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IDB Unveils 'América en el Centro'

"América en el Centro" is a regional program for Central America and the Dominican Republic that will promote productivity and regional integration, climate adaptation and resilience, and social development for youth.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) presented the regional program "América en el Centro," created in coordination with the governments of Central America and the Dominican Republic to build a common development agenda for climate resilience and sustainable growth. The countries’ finance ministers joined IDB President Ilan Goldfajn in signing a joint declaration of support for the program during an event launch at IDB headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The program focuses on three priorities: productivity and regional integration, climate adaptation and resilience, and social development for young people. Created at the request of the economy and finance ministers of the region, "América en el Centro" aligns with the IDB's new institutional strategy, IDBStrategy+. The strategy is one of the three transformational changes embedded in its IDBImpact+ reform agenda that creates a roadmap for boosting the scale and impact of the institution's work.

President Goldfajn said: “Responding to the request of Central American nations and the Dominican Republic, this new program aims to enhance productivity and regional integration, strengthen climate change resilience and invest in the social development of young people. In doing so, it will seek to mobilize resources from donors and the private sector.”

In their joint statement, the finance ministers expressed gratitude to the IDB for its efforts and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the program's implementation, establishing working groups for each priority, sharing best practices, facilitating resource mobilization, and strengthening regional integration.

Within the three pillars, the program will focus on six thematic areas: sustainable regional infrastructure, support for participation in value chains, sustainable management of natural resources, disaster-risk management, skills for youth success, and reducing gender gaps.

"América en el Centro" will have access to IDB funding, but will also mobilize additional resources through co-financing, non-reimbursable funds from donors and access to private-sector resources. It will also optimize resources from the IDB, IDB Invest and IDB Lab, including program portfolios and technical assistance, complemented by generating and disseminating knowledge to improve decision-making.

 

About the IDB 
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the IDB works with the region’s public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website https://www.iadb.org/en. 
 

Contacts

Salgado Derqui,Javier Jose

Salgado Derqui,Javier Jose
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