Have you ever tried to learn to speak a foreign language? Did it make you nervous the first time you had to speak it? Imagine having to teach it. … [Read more...] about Opening the English World for Native Spanish Speakers
Measuring, learning, sharing
Measuring and evaluating our work allows us to stay on track, but sharing what we learn increases the reach of our work toward improving lives. For years we have worked at the IDB, with varying roles and responsibilities, but always in one way or another toward advancing development effectiveness. At the IDB we seek to improve lives and toward this purpose we seek to … [Read more...] about Measuring, learning, sharing
Has civil service improved in Latin America?
Despite the fact that “the science of delivery” is a hot topic these days, the truth is that we don´t know that much about its engine: the public sector workers. A recent book from the IDB sheds some light, looking at the evolution of public employment in the past ten years. The book focuses on civil Service reform (public employment in the Central Administration) in Latin … [Read more...] about Has civil service improved in Latin America?
8 lessons from giving cash to the poor
18 governments from Latin America and the Caribbean give out regular monthly cash transfers to almost 130 million poor. These transfers which are known as Conditional Cash Transfers or CCTs and which vary greatly in terms of objectives and coverage, try to alleviate poverty in the short term and develop human capital in the long run. These programs typically focus on children’s … [Read more...] about 8 lessons from giving cash to the poor
Deforestation and conflict in Colombia
From the abstract and conclusions of this paper on civil conflict and deforestation in Colombia: Despite a growing body of literature on how environmental degradation can fuel civil war, the reverse effect, namely that of conflict on environmental outcomes, is relatively understudied. [....] We study this relationship in the case of Colombia. [....] Our results are … [Read more...] about Deforestation and conflict in Colombia