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Established
1959
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
Members
48 states, of which 26 developing countries are from Latin America and the Caribbean
Organization
Board of Governors is the highest decision-making body; the 14-member Board of Directors deals with operational decisions
President
Luis Alberto Moreno (Columbia)
Staff
around 1,900
Financing
Member contributions, earned income and reserves, international capital market
Swiss contribution (2012)
CHF 1,4 million
Link
www.iadb.org
Inter-American Development Bank IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was established in 1959 and has 48 members of which 26 come from Latin America and the Caribbean. It is the most important source of development project financing in the region. Each year, the IDB grants loans amounting to 10-15 billion US dollars. The bank also plays an important role in the promotion of regional integration.
| The main tasks of the Inter-American Development Bank IDB |
The main objectives of the IDB are to reduce poverty and inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean and to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly development.
The IDB is part of the Inter-American Development Bank Group which is made up of the following organizations and funds:
- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which grants loans to developing countries in the region with a relatively high per-capita income;
- The Fund for Special Operations (FSO) which grants loans at favorable interest rates and long repayment schedules as well as debt reduction to poor countries in the region (Honduras, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Guyana, Haiti). Haiti, which is the region’s poorest country, receives donations only; its debts with the IDB were entirely written off following the earthquake in 2010;
- The Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC), which promotes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), through the provision of loans and capital investments;
- The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), which promotes small and micro businesses through the provision of capital and technical expertise.
To achieve these goals, the IDB finances projects and programs in the following five sectors:
- Social policy (social security net, education, health, integration in the job market, gender issues and social diversity;
- Infrastructure (water and waste-water treatment, transport, energy);
- Institutions to promote growth and well-being (financial, fiscal and security services);
- Promoting regional competitiveness and economic integration;
- Environment, climate change, food security.
| The IDB and Switzerland |
The relationship between Switzerland and Latin America has a long tradition which began with development cooperation activities in Bolivia in 1969. Switzerland has been a member of the IDB, the IIC and the MIF since 1976.
The highest decision-making body of the IDB is the Board of Governors which considers the acceptance of new members, share-capital increases and supervises the management. Switzerland takes part in this body with one representative each from SECO and the SDC. However, the main responsibilities lie with the 14 executive directors who work permanently at the bank’s headquarters. The Board of Directors discusses and decides on credit requests, country and sectoral strategies, interest rates, as well as budgetary and financial matters. Switzerland is part of a voting group with Belgium, Germany, Israel, China, Italy and the Netherlands. Switzerland is permanently represented on the executive board either by a (senior) advisor or by an alternate executive director.
Switzerland has capital/voting shares of 0.47% at the IDB, 0.65% at the FSO, and 1.52% at the IIC.
Through its presence on these different bodies, Switzerland is active in ensuring that the Bank implements its mission to combat poverty through concrete measures and obtains measurable results,
and that it gives greater importance to carrying out controls and ensuring the quality of its programs. Switzerland sees to it that the IDB focuses its programs consistently on the Millennium
Development Goals and that it supports the modernization of state institutions in Latin America. Detailed information on the priorities and goals of cooperation with the IDB can be found in
“Switzerland and the Inter-American Development Bank”.
Additional Information and Documents
- La Suisse et la Banque Interméricaine de développement
Lignes d'action
Download (PDF, 1111 KB) : [de] [fr] -
IDB Development Effectiveness Overview 2011
http://www.iadb.org/en/topics/development-effectiveness/development-effectiveness,1222.html