WASHINGTON, USA – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced the eight finalists for the third edition of its Superheroes of Development Award, which recognizes the innovative solutions devised and valuable lessons learned by executing agencies/borrowers or clients while implementing development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly under the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The award is part of an effort to improve the performance of IDB Group-financed projects to design and implement solutions aligned to the current and changing realities of our counterparts, through systematic learning and knowledge sharing. This year, the Bank received 88 submissions for the contest from projects in its 26 borrowing member countries and in all areas of development.
The finalists were selected by a panel of internal IDB Group development experts from every sub-region in Latin America and the Caribbean based on the following criteria: challenge that COVID-19 has represented regarding the execution of the project; actions implemented to face the challenge and its effects so far (for example, new activities, alternative processes, reformulation or restructuring of components, among others); and recommendations on the adjustment process and search for solutions, and how to face similar challenges in the future.
The finalists are:
- ¡El COVID19 no nos frena! Asegurando servicios de agua e higiene en el área rural paraguaya (Paraguay)
- Merenda em casa: garantindo a segurança alimentar dos estudantes do Amazonas em meio à pandemia (Brazil)
- Certificado Profissional de Suporte em TI (Brazil)
- Strengthening Female Entrepreneurship in Brokopondo, Wanica, Sipaliwini and Marowijne (Suriname)
- Campanha #PODPELAVIDA (Brazil)
- Tía: Innovadora solidaridad en los más duros momentos (Ecuador)
On August 25, the finalists will showcase their stories before a panel composed of the institution’s senior management team, where three winners will be chosen to participate in an online event with IDB president Luis Alberto Moreno, which will take place on August 31 at 4:00 PM EST. The IDB will share these stories throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, so they may contribute to ongoing projects, as well as to the preparation of new operations.
