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IDB Environmental and Social Grievance Protocol: 2023 Annual Report
No full textSince November 2021, when the Environmental and Social Policy Framework entered into effect, the IDB has a direct channel, at the management level, for stakeholders to contact the institution directly when they wish to file a complaint about the environmental or social performance of IDB-financed projects. The IDB Grievance Protocol is part of the IDB Group\u27s complaint system, through which the first line of attention to users is the project-level complaint and grievance mechanism. Users can also access IDB management grievance mechanisms, and as a last resort, the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI). This annual IDB Grievance Protocol report provides an overview of grievances received and handled related to environmental and/or social issues in 2023. It includes key issues, comparative data from the two years of the Grievance Protocol implementation, lessons learned, and information regarding outreach efforts and next steps
An Integrated Approach to Impact Evaluation and Recognition of Learning
Get PDFMEiRA is a novel method for evaluating learning effectiveness, emphasizing practical knowledge application and learner achievement. It transcends traditional metrics by valuing the learning journey and its outcomes equally. Applicable in organizational training and broader learning contexts, its designed for scenarios where learners may not be part of a known organization. MEiRA follows the learning journey through five pillars: Engagement, Perception and Appreciation, Cognition and Knowledge Acquisition, Intention and Commitment, and Transfer and Impact Stories. It uses open badges as an intrinsic part of the impact evaluation process, making the impact of applied learning visible. MEiRA overcomes conventional evaluation model limitations by measuring acquired knowledge and recognizing its real-world application and impact. It provides a flexible, inclusive, and comprehensive approach to learning evaluation, championing the recognition of both formal and informal learning achievements, and advocating for diverse learning pathways and their professional impacts
Sovereign Risk and Economic Complexity
Get PDFThis paper investigates how a country\u27s economic complexity influences its sovereign yield spread with respect to the United States. Notably, a one-unit increase in the Economic Complexity Index is associated with a reduction of about 87 basis points in the 10-year yield spread. However, this effect is largely non-significant for maturities under three years. This suggests that economic complexity affects not only the level of the sovereign yield spreads but also the curve slope. The first set of models utilizes advanced causal machine learning tools, while the second focuses on economic complexity\u27s predictive power. Economic complexity ranks among the top three predictors, alongside inflation and institutional factors like the rule of law. The paper also discusses the potential mechanisms through which economic complexity reduces sovereign risk and emphasizes its role as a long-run determinant of productivity, output, and income stability, and the likelihood of fiscal crises
The State of Parana’s Municipal Finance System: A Model for Financing Sustainable Development for Brazil’s Municipalities?
Get PDFThis paper explores the Brazilian State of Paranás urban development fund in financing municipal infrastructure. It seeks to address two main questions: the success of Paranás Municipal Finance System (SFM) in financing infrastructure and institutional development and providing technical assistance and the SFMs contribution to national economic objectives
Recycling and Reuse of Lithium Batteries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Analytical Review of Global and Regional Practices
Get PDFThe objective of this research project is to conduct an analytical assessment of global and regional practices for the reuse and recycling of used lithium-ion batteries (ULIB), with a specific focus on the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, along with identifying growth opportunities and formulating strategies for the adoption of good practices in reuse and recycling of ULIB. The assessment compared global best practices in terms of technology and regulatory frameworks with current practices in the LAC region. Based on this analysis, key recommendations were made for the promotion of recycling and reuse of ULIB in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. The recommendations prioritize extending the useful life of LIBs, mitigating environmental impacts, and preventing poor EoL management practices in the region, in addition to promoting regional cooperation, the incorporation of lithium-ion batteries into existing regulatory frameworks and fomenting the adoption of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems
Climate Change and Biodiversity Guide for Journalists
Get PDFIn Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) we find ourselves in a paradox. On the one hand, the region boasts 40% of the worlds biodiversity, half of the worlds tropical forests, the largest reserve of freshwater, 12% of the worlds mangroves and six of the most megadiverse countries. On the other hand, it is highly threatened by the environmental crisis and the loss of biodiversity: in 50 years, the region has lost 94% of its vertebrate population and holds the highest number of threatened mammals, plants, fish and birds globally. It also presents alarming vulnerability figures, underscoring the interconnection between the loss of natural wealth and climate risks. Environmental risks and biodiversity loss are challenges that permeate every facet of human life. They exacerbate economic inequalities, hinder the provision of basic services, threaten food security and disrupt economic activities. However, they also present a unique opportunity for the region if it invests in a green transformation. A new approach focused on sustainability not only enhances productivity, but also fosters resilient and equitable economies. In this context, the work of journalists becomes not only more relevant, but also more challenging. How to capture the attention of an audience saturated with information? How to expand coverage of climate change and nature beyond the environment and natural hazards sections? How to translate scientific advances into accessible knowledge, enabling citizens to actively participate in the transition to a sustainable future? How to remain vigilant against greenwashing and combat misinformation? This guide serves as a continuation of the 2022 Guide for Climate Change Journalists and compiles advice and best practices from journalists who have successfully navigated these challenges
Balancing Work and Motherhood: Lessons Learned from the use of Childcare Subsidies for Mothers in the Program to Support Employment
Get PDFThis document details the experiences of mothers who were beneficiaries of the childcare subsidy for children under 5 years old, provided by the Program to Support Employment II (PAE II), as a supplementary aid to facilitate the labor market insertion of women receiving economic support for on-the-job training. PAE II, implemented by the Public Employment Service of Bolivia under the Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Previsión Social (MTEPS), aimed to enhance the insertion into quality employment of job seekers through job placement support, wage subsidies for up to three months to promote labor insertion associated with on-the-job training. Additionally, PAE II envisaged support for mothers of children under 5 years old, consisting of an additional payment per child disbursed before the start of the on-the-job training. This support was designed to mitigate the risk of mothers withdrawing from the program due to childcare responsibilities. It was presumed that this cost could be covered from the second month onwards with the main payment of the economic support received. The document presents both a quantitative and qualitative analysis of this experience. The first part provides the quantitative analysis using descriptive statistics based on a survey of 71% of the beneficiaries. The second part complements this analysis with qualitative data derived from interviews and direct testimonies from both the beneficiaries and the operational staff of PAE II. The analysis revealed that the subsidy helped families address the challenges associated with entering the labor market, particularly for those without a partner. The support facilitated access to employment opportunities by providing a minimum level of economic stability, allowing them to focus on work without immediate concerns about childcare and the sustenance of their children. The unintended flexibility in the utilization of the subsidy allowed mothers to adapt the support according to their individual needs, whether for childcare, family nourishment, or covering other essential expenses. This necessitates an analysis of whether the payment scheme at the end of the first month affects program participation of economically disadvantaged groups in a context like Bolivia where securing salaried employment, represents an additional challenge
How Much do Households Pay for Water Supply and Sanitation Services in Latin America? A Descriptive Analysis of Tariffs and Subsidies in the Region
No full textAlthough rates and subsidies for water and sanitation services play a fundamental role in meeting goal 6.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals, public and easily accessible information on prices and rate structures in Latin America is scarce and fragmented. This monograph describes in detail the comprehensive database collected by the Water and Sanitation Division\u27s Knowledge Team and identifies key public policy recommendations
Integrating Climate Action into Public Financial Management: Lessons from Paraguay and Costa Rica
Get PDFThe integration of climate action into public financial management is a complex task that must be approached in an orderly manner, maintaining a medium-term perspective. This publication shows two cases of applications of the public financial management assessment methodology for climate change (PEFA-Climate) that together illustrate how to design a roadmap for integrating climate issues into the planning, programming, execution, and accountability of public resources. The selected cases correspond to the Ministries of Finance of Paraguay and Costa Rica, countries that have already been making significant improvements in the rules, processes, and systems governing public financial management. More recently, they have embarked on incorporating the climate dimension into ongoing modernization processes and reforms. The paper shows how to structure a strong plan, using as a basis the incremental improvements proposed by the PEFA-Climate methodology and international best practices in the field. The study concludes by highlighting the importance of including the climate module in assessments based on the PEFA methodology, so that public financial management modernization efforts comprehensively incorporate the climate dimension into all regulations, processes, and systems that support public financial administration
Inequality Persistence and Policymaking Constraints: Explaining Regional Data Patterns
Get PDFIn well-functioning democracies, the policymaking process should in principle respond to persistent economic inequality with corrective policies. This process is set in motion through majority demands for redistributive taxation and spending that elected representatives eventually supply through policies designed to alleviate inequality. Policymaking constraints on both the demand side and the supply side have, however, considerably limited the extent of redistributive policies in Latin America. This paper explores recent data patterns from national and micro data to provide several potential explanations for the continuing high inequality observed in the region. Countries with stronger democracies have adopted more redistributive policies, even though post-tax inequality remains high in all of the region\u27s democracies. Low citizen interpersonal and political trust both lead to fiscal policy preferences that constrain effective redistribution. Electoral participation has risen in the more democratic countries, while economically motivated protests have increased in weakly institutionalized settings