![How sustainable infrastructure can decide Peru’s future](/sites/default/files/styles/size390x268/public/blog_post/NS-web-banner-1-ENG.jpg?itok=i_sxplot)
How sustainable infrastructure can decide Peru’s future
Last March, Peru experienced extreme weather conditions in the north of the country. This resulted in numerous physical, economic and human losses with costs associated at over US$3 billion, or 0.5% of GDP. Planning for reconstruction, the country found itself at a crossroads: it could focus solely on meeting immediate construction needs or rebuild with a long-term vision. The latter option, to adapt the new infrastructure to the uncertainty of weather conditions, represents an opportunity to incorporate sustainability in highways, bridges, water distribution and management systems, as well as to leverage public-private partnerships and rebuild Peru’s economy to compete in the global market. The government of Pedro Pablo Kuczysnki has launched a reconstruction plan called “Reconstruction with Changes” which has two phases. The first seeks to invest up to US$3 million in immediate reconstruction and resettlement. The second, projected to last five years, focuses on the development of modern, climate-resilient public works that represent an additional investment of US$6 billion. A private sector opportunity A large part of infrastructure losses is absorbed by private markets, and for this reason the private sector has a lot to gain from reconstruction. For example, a new highway can allow products to reach their markets more quickly, lowering the cost of doing business for companies. The private sector not only benefits from reconstruction. It could also be part of its development. Estimates from the World Economic Forum suggest that for every dollar of public capital that is mobilized to close the infrastructure gap, five dollars of private capital should be mobilized. However, financing alone is not enough. Key tools for reconstruction IDB Invest (formerly known as Inter-American Investment Corporation), the IDB Group’s private sector arm, has experiences in technical assistance that can serve as a reference for Peru. In Mexico’s Port of Manzanillo, we found ways to adapt the design of the port to unpredictable weather conditions. This included ensuring reforestation and measuring the port’s carbon emissions. We made sure that the terminal operators have the tools and training necessary to replicate the environmental assessments every year. We also use the Envision methodology, developed by Harvard University’s Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure and the Sustainable Infrastructure Institute. The methodology focuses on quality of life, leadership, resource allocation, the natural world and climate, and risk. The tool has helped our clients measure sustainability, particularly during project planning and design phases. Environmental and social safeguards promote minimum quality in infrastructure investments. In June 2014, during the review of a loan to a local cement plant, our environmental models predicted atypical rains in Asunción, Paraguay. Our environmental specialists needed a contingency plan. When flooding occurred, the plant mitigated damage although there were some construction delays. The project’s sponsor recognized the importance of the environmental safeguard measures and invested in additional water studies, new internal routes with barriers and protected storage facilities. [clickToTweet tweet="For every dollar of public capital in #infrastructure, US$5 of private capital should be mobilized" quote="For every dollar of public capital that is mobilized in infrastructure, five dollars of private capital should be mobilized" theme="style1"] Corporate governance safeguards and attention to integrity also strengthen infrastructure sustainability. Although Latin America is a middle income region, two-thirds of its countries fall in the bottom half of Transparency International’s “corruption perception index.” According to this organization, 26% of Peru’s population has been the victim of corruption. IDB Invest maintains the highest standards of integrity, and we are confident that with our support for the RCC we will reduce this rate. Finally, investments in sustainable infrastructure can attract institutional investors. Investing in socially and environmentally responsible companies is increasingly considered a fiduciary responsibility and a means for increasing the value of company assets over the long term. We have witnessed the interest of such investors when we presented sustainable and bankable investments. The Reventazón hydroelectric dam in Costa Rica and the Campo Palomas and Colonia Arias wind farms in Uruguay have been pioneer projects in attracting financing from local institutional investors. In Peru, we seek to leverage local money and our capacity to advise public-private partnerships to attract more local stakeholders. This is a critical moment, but Peru is well positioned to convert its losses into opportunities. Investments in sustainable infrastructure are the only guarantee for building a more inclusive, less vulnerable, and more competitive future in the 21st century. Subscribe to receive more content like this! [mc4wp_form]
![The power of baby wipes to promote breastfeeding](/sites/default/files/styles/size390x268/public/blog_post/main-photo-breastfeeding-1.jpg?itok=hcPzF0ru)
The power of baby wipes to promote breastfeeding
How a US$4 million loan to a baby wipes producer in the Dominican Republic can help address infant health.
![Four insights for banks willing to seize sustainable finance opportunities](/sites/default/files/styles/size390x268/public/blog_post/Cuatro-claves-para-aprovechar-el-financiamiento-sostenible.jpg?itok=x7I0c1QF)
Four insights for banks willing to seize sustainable finance opportunities
Attitudes towards environmental, social and governance factors are changing across the investment and lending community in Latin America and the Caribbean. Financial impacts associated with extreme weather events, growing regulatory and industry pressures on climate-related risk disclosure, and enhanced availability of data, are key aspects influencing companies’ views of environmental, climate, social and governance (ESG) factors. As a result, the role of ESG analysis is shifting from an ancillary function to an integral part of fundamental analysis and new business propositions. IDB Invest’s annual Sustainability Week (Lima, Peru – May 7-9, 2018) took a pulse on this shift, exploring wider sectoral trends within agribusiness, infrastructure, and banking sectors. For the financial community, in particular, there were four key messages from Sustainability Week:
![All-inclusive hotels: A key for Latin America and the Caribbean’s growth](/sites/default/files/styles/size390x268/public/blog_post/Hoteles-todo-incluido.jpg?itok=aKq8aSec)
All-inclusive hotels: A key for Latin America and the Caribbean’s growth
The traditional all-inclusive concept has significantly evolved in recent years to better adapt to changing consumer preferences, demographics and booking patterns. Guest behavior and expectations are being reshaped by a shift in consumers’ mindset towards travel and the disruptive impact of technology. Travelers are increasingly seeking personalization and authenticity in their vacation experiences, more involvement and connection with the local community, and a genuine engagement in environmentally responsible practices—all of this while maintaining full control of their choices and increasingly relying on mobile and electronic devices as a preferred booking method. A revamped all-inclusive 2.0 model is becoming more sensitive to these consumer needs and undergoing an exciting metamorphosis.
![Development Effectiveness: Adding Value beyond Financing](/sites/default/files/styles/size390x268/public/blog_post/Efectividad-en-el-Desarrollo.jpg?itok=Iu1G4ftG)
Development Effectiveness: Adding Value beyond Financing
A new private sector In his recent annual letter to CEOs, Larry Fink, the founder and CEO of the investment firm BlackRock, called on companies to incorporate both profit and purpose into their business strategies. “Society is demanding that companies, both public and private, serve a social purpose. To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance, but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society.”
![Empower women and investors will follow](/sites/default/files/styles/size390x268/public/blog_post/WEPs-photo-Spanish-1.jpg?itok=FwJIQjGp)
Empower women and investors will follow
Gender equality is no longer a choice for companies. It is not only about fairness, but about business success. For investors, this has become so clear that one of the world’s largest asset managers has just placed a statue of a defiant girl in front of Wall Street’s iconic bull in New York City to remind businesses that the time to fight for gender equality is now. Why? Because investors have realized that companies that foster diversity yield higher returns. More diversity improves decision-making, reputation, productivity, and employee retention and satisfaction, whTry ich in turn leads to higher returns. Companies with more diverse workforces are also better equipped to innovate in product development, tapping into new business opportunities, such as the women’s market. Investors are looking for results on gender equality But how can companies take concrete actions in line with what investors expect? The answer is not easy, as it requires looking at your company through a completely different lens. Statements and mere commitments to gender equality are not enough. In today’s data-driven world, investors are looking for information to evaluate companies’ performance and their environmental and social footprint. In the past few years, several gender equality indexes have emerged to help investors make informed decisions. Examples include the Barclays Women in Leadership Total Return Index, Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Leadership Index and the Bloomberg’s Financial Services Gender-Equality Index, among others. These benchmarks are tracking gender outcomes, including equal compensation and the number of women in leadership positions, employee policies, ability to create products and services for women, and community engagement. Some of these indexes have investment products to capture the benefits of gender diversity. Since 2014, both Barclays’ Women in Leadership Exchange Trade Notes and Pax Ellevate’s Global Women’s Index Fund enable investors to allocate capital in companies with strong female leadership. As investors’ appetite grow, similar initiatives are under way. Last year SSGA and California State Teachers Retirement System, the second-largest public pension fund in the US, launched the SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (SHE) to invest in companies with high levels of diversity on their boards. With over $280 million in assets, Berkshire Hathaway Inc and Oracle Corp. are among its top investors. A free tool to evaluate gender equality For those willing to roll up their sleeves and move beyond good intentions, the first step is knowing where you are and what you are doing. With this goal in mind, IDB Invest (formerly known as Inter-American Investment Corporation) and the Multilateral Investment Fund, along with UN Global Compact, UN Women and other public and private partners, have created a tool to help companies assess their gender equality performance. The tool follows the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) to unleash the potential of women in the workplace, marketplace and the community. The assessment is free and confidential and can be done by any company from any sector in any country. It looks at corporate policies in place and evaluates the extent to which firms provide equal opportunities, adequate work life balance, support to gender equality in the supply chain and respect to women’s rights in local communities. The tool has far-reaching potential for companies. Designed with the feedback of nearly 200 companies worldwide, the tool has proven to be eye opening for the firms that participated in the pilot phase. Some found that the assessment made them rethink their approach to gender equality in procurement and marketing, while others said it compelled senior management to improve processes. Others highlighted that the tool provided a road map to better integrate gender initiatives into the broader company’s strategy. So, if you are ready to face the bull and reap the benefits, complete the assessment and take action. Investors are waiting. This article was originally published on The Huffington Post Subscribe to receive more content like this! [mc4wp_form]