How many women would Amelia Earhart have inspired without her incredible determination? Would Gandhi have changed the course of social movements without empathy? Or would Albert Einstein have revolutionized our understanding of the universe without his ability to handle frustration or think creatively? The history of humanity and its progress has been built on the shoulders of those who persevered, were passionate, creative, resilient, and demonstrated empathy towards the needs of others.

Women in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic participate less in the labor market than men, less than the average for women in Latin America and the Caribbean, and less than women in the OECD:

Early childhood development (ECD) programs play a crucial role in promoting children’s cognition and language. Many programs include home visitors or groups who work with parents and young children through play activities that not only build children’s language and cognitive skills, but also engage children and parents together to experience the joy of playing and learning together. As efforts to scale up these programs continue, it is essential to understand the implications of the size of the program on its effectiveness and implementation strategies.

The IDB’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month event, “Proud in Being Who We Are: More Inclusive Societies for LGBTQ+ People,” was an opportunity to open valuable and necessary conversations about LGBTQ+ inclusion. In the first panel, “Identifying and Removing Barriers,” public sector authorities from Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador joined two specialists from the IDB group to address the challenges and barriers to accessing services and exercising full citizen rights for LGBTQ+ people.

When a baby is born, families and homes go through significant changes. The roles of mothers, fathers, and caregivers shift. Gender plays a crucial role in deciding who does which tasks, when, and for how long. This has a significant impact on work, income, and even leisure.

Caregiver engagement is vital for early childhood development. When parents or other caregivers actively participate in their child’s learning, provide a nurturing and supportive environment, and engage in meaningful interactions—children benefit in multiple domains, including cognitive, social, and emotional. Yet, many caregivers, particularly those in low-resourced households, may face challenges in optimal engagement. Factors such as limited time, financial constraints, lack of access to educational resources, and other socioeconomic pressures can impact caregiver engagement.

The Country is Certified Malaria-Free by the World Health Organization. Malaria has plagued populations all over the world for almost five thousand years, claiming millions of lives. It was endemic on all continents in the 1950’s. Since then, it has been eradicated in Europe and Northern America. Now, Mesoamerica is also heading towards elimination.