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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
América en el Centro: modernizing borders, promoting regional integration América en el Centro: modernizing borders, promoting regional integration
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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
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IDB and Partners Drive High-Impact Innovation in Early Childhood Development
The Early Childhood Development Innovation Fund, a groundbreaking initiative by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and other strategic partners, backed 23 projects in 10 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, benefiting over 700,000 children.
IDB Lab Invests $2 Million in 500 LatAm Seed Fund IV to Empower Startups in Latin America and the Caribbean
WASHINGTON — IDB Lab, the Inter-American Development Bank Group’s innovation and venture capital arm, announced a $2 million strategic investment in the 500 LatAm Seed Fund IV, managed by 500 LatAm. The fund will invest in approximately 40 early-stage tech startups in Latin America and the Caribbean...
IDB Supports Enhanced Public Services and Urban Infrastructure in El Salvador
WASHINGTON — The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $170 million loan to help El Salvador bolster the economies of the Santa Tecla and La Libertad districts through a program to improve access to quality public services and urban infrastructure in both areas. The operation, which...
Honduras to Strengthen Sustainable Forest Management with IDB Support
WASHINGTON – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $25 million loan to support forest conservation and restoration efforts in Honduras. The project, “Sustainable and Resilient Agroforests”, approved by the IDB’s Board of Executive Directors, aims to promote the adoption of forestry...
IDB Supports Belize in Expanding Labor Force Participation and Employability
BELIZE CITY, Belize – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is supporting Belize’s efforts to increase labor force participation and improve employability through a financing package of US$8 million.The operation will support a program that aims to address the country’s skilled labor shortage by...
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