When we picture the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, much of what we envisage is a luxurious sun, sea and sand getaway, especially since the country has one of the highest GDPs in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. Given this imagery, it easy to assume that there are little to no challenges faced by a population of less than 400,000 people. Upon closer observation of … [Read more...] about Visualizing Hazards and Services – An integral Tool for Decision Making in Small Island Developing States
Part II: Does early safeguards involvement in projects improve sustainability performance?
In our previous blog of this 3-part blog series, we learned that safeguard policies are instrumental in facilitating sustainability in IDB projects. In this blog, we provide findings demonstrating how earlier safeguards involvement in project cycles contributes to improved sustainability performance. All nine IDB-funded projects evaluated in our research (The Role of IDB’s … [Read more...] about Part II: Does early safeguards involvement in projects improve sustainability performance?
Part I: Why are safeguards important for sustainable growth?
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) defines the term “Safeguards” as a “set of policies to ensure protection against environmental and social harm, improve development value for stakeholders, and enable countries and clients to meet best international practices.” In relation to sustainability, the purpose of implementing safeguards is to develop projects that maximize … [Read more...] about Part I: Why are safeguards important for sustainable growth?
How is an urban development project safeguarding a World Heritage Site in Suriname?
Preserving Suriname’s “Outstanding Universal Value” Last year when I went to Suriname for the first time ever, even the worldliest among my friends and family struggled to put the small former Dutch colony on a map. Suriname, along with Guyana to its West and French Guiana to its East, make up the “Guianas” a geographic region in north-eastern South America, considered … [Read more...] about How is an urban development project safeguarding a World Heritage Site in Suriname?
This flood was a disaster!
This is the standard phase we hear or say after seeing the results of a river’s strong swell. Floods that affect cities, forcing thousands of families out of their homes, floods in which they lose the majority of their belongings, floods in which economic activity is suspended and, as a result, income is diminished: These effects all form part of the dynamic of ecosystems, and … [Read more...] about This flood was a disaster!