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 other challenges, continues to hinder their growth.
Unlocking this potential—and driving growth across the region—calls for more effective public policies and private sector solutions. To design them, we need stronger evidence. Understanding what works (and what does not) to support the growth and scale-up of women-led businesses is key to boosting productivity, competitiveness, and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
To address these knowledge gaps, the Inter-American Development Bank, through its knowledge lab, GDLab, and with support from the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), is launching a new call for research proposals.
The call, “Fostering the Growth of Women-Led Businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean,” aims to fund rigorous studies that generate actionable evidence to inform policies and solutions that enhance the growth of women-led businesses.
What kind of proposals will be funded?
While significant progress has been made in generating knowledge, key gaps remain in areas that could make a real difference for women-led businesses. These include scaling operations, adopting digital technologies to access new markets, and integrating care solutions into value chains to free up productive time.
This call seeks to support research that addresses these and other gaps through proposals that combine technical rigor and relevance to public policy and business practice. Studies are expected to use strong quantitative methods that help identifying causal relationships and generate actionable recommendations.
Check the call’s brochure for more details on priority themes and proposal requirements.
Who can apply?
The call is open to independent academic researchers, as well as research teams affiliated with universities, think tanks, or public and private sector institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB Group specialists may also join as members of external teams.
How will proposals be selected?
Proposals will be evaluated by a scientific committee based on their relevance, innovation, scalability, replicability, methodological quality, and the research team’s capacity to carry out the project. The committee includes academic experts Christopher M. Woodruff (University of Oxford) and Silvia Prina (Northeastern University), as well as specialists from the IDB, IDB Invest, and We-Fi.
How to apply and what is the deadline?
The deadline to submit proposals is May 12, 2025.
Check the call’s brochure to learn more about eligibility criteria, the evaluation process, timeline, and how to apply.
Don’t miss this opportunity to generate knowledge that drives inclusive economic growth in the region!
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