RawPixel CC0 photo.
This blog examines remittance sending costs to eight Latin American and Caribbean countries and considers that the most important reality shaping the money transfer intermediation industry is that is tied to a global currency market.Read more +
Ichabod/Wikipedia
El Salvador’s sluggish economy and outdated economic model present serious challenges for the future. Weak economic performance means that life is hard and opportunities are scarce for large portions of the population. It also has far-ranging implications for a variety of issues, including migration, social inclusion, and insecurity. With the…Read more +
Rebecca Bill Chavez, Manuel Orozco
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Voces
Michael Shick / CC 2.0
Migration is a local phenomenon. Although national governments are key players in crafting policy to address the hemisphere-wide migration crisis, mayors are the ones feeling and dealing with the pressure and, in many cases, developing inclusive solutions. Read more +
Marvin Recinos —AFP/GETTY IMAGE
Despite a severe continued deterioration of health conditions among Latin American and Caribbean countries, and a slower than expected economic recovery in 2021, migrant remittance transfers will grow 25% relative to 2020, which had already increased 9%. Read more +
This blog refers to the “Thriving in San Marcos” initiative carried out in partnership with Cities Alliance. and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. “Thriving in San Marcos” promotes a skilled, professional workforce among future generations in the MANCUERNA region of Guatemala through our B’etil Diploma, an extracurricular education program with a pre-professional focus in collaboration…Read more +
This blog refers to the “Thriving in San Marcos” initiative carried out in partnership with Cities Alliance and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. “Thriving in San Marcos” promotes strong local economies in the MANCUERNA region of Guatemala through access to credit and business coaching for entrepreneurs in collaboration with financial institutions and civil society organizations.…Read more +
This blog refers to the “Thriving in San Marcos” initiative carried out in partnership with Cities Alliance and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. “Thriving in San Marcos” promotes financial access and inclusion in the MANCUERNA region of Guatemala through financial education in close collaboration with financial institutions. MANCUERNA encompasses municipalities across San Marcos and Quetzaltenango,…Read more +
GWP / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0
Given its commitment to reviving multilateralism and bringing together diverse stakeholders, the Biden administration is well-positioned to use these instruments to implement its more holistic regional agenda. After decades of privileging police and military assistance and waiting for government uptake of institutional strengthening efforts, it is time to look beyond Central American states and reinvest in civil society-based anti-corruption coalitions that can be the engines of political and economic change.Read more +
Nate Graham, Jamie Dorner, José Daniel Madrigal
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Voces
European Union / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
Making climate change a central theme of a renewed US focus on the root causes of migration from the Northern Triangle presents an opportunity for the Biden administration to address its border dilemma while simultaneously advancing its climate-related foreign policy goals. Read more +
Graduation Ceremony of the B’etil Diploma in El Palmar
Migrants have a strong potential to transform their families and societies; the challenge is harnessing this potential. The Opportunities for My Community project explores practical ways in which various actors, including diaspora groups and remittance companies, can work effectively to support education in Guatemala.Read more +
CIDH / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Policymakers in Bogota are running out of time to preemptively tackle a potential humanitarian crisis that could complicate the implementation of the peace accords with the FARC rebels. Read more +
Julia Yansura
Guatemala’s economic growth and development has historically been affected by high rates of inequality, as well as by a poorly performing economic model that is based on agricultural exports. Read more +
It is often mentioned that remittances “are primarily spent on consumption, housing and land, and are not utilized for productive investment that would contribute to long-run development.”[2] Statements such as these typically reflect value judgments rather than informed opinions based on empirical evidence. Read more +