In 2019, the Inter-American Development Bank Group celebrated its 60th anniversary. Over the last six decades, it has played a transformative role in Latin America and the Caribbean to promote development. As we reflect upon many of these positive advances and look ahead, what will our contribution to the region be over the next decades? This deliberation must consider that we face simultaneous and overlapping ecological and climate emergencies.
Have you ever visited the sea? Have you wondered how essential its services are in our daily life? Enjoying all that it gives us, in terms of food and entertainment, could be at risk if we do not take immediate action on the management of its resources and the protection of its ecosystems. This body of water, so old and so full of life, occupies 70% of the Earth's surface, and it is estimated that more than a billion people depend on its products.
Strengthening of national and local institutions can be challenging in the most advanced settings, and it can become a monumental task in some developing countries. Finding the right balance between long-term measures to create added value while allowing for results on the ground can prove a challenge even for the most seasoned specialists. This includes compliance with the IDB’s safeguards policies.While any approach has to take into account the specific context, below are some useful tips for that could come in handy when working in emerging institutional environments.
The construction sector is growing at unprecedented rates and it is estimated that, during the next 40 years, 230 billion square meters of new infrastructure will be built in the world. The sector, between construction works and buildings, is one of the most important sources of pollution worldwide since it consumes 36% of global energy and produces 39% of CO2 emissions.
Food security goes far beyond having enough food. Food security refers to "the situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life" (FAO, 2006). That is, being able to access food of high nutritional quality regularly, without worrying about not having food on the table. Therefore, when we talk about food security we must consider four dimensions: availability, access, utilization, and stability.
In 2006 the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) set the objective of strengthening national systems in order to support their development projects. The move helps ensure protection of the environment and at the same time buffer the negative effects that development projects can have on the population when their impacts are not properly detected and managed.Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) identify, evaluate, and propose ways to mitigate development projects’ environmental and social consequences.
Any of us who have moved to a new home lived through an adaptation phase. And every change has an element of disorder, although the change is planned, desired and announced. However, in most cases, the discomfort lasts longer than expected, and the adaptation ends up not being concluded because simply some details or, the most critical factors for our quality of life and comfort become evident just when we are living the absence of them. The lack of these factors generates the greatest difficulties for families to adapt in the long term.