This brochure summarizes key information for effective use of digital tools to interact with the population during public health emergencies for Latin America and the Caribbean. It answers 6 key questions: What are digital tools for population interaction?; Why are these tools important for the public health emergencies?; What are some examples?; What elements are needed to get started?; What considerations are important to contemplate when getting started?; and What should I monitor to see if the tool is effective in my context?

As a consequence of the rapid spread of COVID-19, the entire world is suddenly engaged in the biggest distance learning experiment in history. In Latin America and the Caribbean, radio and TV have been the most common technologies used to reach students and deliver education. Technology is a powerful tool, if not the only tool to ensure the continuity of learning during a time of emergency. But technology is not a panacea to all problems education systems encounter.

The quality of center-based child care, which depends upon the type of environment and the types of interactions between caregivers and children, is thought to be of critical importance for improving child development outcomes. This report describes the study design, the empirical strategy, and the baseline results for a randomized control trial which upgraded public child care centers in Panama. Data were collected on child care centers and on eligible children and families that lived near the centers.

We employ recent household surveys and population censuses to present a profile of immigrants in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on economic integration. By comparing the profile of immigrants with that of the non-immigrant population we identify gaps in several dimensions such as education, informality and skill downgrading. The exercise allows us to discuss some migration-related topics that are important not only for the countries that are receiving the bulk of the Venezuelan migration but also more generally across the region.

This Data relates to the Quality Report on the Salud Mesoamérica (SM2015)-Belize Facility Survey that was produced in agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). All analyses and report writing were performed by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. This report is meant as descriptive analysis to explore the most significant aspects of the information gathered for Salud Mesoamérica 2015. Its purpose is to ensure that collected data is of the highest possible quality.

The Inter-American Development Bank and New York University’s GovLab have convened ministries of health from four countries, including Argentina, Colombia, Panama and the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for a pilot initiative to quickly generate responses to the Zika epidemic in the Latin American and Caribbean Region. This collaboration, known as “Smarter Crowdsourcing for Zika” convened over 100 subject-matter experts and public health practitioners from around the world via online conferences to discuss viable areas for preventing and responding to mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs).