The document discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by development banks in Latin America and the Caribbean amid economic, environmental, and health crises since 2020, compounded by geopolitical tensions. It highlights the need to address key issues like climate change, digitalization, energy transition, and support for SMEs, while strengthening governance and accountability.
The document titled is a comprehensive technical note prepared by ALIDE. It analyzes the evolving role of development banks in Latin America and the Caribbean amidst global challenges such as economic crises, environmental issues, and technological advancements.
The text highlights three simultaneous crises—economic, health, and environmental—that have intensified the need for strategic, sustainable, and inclusive development financing. Development banks are identified as pivotal in mobilizing resources, supporting underserved sectors, and driving regional priorities like financial inclusion, gender equality, and climate resilience.
Key themes include the integration of digitalization and innovation in banking processes, enhancing infrastructure investment, fostering SMEs, and promoting nearshoring to boost regional competitiveness. The document also discusses the impact of international financial architecture reforms on development banks’ ability to address funding gaps and foster collaboration across global and regional networks.
It concludes with recommendations for strengthening corporate governance, risk management, and human resource capacity within development banks, underlining their role as agents of transformation to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and respond to emerging global and regional priorities.
