After living in Jamaica for five years, every time I visit for work, I try to squeeze in whatever time I have to say hello to friends. On my last visit I was very fortunate to have meetings on both sides of the weekend allowing me to spend my off days in a familiar place with familiar people. My friends and I decided to take advantage of this rare opportunity and headed east … [Read more...] about Three Reasons Not to Eat Parrotfish
Three ways to improve the quality of infrastructure investments
We all agree that we want quality infrastructure, because we know that quality reduces project risks, increases availability and durability over a project’s lifecycle, improves customer experience and as such makes the infrastructure worth the investment. But how can we ensure quality? The IDB –as well as other development banks– uses a suite of safeguard policies to ensure … [Read more...] about Three ways to improve the quality of infrastructure investments
Back to the Mangroves – Wetlands and climate change
It had been a while since I had really crawled around in a mangrove wetland. Once you have climbed over the roots of a red mangrove, seen the pneumatophores (the roots that stick out of the ground like breathing tubes) of white mangrove, spotted blue crabs in abundance scurrying back into their holes to avoid capture, or taken in the “sweet” aroma of decaying organic … [Read more...] about Back to the Mangroves – Wetlands and climate change
Four Things We’ve Learned about Environmental Governance in the Caribbean
The IDB has made a strong commitment to strengthening and using country systems for both fiduciary and non-fiduciary aspects of Bank loans. While notable progress has been made in the former, the latter, which include national systems for development effectiveness and environmental and social safeguards, require different approaches. Notably, and recognizing the diversity of … [Read more...] about Four Things We’ve Learned about Environmental Governance in the Caribbean
Infrastructure and Biodiversity in the Guiana Shield
"Aerial view from rain forest" - © COPYRIGHT: Pete Oxford Photography How can we promote sustainable infrastructure? Infrastructure it’s just not a matter of building more, it’s a matter of enhancing competitiveness for economic growth and delivering much needed energy, water and sanitation, transport and communication services to growing cities. How that infrastructure … [Read more...] about Infrastructure and Biodiversity in the Guiana Shield