Community area

IDB Lab

About IDB Lab

IDB Lab (previously known as MIF) is the innovation laboratory of the IDB Group. It aims to promote development through the private sector by identifying, supporting, testing and piloting new solutions to development challenges, seeking to create opportunities for the poor and vulnerable populations in the LAC region. IDB Lab engages and inspires the private sector working with the public sector when needed. Created in 1993 by 21 donor countries, it is the largest provider of technical assistance for private sector development projects.

Our partnership with IDB Lab

The 5-year Youth Entrepreneurship Program, funded by IDB Lab and delivered by our members, aims to increase the number of poor and low-income youth in 10 Latin American and Caribbean countries successfully starting sustainable businesses and creating new jobs. By the end of 2017, the programme had supported 11,930 young people to start or strengthen their businesses.

 

Contact details

Website

Initiatives

 Youth Entrepreneurship Programme in Latin America and the Caribbean YBI’s regional programme aimed at helping underserved young people across Latin America and the Caribbean to start, grow and sustain a business.

Success stories

Marian Balmaceda

Paraguay

“I wanted to own something for myself, to be a self-employer. Fundación Paraguaya helped me to achieve that goal when I was feeling overworked doing what I loved.”

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Kimberley Sandiford

Barbados

"I’ve always been passionate about taking care of others. When it occurred to me that I could start a business doing this I went all in – and learnt a lot along the way!"

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Ricardo Escobedo

Mexico

"When I first started out I did not understand the word “entrepreneur.” I was afraid I would not be able to do it, especially as I did not feel ready or confident enough to start a business on my own."

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Relina Coward

Barbados

"Manufacturing every day is really good, it’s tiring, but when you are making your product every day it means there is a demand and business is good."

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Publications

 Effectuation and its application in youth entrepreneurship training

Effectuation and its application in youth entrepreneurship training

Publications

 

View Exploring the impact of voluntary business mentoring on young entrepreneurs

Exploring the impact of voluntary business mentoring on young entrepreneurs

Publications

This report summarises the key findings of a two-year longitudinal study, undertaken in partnership with Middlesex University.

View Impact Report 2016

Impact Report 2016

Publications

Every year YBI helps tens of thousands of young entrepreneurs like Pema Seyden to start and grow sustainable businesses in their local community.

View Impact Report 2015

Impact Report 2015

Publications

2014 was another busy year for YBI, as our members continued to provide much-needed support for young entrepreneurs around the world.

View Impact Report 2014

Impact Report 2014

Publications

This year's Network Impact Report is all baout the network value - about the benefits that we can gain from working together.

View Impact Report 2017

Impact Report 2017

Publications

 

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Maritza Vela Project Specialist Multilateral Investment Fund

“The MIF turned to YBI to co-design our regional Youth Entrepreneurship Program that is significantly increasing the number of young people who improve their lives by starting or growing their own businesses across eleven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. To date YBI and MIF together have supported more than 41,000 young people to start or grow their own business. We appreciate YBI’s commitment to promoting innovation and learning across their network.”

Other Partners

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