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Latin America and the Caribbean
Practical solutions to enduring problems

Located in Montevideo, Uruguay, IDRC’s regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean coordinates our activities in 33 countries.

 
Our programming reflects the diverse needs of Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, and South America. Three core goals underlie our work in the region:
  • upholding democracy, human rights, and accountable government
  • reducing vulnerability to disease, natural disasters, and degrading natural resources
  • increasing opportunities for equitable economic growth and access to social safety nets and services
A number of countries in the Americas are emerging from prolonged internal conflict or civil war. IDRC’s support in the region recognizes that research is needed to expand the range of practical solutions to enduring problems, to encourage innovation, and to promote long-term growth in the region.

Latest Project

Community Based Crime Prevention in Guatemala

Guatemala is one of the most violent countries in the world. Guatemalans of every age, class and ethnicity confront violence daily in every part of the national territory. According to statistics kept by the police and the human rights ombudsman...

Latest Result

Empowering communities through health system monitoring in Guatemala

Despite its middle-income status, Guatemala has some of the worst health outcomes in Latin America with more than half of its population living in poverty.  Indigenous populations in rural areas, who suffered the most during 36 years of civil war...


News

Research explores the impact of new social protection programs in Latin America

17/04/2013

Research supported by IDRC will evaluate the impacts of social protection programs available to people that do not have access to social security. Traditionally, social security funds have covered legally registered employees who contribute through...

Government highlights IDRC’s efforts in fighting hunger in Guatemala

24/12/2012

​An IDRC project designed to supply the science needed to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in Guatemala was launched by Canada’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (the Americas), the Honourable Diane Albonczy, in early December. The...

Events

The End of Inequality in Latin America?

29/05/2013

The Canadian Development Economics Study Group (CDESG) and IDRC are hosting a joint presentation on May 29, 2013, on the “The End of Inequality in Latin America?”Dr Leonardo Gasparini, director of the Center for Distributive, Labor and Social...

Former President of Chile, Ricardo Lagos - Latin America: Social media and the emerging middle class

05/06/2012

Social media is changing the nature of state-society relations in dramatic ways.  This is particularly evident in Latin America where an emerging middle class with access to social media tools are redefining how democracy is conceptualized and...

Latest Projects

Guatemala is one of the most violent countries in the world. Guatemalans of every age, class and ethnicity confront violence daily in every part of the national territory. According to statistics kept by the police and the human rights ombudsman...
Community Based Crime Prevention in GuatemalaCommunity Based Crime Prevention in GuatemalaImplementation of a Population-wide Program to Reduce Salt and Sodium Consumption in Costa RicaPromoting Innovation in the Services Sector: Toward Productivity and CompetitivenessUnderstanding Southern Influence in Cyberspace Security and Governance: Toward a Global Network of Southern-based Cyber ScholarsBroadband Adoption and Poverty: Evidence and New Research Directions from Latin America

Latest Projects

Population-wide salt reduction initiatives which target sodium levels in foods and consumer education have the potential to reduce salt intake across all population sectors and improve cardiovascular
Community Based Crime Prevention in Guatemala Implementation of a Population-wide Program to Reduce Salt and Sodium Consumption in Costa RicaImplementation of a Population-wide Program to Reduce Salt and Sodium Consumption in Costa RicaPromoting Innovation in the Services Sector: Toward Productivity and CompetitivenessUnderstanding Southern Influence in Cyberspace Security and Governance: Toward a Global Network of Southern-based Cyber ScholarsBroadband Adoption and Poverty: Evidence and New Research Directions from Latin America

Latest Projects

The services sector is increasingly important to the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, but productivity remains relatively low. Boosting innovation in services will be central to improving
Community Based Crime Prevention in GuatemalaImplementation of a Population-wide Program to Reduce Salt and Sodium Consumption in Costa Rica Promoting Innovation in the Services Sector: Toward Productivity and CompetitivenessPromoting Innovation in the Services Sector: Toward Productivity and CompetitivenessUnderstanding Southern Influence in Cyberspace Security and Governance: Toward a Global Network of Southern-based Cyber ScholarsBroadband Adoption and Poverty: Evidence and New Research Directions from Latin America

Latest Projects

The securitization of cyberspace - that is, making it a matter of national security - is perhaps the most important force shaping global communications today. It is particularly troublesome for develo
Community Based Crime Prevention in GuatemalaImplementation of a Population-wide Program to Reduce Salt and Sodium Consumption in Costa RicaPromoting Innovation in the Services Sector: Toward Productivity and Competitiveness Understanding Southern Influence in Cyberspace Security and Governance: Toward a Global Network of Southern-based Cyber ScholarsUnderstanding Southern Influence in Cyberspace Security and Governance: Toward a Global Network of Southern-based Cyber ScholarsBroadband Adoption and Poverty: Evidence and New Research Directions from Latin America

Latest Projects

Development luminaries like Jeffrey Sachs and Muhammad Yunus espouse the importance of broadband networks for promoting development. But where's the evidence to support the theory? Despite a strong n
Community Based Crime Prevention in GuatemalaImplementation of a Population-wide Program to Reduce Salt and Sodium Consumption in Costa RicaPromoting Innovation in the Services Sector: Toward Productivity and CompetitivenessUnderstanding Southern Influence in Cyberspace Security and Governance: Toward a Global Network of Southern-based Cyber Scholars Broadband Adoption and Poverty: Evidence and New Research Directions from Latin AmericaBroadband Adoption and Poverty: Evidence and New Research Directions from Latin America

Latest Results

Despite its middle-income status, Guatemala has some of the worst health outcomes in Latin America with more than half of its population living in poverty.  Indigenous populations in rural areas, who suffered the most during 36 years of civil war...
Empowering communities through health system monitoring in GuatemalaNew insights into “catastrophic” expenditure in Latin America and the CaribbeanAdapting to Climate Change in Peru's Mantaro ValleyBalancing trade-offs for wastewater treatment in Mexico CityWomen play larger role in Latin America's commercial urban waste management

Latest Results

As of 2012, Mexico is well on the road to universal health coverage. In less than a decade, thanks to Seguro Popular, a national health insurance program introduced in 2003, every Mexican is now covered by a public insurance scheme. The program...
Empowering communities through health system monitoring in Guatemala New insights into “catastrophic” expenditure in Latin America and the CaribbeanAdapting to Climate Change in Peru's Mantaro ValleyBalancing trade-offs for wastewater treatment in Mexico CityWomen play larger role in Latin America's commercial urban waste management

Latest Results

The Mantaro Valley in central Peru is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and frost. According to recent projections, this vulnerability will increase in coming years due to climate change.The Instituto Geofísico...
Empowering communities through health system monitoring in GuatemalaNew insights into “catastrophic” expenditure in Latin America and the Caribbean Adapting to Climate Change in Peru's Mantaro ValleyBalancing trade-offs for wastewater treatment in Mexico CityWomen play larger role in Latin America's commercial urban waste management

Latest Results

Wastewater treatment is a serious issue in Mexico City due to its large population, heavy water use, and inadequate wastewater infrastructure. Researchers supported by IDRC have published a paper where they compare the social and environmental...
Empowering communities through health system monitoring in GuatemalaNew insights into “catastrophic” expenditure in Latin America and the CaribbeanAdapting to Climate Change in Peru's Mantaro Valley Balancing trade-offs for wastewater treatment in Mexico CityWomen play larger role in Latin America's commercial urban waste management

Latest Results

Women in Latin America are playing a larger role in the management of solid waste in Latin America, according to research supported by IDRC. Trabajadoras por la ciudad. Aporte de las mujeres a la gestión ambiental de los residuos sólidos en América...
Empowering communities through health system monitoring in GuatemalaNew insights into “catastrophic” expenditure in Latin America and the CaribbeanAdapting to Climate Change in Peru's Mantaro ValleyBalancing trade-offs for wastewater treatment in Mexico City Women play larger role in Latin America's commercial urban waste management
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IDRC funds researchers in the developing world so they can build healthier, more prosperous societies
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