IDB Approves $900 Million in Financing for Argentina to Strengthen Education and Expand Employment Opportunities

WASHINGTON – The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $900 million operation to strengthen Argentina’s social protection system through the Human Capital Strengthening Support Program, which aims to help students stay in school and expand access to employment opportunities in Argentina. 

The program will benefit households representing 3.8 million children and adolescents who receive the Universal Child Allowance (AUH) while financing up to 500,000 job training opportunities for unemployed adults, informal workers, and low-income individuals. The program expects approximately 300,000 people to complete courses and earn certifications in areas aligned with labor market needs, such as digital, technical, and service-related skills, helping them expand their employment opportunities. 

The program will also simplify the procedures families must complete to maintain AUH benefits by modernizing the information systems of the National Social Security Administration (ANSES) and the Comprehensive Digital Education Information System (SINIDE). This initiative will facilitate data exchange between institutions and automate the verification of education requirements, benefiting approximately 2.2 million women who receive the benefit and currently complete these procedures in person on behalf of their children. 

The operation is aligned with the IDB Group Country Strategy with Argentina 2025–2028, particularly its objective of supporting vulnerable populations to reduce poverty and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the social protection system. 

The IDB loan has a 25-year maturity, a 5.5-year grace period, and a five-year disbursement period.