Digital transformation cannot merely be a corporate slogan. Digitizing institutions is essential for driving inclusive development, enhancing operational efficiency, and bridging capacity gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly due to its potential to reduce inequality and boost productivity. Yet, the challenge remains optimizing processes without complete dependence on technical teams.
At the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), investing in the continuous strengthening of the capabilities of our teams and the executing agencies in member countries is a cornerstone of our mission. Training programs, such as workshops on the Environmental and Social Policy Framework (ESPF), are essential to ensure quality and minimize risks in Bank-financed projects.
Caribbean nations are grappling with a significant challenge in securing the financial resources needed to invest in resilient infrastructure. For small island developing states where freshwater is already scarce and disruptions intensifying, finding innovative solutions for water security is no longer optional — it is essential for survival.
Disasters cause massive disruptions, poverty and migration. Learning from COVID-19, a new generation of social welfare programs will help the poorest better cope with extreme weather events
Storms, fires, droughts and other disasters are a harsh reality for Latin America and the Caribbean. Their occurrence has increased five- to sixfold in the past 50 years. According to IDB estimates, almost 78 million poor people in Latin America and Caribbean people are vulnerable to the impacts.
Despite hosting over 14,000 known plant species1 , Amazonias's biodiversity remains significantly underutilized in commercial markets. Research shows that only about 30 native Amazonian food species regularly appear in markets2, and of the 1,097 native food plant species identified in Brazil, merely 5% have achieved significant commercial scale.3 This untapped potential represents not only a missed economic opportunity for the region but also poses risks to biodiversity conservation sustainability.
When the first news about the arrival of data centers in Querétaro started almost a decade ago, most of us saw it as an opportunity. I work in infrastructure and energy, so I understood what it meant: foreign investment, employment, modernization. World-class technology companies were investing in our region, transforming it into a key digital node for Latin America.
UNDERSTANDING AMAZONIA –A blog post series by AmazoniaForever360+
Blog #1
Amazonia has long captured our collective imagination, conjuring images of lush greenery, winding rivers, and unparalleled biodiversity. But what exactly do we meanwhen we say "Amazonia"? As it turns out, the answer is far more complex and nuanced than one might expect.
By Eliana Prada, Martín Inthamoussú, Adam Veprinsky Mehl, Johanna Hansmann and Karoline Barros
The Creative Economy has become a key driver of economic development throughout the globe. It is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world economy, not only in employment generation but also in creative work creation and export earnings through creative goods and services.
Accessing capital has always been challenging for smaller and innovative early-stage companies providing climate and nature-based solutions in LAC. In many countries, the perception of financial and technological risks continues to impede innovative green activities and acts as a barrier for first movers in the market. Investments often exceed most investors’ risk appetites and generally do not meet local banks' credit conditions.
Uruguay’s success in climate action lies in its robust national policies, supported by strong private sector and civil society participation, which have embraced sustainability concepts. Complementing these efforts are ambitious projects backed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).