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América en el Centro

América en el Centro

"América en el Centro" is a regional development program designed as an umbrella to address common and cross-border challenges faced by countries in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (CAPDR). The initiative seeks to unlock the region's potential, promote sustainable development, and foster resilience.

a car driving on a road with a green field and trees Development - Inter-American Development Bank - IDB

The "América en el Centro" program aims to promote sustainable development and resilience in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic (CAPDR), fostering the conditions for a more integrated and productive region, increasing its resilience and adaptation to climate challenges, and enhancing the opportunities for the youth. 

In addition to these objectives, it provides a platform for mutual learning, where successful interventions and best practices are shared and replicated emphasizing knowledge sharing, enhancing technical cooperation, coordinating partners, and mobilizing resources.

Explore more about our "America en el Centro" program
Download the brochure here
"América en el Centro": Development Program for Central America, Panama, and The Dominican Republic
Download the complete document here
an aerial view of a road and buildings Sustainable - Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
Productivity and Economic Integration

Enhancing the regional sustainable infrastructure involves the modernization of regional logistic corridors and the improvement of energy connectivity. This facilitates regional integration and supports participation in global value chains.


Participation in global value chains is also bolstered by cross-border trade facilitation, investment promotion, market access, and the strengthening of sustainable agricultural productivity.

a group of people picking coffee beans in a plantation Sustainable - Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Promoting sustainable forest, soil, water and biodiversity involves exploring innovative climate and nature-positive financing frameworks, such as debt-for-nature swaps, thematic bonds, and other sustainability-linked financing mechanisms, as well as forest management and the development of necessary regulatory frameworks.

Preparing for climate-induced challenges requires developing disaster risk management and preparedness for climate-induced social challenges. These encompass adapting to natural disaster through risk management, , improving the responsiveness of social protection systems, and reducing the prevalence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.

a group of women sitting at a desk with a laptop Digital - Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
Social Development for Young People

Equip youth with essential skills for success, including foundational and digital literacy and providing them with sector-specific skills for private sector development to enhance employability and reduce incentives for migration.

Reduce gender gaps by increasing female labor force participation, addressing teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence to ensure equitable and inclusive economic development.

Value Chain - America en el Centro - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Opportunities for Boosting: Output, Employment and Value Chains: Economic Report on Central America, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic
America en el centro poster - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Invest Impulsando el Desarrollo en Centroamérica, México, Panamá, República Dominicana y Haití
Gender Gaps - America en el Centro - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Closing Gender Gaps in the World of Work: Central America, Mexico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic
America en el centro poster - Inter American Development Bank - IDB América en el centro: motor de desarrollo para la región de Centroamérica, Panamá y República Dominicana
Nowcasting - America en el Centro - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Nowcasting Poverty in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic: A Micro-simulation Approach
Fiscal Gender Gap - America en el Centro - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Assessing the Effect of Fiscal Policies on the Gender Income Gap in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic
Agrifood - America en el Centro - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Opportunities and Challenges for Agrifood Trade Between Central American Integration System and Caribbean Community Countries
Cover for Increasing Financial Inclusion to drive development - Financial Inclusion - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Increasing Financial Inclusion to drive development: Economic report on Central America, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic
a landscape with houses and trees Climate - Inter-American Development Bank - IDB Collaboration and Partnerships for Climate Finance
Group of people under the rain using a blue umbrella - Financial Development - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Climate change is here – and to stay healthy we have to adapt to it
Skills for Work - Financial Development - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Skills for Work: Boosting Development and Productivity
Telework and Gender - America en el Centro - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Telework and gender gaps - ¿Y si hablamos de igualdad?
Mesoamerica Malaria - America en el Centro - Inter American Development Bank - IDB With the Support of RMEI, Mesoamerican Women Fight Malaria in Their Communities
Person looking to a screen and text beside - Financial Inclusion - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Nowcasting Poverty: Revolutionizing Estimates in Central America and the Dominican Republic
IDB Launches Disaster Risk Instruments and Expands Coverage by $2 Billion
SEVILLE — The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and IDB Invest are scaling up financial solutions to help countries and companies manage disaster-related risks and strengthen long-term resilience. This expansion includes an increase in disaster risk coverage and new instruments for both...
Costa Rica Improves Its Care System with IDB Support
WASHINGTON – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $250 million loan to improve quality of life for people in Costa Rica who need care, such as the elderly and people with disabilities, and to increase the well-being of caregivers.  Costa Rica is experiencing one of the fastest...
IDB Creates Fund to Strengthen Caribbean Integration, Provides R$1.6 billion to Haiti in Grants, and Prepares an Unprecedented Multi-Country Debt Exchange
BRASILIA – As part of the Brazil-Caribbean Summit, with the participation of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) today announced new measures to support the region through development and integration.  In the IDB's view, the joint efforts of Brazil and...
IDB Lab Opens Call for STEM Startups to Expand Their Access to Capital
IDB Lab, the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), has launched a call for participants in its Women STEMpreneurs Competition to fund women-led startups in Latin America and the Caribbean. The thirteenth edition of the regional competition will...
Laura Alfaro Joins IDB as New Chief Economist and Economic Counselor
WASHINGTON – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has appointed Laura Alfaro as Chief Economist and Economic Counselor following a competitive selection process. Ms. Alfaro brings to the Bank extensive economic research and public policy expertise in Latin America and the Caribbean. The...
Dominican Republic and the IDB to Host CEO Summit of the Americas
SANTO DOMINGO – The Government of the Dominican Republic and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will co-host the 5th CEO Summit of the Americas on December 3-4 in Punta Cana. The event, taking place on the eve of the Summit of the Americas, will convene leading business executives and heads of...
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