Access to adequate finance is critical to any business. For the most vulnerable - smaller firms and those owned and operated by women - finance is the lifeblood. Financing allows businesses to improve their services, expand to different markets, provide jobs in their communities, and contribute to the growth of the economy. New joint research from the IDB’s Caribbean … [Read more...] about Improving access to finance for women entrepreneurs and smaller enterprises crucial for the Caribbean
María Cecilia Acevedo
María Cecilia Acevedo is an economist in the Strategy and Development Effectiveness Department at IDB Invest in Washington, DC. Maria Cecilia leads the elaboration of country strategies for IDB Invest, in particular by providing technical analysis through the inclusion of the private sector perspective for Latin America and the Caribbean. María Cecilia conducts research on economic development issues, especially on the contribution of the private sector to the welfare of the population and the mechanisms through which market solutions are efficient to achieve this objective. A Colombian national, María Cecilia received her M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University, and an M.A. in Economics from the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá.
Developing skills for new technologies in the Caribbean
New technologies and big data are increasing the demand for skills, including digital skills and high-level cognitive skills. Caribbean private sector can influence the types of skills it needs from its workforce and play an active role in increasing productivity and competitiveness in the region – and globally. Evidence suggests that low skills in the workforce make it … [Read more...] about Developing skills for new technologies in the Caribbean