Latin America and the Caribbean has an extraordinarily rich natural and cultural heritage. To date, the region has 143 registered assets (97 cultural assets, 38 natural assets and 8 mixed assets) on the UNESCO World Heritage list alone. These include archaeological sites from pre-Hispanic times, exceptionally preserved historical centers, and natural sites endowed with … [Read more...] about 8 things to consider when protecting cultural heritage
Environmental and Social Safeguards
Navigating the promises and pitfalls of grievance resolution
Imagine what it feels like to have lost a parent, a sibling, or a loved one, be required to quarantine or socially distance for weeks, and then you find out a large public works project will produce noise and contamination in your neighborhood for the next six months. COVID-related restrictions are still very much in place in several countries, as daily infections and deaths … [Read more...] about Navigating the promises and pitfalls of grievance resolution
Gender-based violence: an overlooked risk in development projects
With the urge that building gender equality may convey, the social safeguard policies of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) encompass concrete actions to mitigate any negative impact that may result from our projects. Given that gender-based inequalities and violence are vast, we often ask ourselves, where to start? Projects bring benefits and, with them, social … [Read more...] about Gender-based violence: an overlooked risk in development projects
How can we manage the social risks associated with the use of security personnel in projects?
The use of security personnel to protect the communities and assets related to a project is a common practice in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region where 43% of the population says they are constantly afraid of being victims of a crime. The decision to hire security personnel usually arises after assessing the risks that threaten human security and assets related to … [Read more...] about How can we manage the social risks associated with the use of security personnel in projects?
What does our new Environmental and Social Policy Framework entail for a project with Indigenous Peoples?
At the beginning of a project, we ask ourselves how it will improve the lives of beneficiaries. When these beneficiaries will be Indigenous Peoples, we also ask ourselves how development benefits and opportunities should be promoted in a culturally appropriate manner. This is precisely one of the objectives of the Environmental and Social Performance Standard on Indigenous … [Read more...] about What does our new Environmental and Social Policy Framework entail for a project with Indigenous Peoples?