By Carmen Fernández-Sánchez The simple act of filling recycled plastic bottles with water and chlorine has allowed light to enter millions of previously unlit homes around the globe. What’s more, this innovation has saved low-income families up to 40% on electricity bills. No-one could have told Alfredo Moser, a Brazilian mechanic, that his invention would spread … [Read more...] about Turning trash into light – Liter of light
Latin America and the Caribbean
When Cholera Strikes: A Coordinated Emergency and Longer-Term Response
by Meri Helleranta A rapid response and partnerships between the Haitian Government and key institutions, including the IDB, helped to curb the cholera epidemic, decreasing the number of new cases per week from 14,000 in January 2011 to fewer than 1,000 a year later. Five years ago, in October 2010, Haiti was hit by a serious cholera epidemic. Coming only nine months … [Read more...] about When Cholera Strikes: A Coordinated Emergency and Longer-Term Response
ConnectAmericas.com: Opening a world of opportunities for small- and medium-size companies
By Fabrizio Opertti* ConnectAmericas is a web platform that connects SMEs from Latin America and the Caribbean to expand their businesses. Heneka Watkis-Porter’s life was all about spice. And she wanted to make it even spicier. The Jamaican entrepreneur runs a company that makes sauces and other condiments typical of her Caribbean island nation, and she wanted to grow. … [Read more...] about ConnectAmericas.com: Opening a world of opportunities for small- and medium-size companies
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
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