By Sandro Parodi The Dominican Republic Adjusts its Solidaridad Program to Help the Poor Conditional cash transfers programs have proven over the years to be an effective tool to reduce poverty and inequality in the short term. The transfer program in the Dominican Republic introduced in 2005, known as Solidaridad, has had just such positive effects on health, improving the … [Read more...] about Enhanced Conditional Cash Transfers to Boost Health
DEO
Findings of Early Childhood Programs in 19 Countries
By Maria Caridad Araujo The quality of care and interaction during the first five years of life has a major impact on childhood development and is a critical determinant of a child’s future health, behavior, and intellectual abilities. In Latin America and the Caribbean, access to early childhood programs has increased over the past two decades, particularly for the poor, … [Read more...] about Findings of Early Childhood Programs in 19 Countries
Better Schools and Teaching in Remote Indigenous Areas in Panama
By Ryan Heath Burgess In Panama, over a third of indigenous people are illiterate and school retention rates in indigenous areas known as comarcas are half the national average. The Government of Panama, with IDB support, is trying to change that by improving primary and secondary school infrastructure, training teachers, and providing learning materials. Even under the … [Read more...] about Better Schools and Teaching in Remote Indigenous Areas in Panama
Bolivia Expands Employment Services Program
By Manuel Enrique Urquidi Finding a job and entering the labor market is never easy — information about vacancies may be hard to find, the job seeker’s skills may not exactly match what a company needs, and employers may be reluctant to hire someone they don’t know personally. To help job seekers overcome such barriers, Bolivia began to expand and enhance coverage of its … [Read more...] about Bolivia Expands Employment Services Program
Combating Tropical Diseases with Early Detection and Treatment
By Ignez Tristão In the shantytown of Alto do Carroceiro in Recife, Brazil’s fifth largest city, 10-year old Emily Eduarda Belo de Oliveira dreams of one day becoming a teacher, even as she helps her mom take care of four other siblings in their one-bedroom, windowless home. And being poor is not Emily’s only hurdle: she also has leprosy, a disease that, if left untreated, … [Read more...] about Combating Tropical Diseases with Early Detection and Treatment