Discover best practices and trends from the Latin American and Caribbean private sector shared by IDB Invest specialists in agribusiness, climate change, development impact, energy, financial institutions, gender, transportation, and more.
Blog authors
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María Paula GerardinoMaria Paula Gerardino Gutierrez is a Senior Economist in the Office of Strategic Planning and Development Effectiveness of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Maria Paula's work focuses on supporting the design and evaluation of projects, as well as conducting research and impact evaluations on different topics. Her current research focuses on issues related to gender gaps, access to credit for small and medium enterprises, productivity and labor markets. Maria Paula has a doctorate in economics from Pompeu Fabra University.
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Mariana CoelloMariana is an Investment Officer at IDB Invest in Honduras, which she joined in 2017. She is responsible for developing new businesses and structuring sustainable projects in Honduras in sectors such as transportation, energy, water and sanitation, social infrastructure, agribusiness, telecommunications, media and technology, manufacturing, tourism and financial institutions. Before joining the IDB Group, she was Head of Corporate Business and SMEs in the credit area of Banco Ficensa, where she managed and structured projects in various sectors, acquiring more than fourteen years of experience in corporate banking. Mariana earned a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Florida International University (USA) and two master’s degrees in business management and Public Management from Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC), and a professional degree in agribusiness administration engineering from Escuela Agrícola Panamericana (both in Honduras)
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Marielle del ValleSenior Development Effectiveness Officer at IDB Invest. She works on the structuring, supervision and evaluation of projects with financial intermediaries and investments funds, and of trade finance operations, ensuring they promote social and economic benefits for the region. Prior to joining IDB Invest she worked as a consultant in the Office of Strategic Planning and Development Effectiveness and the Vice presidency of Countries of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and as senior economic specialist at the Central Bank of Peru.
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Marina PolMarina Pol es jefa de estrategia y planeamiento de BID Invest. Se unió al Grupo BID en 2016 luego de pasar casi una década en cargos de diversa responsabilidad en FSG (Facility Solutions Group) y antes en McKinsey y ESADE. Marina tiene una extensa experiencia en consultoría y evaluación estratégica con corporaciones, fundaciones, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y agencias gubernamentales. Asimismo, ha asesorado a multinacionales líderes en los EE.UU., Europa y América Latina en temas de estrategia comercial y desarrollo e implementación de valor compartido, así como en estrategias de responsabilidad social corporativa. Marina posee un BA y un MBA de ESADE, España y una maestría en administración internacional de la ex Community of European Management Schools (España y Alemania), hoy CEMS, the Global Alliance in Management Education.
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Mario CamargoMario Camargo is a seasoned Senior Investment Officer with extensive expertise in infrastructure and energy finance at IDB Invest. Mario has a proven track record leading high-value investment projects exceeding US$5 billion. He specializes in origination, analysis, negotiation, and structuring of complex project finance and corporate finance transactions across Energy, Water, Social Infrastructure, and Transport sectors. Mario holds a bachelor's and master’s degree in business administration from Montpellier Business School in France, and a Master’s of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
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Marisela AlvarengaMarisela Alvarenga is a global financial leader with over two decades of experience spanning private banking, capital markets, and multilateral development institutions. Recognized for her strategic vision and execution, she has built a distinguished career driving sustainable finance, financial innovation, and growth across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Currently serving as Managing Director and Chief of the Financial Sector Division at IDB Invest—the private sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group—Marisela shapes the institution’s strategic engagement with banks, fintechs, insurers, cooperatives and other financial actors across LAC. She plays a key role in positioning the financial sector as a catalyst for development, championing innovative financing structures and market-building initiatives that mobilize private capital at scale. Her leadership has helped mainstream green, social, and sustainable finance across the region, with a strong emphasis on deepening financial health, supporting women-led businesses, and advancing climate-resilient investments. Prior to joining the IDB Group, Marisela held senior leadership roles in corporate and investment banking at Citibank and Banco Cuscatlán, including Regional Director for Corporate Finance in Central America. In these roles, she led cross-border transactions and built regional platforms that strengthened access to finance for corporates and institutional clients. Marisela holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the School of Economics and Business, and an MBA from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, complemented by executive studies at the Otto Beisheim School of Management (WHU) in Germany. She has also completed specialized programs in Impact Investing and Sustainable Finance from leading institutions in the United Kingdom. Fluent in the language of both markets and mission, Marisela is a sought-after voice on the intersection of finance, sustainability, and innovation. She is passionate about scaling solutions that advance financial health, climate resilience, and inclusive development in emerging markets.
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Marta Ruiz-ArranzMarta Ruiz-Arranz is Principal Economic Advisor in the Department of Countries of Central America, Haiti, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic of the Inter-American Development Bank and previously served as economic advisor for the Andean region. Before joining the IDB in 2015, Marta worked for 12 years at the International Monetary Fund, where she was Deputy Division Chief in the Department of Fiscal Affairs. Marta Ruiz-Arranz received her Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University.
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Marta ViegasMarta Viegas is director of corporate governance at IDB Invest, based in Washington, D.C. Before joining IDB Invest, she practiced law for almost 20 years in Brazil and in the United States and received recognition as a leading lawyer in the most important legal rankings such as Chambers, Latin Lawyer and Legal 500. She held two consecutive terms at the Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance, where she coordinated the creation of the Brazilian Corporate Governance Code. She served on the audit committee and fiscal council of one of the largest private pension companies in Brazil, with more than $60 billion worth of assets under management. She has a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de São Paulo and a master's degree in law and business from the Pritzker School of Law at Northwestern University and the Kellogg School of Management.
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Martina ImprotaMartina Improta is a Consultant in the Development Effectiveness Division at IDB Invest where she supports the structuring, monitoring and evaluation of transactions in the agribusiness sector. She also contributes to the organization’s knowledge agenda through the design and implementation of studies and impact evaluations of innovative projects. She previously worked at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome and she holds a Master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University (SAIS).
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Mary Kate CurreyMary Kate Currey joined the United Nations Global Compact in 2019 and is currently an Associate on the Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform. The Action Platform convenes leading companies, governments, NGOs and UN agencies to determine how the ocean and ocean industries can deliver on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Mary Kate holds a Bachelors of Arts in Human Rights from Columbia University.
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Maryline PenedoMaryline Penedo is currently a Principal Officer in IDB Invest’s Development Impact Division. With extensive experience in impact measurement across various sectors, she has been pivotal in conceptualizing and positioning IDB Invest’s Impact Management Framework, particularly its DELTA scoring tool. Since 2019, she has spearheaded the consolidation and automation of IDB Invest’s impact monitoring system, enabling the institution to better understand and enhance its impact performance at both the portfolio and sectoral/country levels. She also worked in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic on economic empowerment initiatives for women through IDB Lab, the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, and UN Women. Maryline joined the IDB Group as a Young Professional in 2013. She holds a MS in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a MA in International Affairs from Sciences Po Paris in France, and is a former Fulbright scholar.
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Matilde PeñagaricanoMatilde is Investment Officer in Financial Institutions at IDB Invest, where she joined in 2017. Matilde is responsible for the relationship with the Uruguayan financial market, while originating and structuring transactions with Financial Intermediaries of the Southern Cone and expanding access to financial services throughout the region. Within the IDB Group, her focus is the structuring of sustainable finance operations. She has participated in sovereign guaranteed operations and technical assistance, as well as in loan transactions, capital markets and capital investments that promote access to financing for SMEs, financial inclusion, women's empowerment and climate change mitigation. Before joining IDB Invest, he worked at the IDB Group both at the IDB public window and at the IDB Lab. He was a Credit Analyst at Itaú Unibanco and Research Assistant at the renowned think tank of the Center for the Study of Economic and Social Reality (CERES), among others. Matilde has a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Glasgow (Scotland), as well as a Master's degree in Finance and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of the Republic (Uruguay).
