Sustainable BusinessRecent posts
Guatemala Advances in Diversifying Energy Sources for the Transport Sector
IDB Invest supported technical studies that provided evidence for the introduction of a 10% ethanol blend in gasoline in Guatemala.
Making Every Dollar Count: Capital Management for Greater Development Impact
How IDB Invest optimizes its balance sheet to expand investment capacity through its Originate-to-Share model.
The Untapped Opportunity in SME Banking
IDB Invest is helping financial institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean strengthen their SME banking capabilities for long-term growth.
Data gaps and women entrepreneurs: why they matter
* By Nancy Lee, General Manager, Multilateral Investment Fund While moderating a panel at the annual summit of the Global Banking Alliance for Women on gaps in data about the women’s market, I briefed the audience of about 200 on the gender-related results of a 2013 survey by FELABAN, the Latin American bankers’ association. The survey posed two questions to regional bankers regarding use of data broken down by gender and how banks serve their women clients.
EYE Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for EYE Bonds!
Three firsts for the Education, Youth and Employment Bond program * By Michelle Viegas On September 23, 2014, a delivery of 16 pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream arrived to the Boston office of Breckinridge Capital Advisors. Observers may have assumed that it had been ordered for a celebration, perhaps for a company anniversary or an employee’s retirement or birthday. That day, however, similar deliveries were made to various companies throughout Boston, including Zipcar, Patagonia and Invested Development. Ben & Jerry’s was simply thanking them for their contributions as fellow certified B Corps – companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. As the certifying non-profit B Lab explains, “B Corp certification is to sustainable business what LEED certification is to green building.”
The business case for buying less, but good stuff
I dare you: Can you buy nothing for a whole day? I know it sounds tough, but this was the idea behind the first day of No Impact Week at the IDB – No Consumption Day.
Can Latin American firms succeed in China?
By Theodore Kahn* Are there opportunities for Latin American firms in China beyond iron ore, soy beans, copper, and a handful of other commodities? This question has been on the mind of policymakers in the region ever since LAC-China trade took off in the early 2000s, driven by China’s strong demand for natural resources traditionally provided by Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
How can business have no impact
A record number of people took to the streets of New York this past Sunday to demonstrate their concern over climate change. In anticipation of the UN Climate Summit this week, more than 1,500 organizations joined efforts in the People’s Climate March. The marchers advocated for political action to change living conditions and to support a better world where people and the planet can live in harmony.
What is one of the most important factors in securing the future of family business in Latin America?
* By Rebeca White Sanchez, Operations Senior Specialist IIC, and Helga Flores, Principal IIC External Relations Advisor Corporate Governance has become a buzz term in the last decade. Why do we talk about it so much? A study performed by corporate governance experts Ira Millstein and Paul MacAvoy found that companies rated A+ in governance earned an average of 25% more than F-rated companies. So, is your family business leaving money on the table? Let’s focus on how governance translates into tangible benefits for your small or medium-sized family enterprise.
