early childhood centers and kindergartens in vulnerable areas of the country, strengthening their management, training caregivers and teachers, and providing materials such as toy libraries, playgrounds, games, and technological equipment. These spaces will seek to enhance learning through play and digital literacy, including the gender perspective.

Childhood development is a gradual and cumulative process. The deficits identified at a certain age originate at earlier ages and affect later development. Various studies show the positive impact of children under five years of age attending care or educational centers, particularly in socioeconomically vulnerable environments.

This loan is the second individual operation under a conditional line of credit for the "Support Program for the National Plan for Early Childhood and the Policy for the Universalization of Initial Education," initially approved in 2017. The IDB loan of $200 million has a disbursement period of 4 years, a grace period of 5.5 years, and a SOFR-based interest rate.

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