Women-led businesses are a strategic driver of economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean. Not only do they generate employment and foster innovation, but they also contribute to more sustainable business models. Despite their importance, however, their full potential remains untapped. Limited access to financing, essential inputs, and strategic markets, among … [Read more...] about A Call to Support Women-Led Businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean
Karen Martinez
Karen Martinez is an economist specializing in international development and project management. She is part of the coordination team of the IDB Group’s Gender and Diversity Knowledge Initiative, promoting high-impact research aimed at building more inclusive and equitable societies. She holds a master’s degree in economics with a concentration in quantitative methods from the University of Geneva, as well as a certification in impact evaluation and data analysis for development projects. Prior to joining the IDB, she worked as a researcher at various think tanks and research centers in Bolivia, collaborated with Innovations for Poverty Action in Sierra Leone, and taught at Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar.
Towards a More Equitable Care Economy
The work of caregivers is fundamental to the livelihoods and well-being of societies. From caring for the home and young children, to supporting the elderly or people with disabilities. These tasks sustain the well-being of millions of people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite its importance, care work falls disproportionately on women and girls and is often unpaid. … [Read more...] about Towards a More Equitable Care Economy
Research: A Key Ally for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities
In Latin America and the Caribbean, approximately one in seven people live with some form of disability, whether it’s physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental. It is estimated that this proportion will increase to one in five people in the next three decades due to the rapid aging of the population in the region. Having a disability is not uncommon; … [Read more...] about Research: A Key Ally for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities
A Call to Close Racial and Ethnic Gaps
What policies are effective in reducing ethnic-racial gaps? How can we prevent and discourage unequal treatment based on race and ethnicity? What challenges do institutions face in closing the gaps experienced by Afro-descendants and Indigenous Peoples? GDLab's new call for research proposals aims to generate academic studies that provide solid evidence to answer these … [Read more...] about A Call to Close Racial and Ethnic Gaps
Key Learnings about the LGBTQ+ Population from the Research Agenda
Evidence is fundamental to inform and guide public policies. As we mentioned in another blog post, access to high-quality data and knowledge is as important for societies as medical exams are for individuals' health. They allow us to identify problems that are often invisible to the naked eye, their underlying causes, and possible solutions. Unfortunately, data and rigorous … [Read more...] about Key Learnings about the LGBTQ+ Population from the Research Agenda