This study intends to decompose apprenticeships. First, based on an extensive review of existing literature, it proposes a formal definition of apprenticeships that differentiates this type of training modality from other types of skills training. Second, it explores core elements and principles in depth that are central to apprenticeship programs- both in terms of their design and delivery- and presents examples of best practices from around the world that LAC countries can use as potential instruments to apply within their contexts.

This paper seeks to provide insight into the opportunities and challenges ahead for Mexico to consolidate a lifelong learning policy framework, building on the progress and avant garde approach adopted by the country with regard to forging a competency-based education model - a model that already encompasses job skills, academic competencies, and employability skills.

The Inter-America n Development Bank (IDB), through the Labour Markets and Social Security Unit, has been supporting a comprehensive labour market study (LMS) in The Bahamas to collect and analyse data that will provide guidelines for labour market policies on training provision to enhance employability and productivity in the country and other issues. This work is part of a regional project to improve understanding of these issues throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The Bahamas has relatively high living standards, and ranks as a High Human Development country.

To test the effectiveness of a public awareness campaign on women's political participation in a developing country, we conducted a randomized field experiment across 40 municipalities in Guatemala. The goal of the campaign was to raise awareness about the importance of women's civic and political participation within the context of the 2011 general elections in Guatemala. We found no measurable impact, but provide lessons learned that can be helpful to other teams undertaking similar initiatives.

There is strong evidence to show that adolescent relationship violence (duringnon-cohabitating relationships of namoro in Portuguese, noviazgo in Spanish) can lead to adult intimate partner violence (IPV). However, research and interventions addressing violence among adolescents are limited compared to those focused on adult IPV, and they are especially scarce in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. As a result, policies and programs in the region miss out on significant opportunities to promote nonviolent relationships throughout life.

This is the last version available of "Diasporas, Philanthropy and Hometown Associations: The Central American Experience". This paper looks at the experience of Hometown Associations (HTAs) in Central America as an illustration of voluntary work on development and a manifestation of a transnational identity characterized by the interplay between micro and macro dynamics living in a real world of "distant proximities".

This Social Strategy was prepared to guide the operational and analytical work of the Inter-American Development Bank in supporting the overarching goals of reducing poverty and inequality, and achieving sustainable growth as expressed in the Ninth General Capital Increase. The objective of the Strategy is to improve the effectiveness of the Bank in promoting social policies that enhance equity and productivity in the Region.

In low- and middle-income countries (LIMCs) measuring early childhood development (ECD) with standard tests in large scale surveys (i.e. evaluations of interventions) is difficult and expensive. Multi-dimensional screeners and single-domain tests ('short tests') are frequentlyused as alternatives. However, their validity in these circumstances is unknown.

Between 2000 and 2013, Latin America has considerably reduced poverty (from 46.3% to 29.7% of the population). In this paper, we use synthetic panels to show that, despite progress, the region remains characterized by substantial vulnerability that also affects the rising middle-class. More specifically, we find that 65% of those with daily income between $4 and 10, and 14% of those in the middle-class, experience poverty at least once over a ten-year period. Furthermore, chronic poverty remains widespread (representing 91% and 50% of extreme and moderate poverty respectively).

The causes of informality are many and range from imperfections in existing legislation and segmentation of the labor markets to macroeconomic adjustment programs and globalization. Some see in informality a mechanism for escaping unemployment, while for others it generates a spirit of entrepreneurship. The study has two objectives: i) To evaluate the degree of poverty and lack of social protection of informal workers in three of the region¿s countries: Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.