Investing in the first five years of life is essential for early childhood development (ECD) and contributes to increasing societal productivity, reducing poverty, and promoting equality. Socioeconomic and ethnic gaps in ECD levels are evident from an early age, and by the start of primary school, they are substantial and can exacerbate inequalities later in life. This document provides an overview of the Sector Framework Document, which presents actions that impact ECD levels, particularly among the most vulnerable groups, and therefore help close these gaps.

Investing in the first five years of life is essential for early childhood development (ECD) and contributes to increasing societal productivity, reducing poverty, and promoting equality. Socioeconomic and ethnic gaps in ECD levels are evident from an early age, and by the start of primary school, they are substantial and can exacerbate inequalities later in life. This document provides an overview of the Sector Framework Document, which presents actions that impact ECD levels, particularly among the most vulnerable groups, and therefore help close these gaps.

This paper investigates the effects of alleviating remoteness constraints on access to quality maternal and newborn health care. Using a cluster-randomized controlled trial, we provided transportation vouchers to impoverished pregnant women residing in remote Nicaraguan villages located approximately five hours from the nearest health center, along with accommodations vouchers for maternal waiting homes. These vouchers were provided to the women and to companions of their choosing.

Over 30 percent of female workers are self-employed across Latin America, relying on this mode of work for subsistence. Self-employment in the region is regularly marked by the absence of health insurance and lack of pension benefits. Despite the aspirations of many women to gain access to these benefits, they are persistently overrepresented among the socially unprotected part of the workforce. To address this issue and explore potential solutions, we conducted a laboratory experiment in Bolivia to assess the efficacy of nudges to influence the behavior of self-employed women.

This guide aims to provide direction to the business sector in designing and implementing measures that promote equal opportunities for men and women in the workplace. It is intended for organizations of all sizes and sectors interested in building more equitable and inclusive work environments. It offers evidence, resources, and practical tools to facilitate the adoption of specific policies.

This study investigates the effect of a large-scale comprehensive intervention in Costa Rica aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy among the poorest districts by integrating reproductive health services into the national health system with an intersectoral approach. The model was designed and developed under Salud Mesoamerica Initiative, an innovative public-private partnership that sought to improve reproductive, maternal and child health services among the poorest in the Mesoamerican region.