IDB, World Bank, and CAF Join Forces to Enhance Knowledge and Strengthen Security Policies in Latin America and the Caribbean
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, and CAF—the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean—have agreed to strengthen their collaboration to enhance knowledge and support public policies addressing transnational organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean.
This agreement was unveiled during the Regional Security Summit, organized by Ecuador’s Ministry of the Interior and the IDB, in Guayaquil on August 19 and 20. The summit saw participation from Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Interior Minister Mónica Palencia, and interior and justice ministers from 13 countries in the region.
The agreement outlines five key areas of collaboration: knowledge generation and dissemination; academic partnerships and development; engagement with policymakers and experts; integration and standardization of statistics; and policy support with resource mobilization. The latter includes exploring opportunities for collaboration to implement crime prevention policies through platforms, networks, co-financing, capacity building, and mobilizing resources to combat criminal violence in the region, with a focus on organized crime.
“The grave security crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean has intensified as crime becomes increasingly organized and regional. This new partnership between the IDB, the World Bank, and CAF will build bridges within and beyond the region to coordinate the efforts of countries, multilateral development banks, and other partners, making it a safer place for everyone,” said IDB President Ilan Goldfajn.
“Violence and organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean present significant barriers to development. Addressing these critical challenges is essential for economic growth, poverty eradication, and the creation of violence-free societies,” said Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for the Latin America and the Caribbean Region. He added, “This agreement will enable the three development agencies to collaborate with each other and with countries to find solutions that will improve lives in the region.”
Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF, emphasized, “The alarming reality is that one-third of all homicides worldwide occur in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that accounts for only 9 percent of the global population. Organized transnational crime is a major contributor to this surge in violence, affecting millions of lives in our region. To address this new paradigm of crime, we need to deepen our understanding. We are confident that this multilateral agreement between the World Bank, the IDB, and CAF will provide the comprehensive insights needed. One thing is clear: without security in our countries, there can be no sustainable development.”
Following the signing of the agreement, the three institutions will develop a roadmap to track their progress in achieving its objectives.
