Sustainable BusinessRecent posts
Superheroes of Development: The Brazilian Hospital with the Highest COVID-19 Survival Rates
During the height of the pandemic in São Paulo in 2020, receiving treatment for severe COVID-19 symptoms at public hospitals managed by Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE) meant a 10% greater chance of survival compared to the rest of the city’s public hospital network. The IDB Group recognized HIAE’s successful management model and awarded it the Superheroes of Development prize.
Microinsurance: The New Frontier for Financial Resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean
In Latin America and the Caribbean, fewer than 10% of people with potential access currently use microinsurance services. However, this gap in financial protection is beginning to narrow. The expansion of the insurtech ecosystem is transforming the insurance sector, deploying digital and innovative solutions that strengthen financial protection for the most vulnerable populations.
Five Drivers Reshaping Finance in Latin America and the Caribbean
The tech revolution is breaking down structural financial barriers across Latin America and the Caribbean. Informal workers, rural communities, and small businesses are gaining rapid access to digital savings accounts, microloans, and instant transactions, often at little or no cost. But what’s really driving this transformation?
Equipment, Training and Queens: Helping Beekeepers in Mexico Boost Climate Resilience
How can we help small beekeepers in Latin America and the Caribbean strengthen productivity and climate resilience? According to a recent IDB Invest evaluation of a pilot program in Mexico, by providing them with a combination of basic inputs and training. But most importantly, queen bees. Through this approach, producers managed to increase honey production, yields, and the number of hives in their colonies and adopted best practices in hive management, boosting resilience to future climate events.
What does it take to address the large climate adaptation financing gap in Latin America and the Caribbean?
The region has a significant adaptation finance and investment gap ranging from $18 to $51 billion annually. Taking action now could reduce the vulnerabilities of businesses, increase the resilience of human and natural systems, and bring several additional benefits.
Manufacturing 4.0: Digital Transformation as a Catalyst to Accelerate Development
Contributing 15.7% to the regional GDP, the manufacturing sector is a fundamental driver for the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean countries. New technologies are radically changing the way of production and becoming critical factors for the sector's competitiveness and resilience in the current market context.
Improving Telecommunications Drives GDP and Productivity
The rapid growth of telecommunications in Latin America and the Caribbean presents both an opportunity and a challenge for a sector capable of significantly contributing to GDP growth and enhancing productivity. However, the sector is constantly evolving, with persistent gaps in access.
Innovation Boosts Productivity, Wages, and Sales in the Caribbean
A recent study by IDB Invest and FinDev Canada analyzes survey data from over 1,000 firms across seven Caribbean countries in 2020, finding that investing in new or improved products, services, processes, methods, or distribution channels drives productivity and financial performance and can also make companies more resilient in the face of crisis.
Facilitating Successful Climate Action for Latin American and Caribbean Small and Midsized Businesses
Businesses that manage and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have the opportunity to lower their production costs, become more efficient, develop resiliency against the impacts of climate change, and access markets with environmental demands and regulations.
