Sustainable BusinessRecent posts
Artificial Intelligence for Health Care: Diagnosing Tropical Diseases in Remote Amazon Regions
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the global health landscape, particularly in remote Amazon regions, where a new technology can diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis using a cellphone without requiring an internet connection.
Reimagining the Future of Finance in Latin America and the Caribbean
At the FinnLAC Forum 2025 in Miami, the IDB Group hosted over 500 industry leaders and experts to help redefine the future of finance in Latin America and the Caribbean. The event focused on improving the ability of individuals and companies to better manage their finances, withstand economic shocks, and invest in their long-term prosperity. By highlighting innovations that broaden access, strengthen resilience, and promote overall financial health, the forum set the stage for more sustainable financial systems across the region.
Fixing the Broken Rung: How Data Can Help Advance Women’s Careers in Latin America and the Caribbean
In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the greatest disruption in women’s career progression occurs during the transition into managerial roles. A collaboration between IDB Invest and LinkedIn, within the framework of the Development Data Partnership, uses large-scale labor-market data to identify where women’s participation declines and what barriers exist across sectors and career stages.
Eight ways women can lead with passion
I have to be honest. Until very recently, the words “leadership” and “passion” were not part of my generation’s lexicon. Having to use them together in a sentence, I for one was flat out uncomfortable. Thanks to conversations about "leaning in," the "quest for perfection" and "why women still can't have it all," a dialogue was started - albeit at a bit of a distance from Latin American and the Caribbean professionals. At the IDB headquarters in Washington, DC, the Vice Presidency for the Private Sector sought to bring that dialogue closer to home. Over a hundred colleagues and I attended a conversation with Inez Murray, CEO of the Global Banking Alliance for Women. The personal insights shared left staff smiling, debating and, most importantly, reflecting.
Sharing is caring: Two solutions for more sustainable living
Have you ever considered how much you use your most valuable items? A personal automobile, for example, is only used five percent of the time – even less in urban areas. Fortunately, private and public sector actors are realizing how little we use individual items and proposing unique ways to be a bit more utilitarian, environmentally-conscious and community-oriented. The key is sharing.
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Three Assumptions You Should Avoid When Working with the BoP
“I like working in something I love, where I receive compliments and I manage my own time,” said Carlos, a 43-year old man, father of two, who earns less than U$360 per month. He was one of the 10 men and women we gathered in Villa El Salvador in Lima, Peru, for a focus group on the consumption preferences of low-income people. His response to the question about the advantages of a formal, stable job made me realize people and organizations (me included) working with those at the base of the pyramid (BoP) tend to make subtle assumptions about this segment of the population – assumptions that impact the effectiveness of our projects to benefit this population.
What can Latin American countries learn from Korea in energy efficiency?
*By Narae Lee If you dig a hole through the center of the Earth, starting from Montevideo in Uruguay, you would get to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Korea and Uruguay are the antipodes, meaning that they are diametrically opposite to each other. Korea is indeed one of the farthest countries from Latin America, seemingly not having many things in common with the region either. However, the Asian tiger has recently increased its visibility on the other end of the planet through Korean companies and celebrities in mass culture and sports, but most importantly by sharing its development experience.
Wish there were more hours in the day? Distance learning can maximize time and earning potential
Doesn’t it always seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day? How can we possibly fit it all in? The same is true for young people in Latin America and the Caribbean - especially those in lower income or vulnerable communities. For the high school graduates, many aren’t able to go directly to university for financial, family or other reasons. For example, Estacio, a large private university in Brazil, estimates that approximately 40% of high school graduates in Brazil go directly to university. Many others start a job, or a family or both.
Can innovations in healthcare technology leapfrog to better solutions?
In our experience at the IDB, healthcare systems in many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) suffer from severe resource constraints. Competing health priorities, budget restrictions, staff shortages and general technological deficiencies leave large segments of the population without basic treatment.
