The first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from pregnancy through age two—are critical for development. A vast body of scientific evidence shows that experiences during this period have a lasting and profound impact on health, learning, growth, and overall well-being. Yet over the past decade, most attention has focused on these early 1,000 days, leaving another equally important stage in the shadows: the next 1,000 days, from ages two to five.
The 2021 World Report on Hearing from the World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people will have some degree of hearing loss, and 700 million will require rehabilitation. Hearing-related disabilities can be prevented if the condition is detected early and appropriate interventions are implemented.
Time-use data are an essential tool to understand how people allocate their time across different activities. Examples include paid work, unpaid domestic work, leisure, and self-care. This information provides valuable insights into productivity, how our societies are structured, and the overall well-being of the population. Additionally, such data are indispensable for public policy formulation and economic inclusion.
Teacher turnover hits hardest in schools that can least afford it. In São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, schools serving disadvantaged communities have historically struggled to retain experienced teachers, creating a revolving door that disrupts student learning. But new research shows that targeted financial incentives can dramatically change this pattern.
Violence against women (VAW) is a persistent and deeply rooted issue that requires urgent policy action. Despite increasing global attention, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding effective prevention and response strategies.
The long-term care sector is an important part of the silver economy. In this sector, given the rapid aging of the population, significant business opportunities are generated. Likewise, there are opportunities for innovation both from the business sector and from civil society organizations (which are important providers of these services).
This paper presents the results of an impact evaluation, with an experimental design, which estimates the effect on learning math of a remote tutoring program offered to girls and boys aged 9-14 years in three departments of El Salvador. The program used low-tech interventions such as text messages and 20-minute phone calls over an eight-week period. Remote tutoring is estimated to have had a positive and significant effect of 0.23 standard deviations, which is equivalent to a 33.2 percent acceleration in learning math, compared to the changes observed in the control group.
In the last decade, several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have been actively working on building and strengthening care systems. This has represented a paradigm shift as it has required a broader perspective, placing the care needs of families at the center and organizing public policy responses around them.
“How can every school be ready for the digital age?” Across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), countries are advancing digital education—but challenges remain. Meanwhile, South Korea’s bold policies and sustained investments have enabled nationwide digital access, AI-powered textbooks, and large-scale teacher training. In this blog, we explore three key lessons from Korea’s Digital Transformation in Education and how LAC can learn from them to expand learning empowered by technology. Real-world impact, however, demands cross-regional partnerships.