The IDB Group in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic: Activities Report 2019

Central America and the Dominican Republic grew 3.4% in 2019. While the region has shown resilience in an adverse external environment, with growth rates above Latin America and the global average, significant development gaps persist, and more than 20 million people remain below the poverty line. In 2019, the IDB Group supported countries in their growth and poverty reduction strategies. Approvals exceeded US$ 2.7 billion, providing 21% of public investment and covering 13% of the countries financing needs. This report describes the main activities of the IDB Group in Central America and the Dominican Republic in 2019. It highlights the Banks support to issues on the countries national agendas, and to regional cooperation and integration. It explores the region's progress during the last decade in terms of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (1990-2015) and implementing the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda. Despite advances in access to basic services such as education, health, electricity and water, many challenges remain and, in the face of the new Sustainable Development Goals of 2030, fulfilment becomes more urgent and commitment more pressing.