TOWARD A SAFER AND MORE EQUITABLE AND PRODUCTIVE REGION
FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL INVESTMENT
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1
Children with better nutritional status, and appropriate levels of vocabulary, cognitive development and socio-emotional development at young ages complete more years of schooling, have higher test scores in math and language, are less likely to be involved in criminal activity in adulthood, and earn higher wages.
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2
The lack of well-trained workers is a problem for 1 out of 3 employers. Vocational training programs that meet the needs of businesses are key to eliminating the talent gap.
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3
Women work more than ever in the region, but their wages are even lower than those of men. Therefore, we facilitate access to credit for women entrepreneurs, child care programs, flexible working hours, and skills training.
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4
In the region, between 8 and 10% of the population is indigenous. One of our main goals is to increase the integration of African descent and indigenous peoples into policies, programs and public projects in the region.
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5
Latin America and the Caribbean has 8% of the world's population but 31% of homicides. The causes of crime are multidimensional, but rapid urbanization and weak institutions are key factors.
SECTOR FRAMEWORK
Social Protection
The IDB Group promotes income support for the poor or vulnerable population (with focus on both structural poverty and vulnerability to shocks), and the autonomy of persons in a situation of care dependence and persons with disabilities.
Labor
The IDB promotes productive, resilient, and inclusive labor markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, supporting governments in the region to ensure people have equal access to good employment opportunities.
Gender and Diversity
The IDB Group promotes gender and diversity equity in the region by addressing structural inequities, unequal treatment, and weak institutional capacity to design and implement gender and diversity policies. The priority diverse populations are indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, people with disabilities, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals (LGBTQ+).
Early Childhood Development
The IDB Group’s work in Early Childhood Development (ECD) focuses on ensuring that all children, and particularly those in poor and vulnerable households, have the opportunity to develop their potential from the first years of life through significant experiences that are rich in quality interactions at home, in daycare, and in preschool. For this to occur, the adults responsible for children in these environments need to have the resources, knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to promote ECD.
The IDB Group supports countries from the region to promote skills development and lifelong learning as a strategy to ensure that citizens can contribute productively to society, improve their well-being, and be good citizens.