Cuando uno ve a los jubilados en los pasillos del Banco, se tiene la impresión de que son esquivos, que vienen a su almuerzo mensual y pronto se marchan. Es una lástima, porque el Banco sigue y seguirá siendo su casa.

The new auditor general Elizabeth Folsom joins the Bank with 14 years of experience in both private business and with a large nonprofit organization. She succeeds William Taylor, who retired after 40 years of service at the IDB.

The excavation is almost completed and the demolition
of the 38-inch-thick foundation mat for 1350 New York Avenue is underway, scheduled to be completed in
early January.

During the past few months IDB headquarters has been home to 55 summer employees and interns from 22 countries. These talented young people were selected from a pool of around 2,500 applicants.

The head of the District of Columbia Department of Transportation noticed that an excessive number of people were walking in the traffic lanes in the street rather than walking to the corner and crossing at the traffic signal.

The noise staff has been hearing during the past few weeks in 1300 NYA was caused by the construction of a new fire exit on the West side of the building. A new fire exit is also under construction at 1350.

There is a common perception that fraud and corruption are widespread in developing economies and that the countries in the Bank's region...

It has been six years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer and, until now, I have not been able to write about the illness and how it has changed my life and the lives of those around me.

Both the alley and sidewalk between 1300 and 1350 New York Avenue buildings were closed to pedestrian traffic on Monday, June 16, as construction activities began on the Bank's new Auditorium and Conference Facility.

Asistir a los cursos del Instituto Interamericano para el Desarrollo Social (INDES) no requerirá más de ningún tipo de movilización. Una computadora con conexión a Internet y deseos de aprender serán suficientes para acceder a muchos de los cursos de capacitación que este instituto ofrece desde su fundación.

Are you one of the many staff members who would like to sign up for computer training but can never find the time? Although attending training classes—in Powerpoint, or WORD, or Access—with a live instructor can be enlightening and provide a refreshing break from one's daily routines, many of us find it difficult to schedule classes during the work week.

Dr. Shinjiro Miyakawa had a wonderful idea. He was enjoying a successful career as a pediatric dentist in Tokyo but he also wanted to share his good fortune. There are many charities and dental associations in Asia that more than amply attend to the dental needs of children in that region.

Enrique V. Iglesias was unanimously elected for a fourth five-year term as president of the IDB, which will begin April 1, 2003.

Remember that famous line from the 1996 Tom Cruise movie Jerry Maguire? Well, within the IDB, the Cash Management Section of the Finance Department (FIN/CMS) is where the money is. It’s the bank within the Bank.

Aerial view of the the construction of the Auditorium & Conference Facility.

For many, Christmas is a time of much merrymaking- shopping, parties, family get togethers and such. But for others it is a time of loneliness, sadness and depression. They may have lost a loved one to death or divorce. They may live alone and have few friends. Their children may have all moved away. They may have lost their jobs. For whatever reason, they don't see beauty in the lights; they don't hear the voice of angels in Christmas carols. It is said that more people commit suicide at this time of year than at any other.

My career began in 1965, a month after graduating from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Following in the footsteps of my father, I had intended on going into the...

A major objective of the IDB's Social Development Strategy is to improve the region's performance in the social sectors in the future. But what will the future look like?

Within the IDB, the Japan Program is leading the way toward creating greater awareness among policymakers in Latin America and the Caribbean of the magnitude of the problems of millions of persons with disabilities...

Share the Magic of the Holiday Season with low income members of the Hispanic and Caribbean communities in Washington, DC.

In mid September, the IDB launched a call for proposals to promote regional public goods (RPGs) for development projects that support or require collaboration among several countries.

Chasqui had the opportunity to sit down with recent IDB retiree Charles Sethness, who was the Finance Department Manager during his 14 years with the IDB. He enjoyed a brief retirement of 11 days before he started a new job with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) this past July.

Not long ago, when the Finance Department received an inquiry regarding debt service projections, it took substantial resources to come up with a response.

El año 2004 fue, a todas luces, un año notable para la región, que logró su mayor tasa de crecimiento económico desde 1998.  También lo fue para el BID, que prestó casi 6.000 millones de dólares e introdujo una serie de cambios...

El Secretario del Banco, Carlos Ferdinand, participó activamente por encargo del Presidente Enrique V. Iglesias en las negociaciones que culminaron con el acuerdo para el ingreso de Corea al Banco, un hecho de importancia histórica para la institución.

El pasado 28 de abril se celebró, con mayor éxito y concurrencia de lo habitual, la XXV Asamblea Anual. La asistencia de 110 asociados fue muestra del interés y voluntad de nuestros socios a participar del proceso de conducir y defender los intereses de todos.

Fact: Among the plethora of information channels that exist today, television is the medium that most Latin Americans use to access information, according to a recent study by TGI Latina.

El punto culminante de la visita fue un recorrido por el Capitolio que les organizó el 28 de abril el primer Senador por la Florida nacido en América Latina, Mel Martínez.

The IDB’s first bond issues in Latin American currencies have earned Euromoney’s  “Best Supranational Borrower Award” for 2004.

On Friday, June 17, BIDKIDS held a graduation ceremony to mark the completion of pre-school for nine children who will be moving on to kindergarten in the fall.

On Saturday, June 11, the IDB, the World Bank, and the IMF joined forces with Bikes for the World to collect used bicycles to be donated to developing countries.

Durante más de diez años, Carlos Ferdinand ocupó un cargo en el Banco que le permitió desempeñarse simultáneamente como actor y observador de los avatares del grupo del BID desde un lugar privilegiado.

From September 12 – 16, there will be a painting exhibit for the children of Bank and IIC employees. The opening of the exhibit will be held on Monday, September 12 in the Atrium.

Luis Alberto Moreno was appointed to be Colombia’s ambassador to the United States in September 1998 and again in May 2002.

No sería exagerado afirmar que Rafael Cervantes Calderón, ciudadano guatemalteco, ha sido uno de los empleados del Banco que dejó una huella más visible y duradera.

President Iglesias visited Suriname in March 2002 for just one day. But nevertheless, it appears to have had quite an impact on the country's relationship with the Bank.

During his visit to Barbados in 1996, the Barbados Country office was pleased to welcome President Enrique V. Iglesias to the office. The staff took the opportunity to present a young artist, David St. Pierre, to the President.

En realidad el presidente del BID Enrique Iglesias no se ha despedido del Perú, ni menos de la Representación en este país.

El 29 de agosto la Representación del BID en Bolivia tuvo la grata visita del Presidente Enrique V. Iglesias...

En este momento no quiero hablar de un adiós, sino del inmenso sentimiento de gratitud que nos embarga, hacia la persona que ha dirigido nuestra institución con esfuerzo, dedicación y capacidad.

Para Honduras, las convicciones e ideales de desarrollo de Enrique V. Iglesias Presidente del BID, significaron importantes mejoras estratégicas en áreas...

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As he prepared to leave the Bank after his 17-year tenure at its helm, President Enrique V. Iglesias sat down with Chasqui’s Diana Lesbines to share some personal thoughts on the Bank, its work, its staff, its host city and its in-house newsletter.

Mientras se prepara para dejar el Banco después de dirigirlo durante 17 años, el Presidente Iglesias conversó con Diana Lesbines de Chasqui y compartió algunos pensamientos sobre el BID, su labor, sus funcionarios, su ciudad sede y también sobre Chasqui, su boletín interno.

Articulate and poised, with quite a sense of humor, Colombian Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno, the president-elect of the Bank...

Articulado, sereno, con sentido del humor, seguro de sí mismo y completamente a sus anchas se presenta a primera vista Luis Alberto Moreno, el presidente electo...

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Steve Zimmermann heads the Bank’s Office of Institutional Integrity, which began operations just a year and a half ago. An independent unit reporting to the Bank President, the OII is responsible for the Bank’s anti-corruption and integrity programs.

The frightening scenario could take place in a big city anywhere in the world: someone comes up to your car, smashes your car window and grabs your valuables. Say you’re traveling to Latin America on mission and are going to have to rent a car. What is the one best way to prevent such a “smash and grab”?

Newspapers have been full of stories about the terrible hardships caused by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and we are only too familiar with the enormous disruption that terrorist activities can cause. 

Un peoma por Zenaida Madoo.

Encuentre las respuestas al crucigrama en nuestro próximo volumen!

The IDB Photographic Society is pleased to announce that it will be holding its 11th Annual IDB Staff Photography Exhibit in late January 2006 and invites all staff members...

En el mes de octubre, la tormenta tropical Stan azotó con toda su furia el territorio guatemalteco con lluvias torrenciales que provocaron mucha destrucción...

Gracias a la generosidad de los empleados del BID, el Comité Damnificados El Salvador ha recaudado hasta esta fecha un total de...

The IDB-DC Solidarity Program invites you to share the magic of this Holiday Season by bringing to the lobby of the IDB's main and annex buildings from November 17 to December 9

Staff response to the Chasqui  ”Faces and Places of the Region” photo contest was impressive, with 150 photos entered. From breathtaking landscapes to engaging portraits, amateur photographers in the Bank turn a clearly affectionate gaze on their subjects.

EOFULA, a non-profit organization created to serve the Latin American senior population in Washington, D.C., presented an award to the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) DC Solidarity Program for its long-term support and commitment to the organization´s goals on November 30, 2005.

If 50 years of international development programs have taught us anything, it’s that success depends on close communication with the client. Ana de Andrés, human resources policy coordinator, took this lesson to heart in August of 2005...

Aquí estan las soluciones al crucigrama del último número de Chasqui

El 17 de noviembre, el Directorio de la Asociación de Jubilados se reunió con el Presidente Luís Alberto Moreno en un almuerzo para darle una calurosa bienvenida y brindarle su entusiasta colaboración. Fue un evento particularmente simpático y espontáneo.

El BID es hoy importante referente y fuente de conocimiento para temas de desarrollo. Esto ha creado la necesidad de producir información y publicaciones para una demanda cada vez más variada y dispersa: folletos, informes...

A new multimedia IDB Visitors Center will open during 2006, the result of a merger and enhancement of the IDB Bookstore and the Public Information Center.

En 2003, la Universidad de Oviedo —Asturias, España— llegó a un acuerdo con CajAstur, una entidad financiera del Principado de Asturias muy comprometida con la juventud...

Las Asociaciones de Familias en las Representaciones tienen como objetivo ayudar a promover la integración de los empleados, organizando actividades que varían en cada país de acuerdo a las características que conforman cada grupo.

Above are four members of the eight-person IDB project team that developed the Bank’s first public sector guarantee operation: a $60 million guarantee to help finance improvements on a 920-kilometer toll road system in northern Peru...

El pasado viernes 3 de febrero, una representación de la Asociación de empleados del BID, jubilados del BID en Bolivia y familiares visitaron las instalaciones del Ministerio de Defensa  para hacer entrega de una donación...

El Comité El Salvador que recolectó fondos para los damnificados de la Tormenta Tropical Stan quiso asegurarse que las donaciones llegasen a los más necesitados.

At the beginning of the year, Bank staff found a colorful calendar in their inboxes. Titled “Diversity Matters,” the calendar features photographs taken by Bank staff.

The IDB-DC Solidarity Program hosted the first meeting of a new partnership formed by local funding sources and corporations that will build the capacity of small and medium-sized Latino nonprofit organizations...

The Bank has become increasingly active in the Washington area Latino community. President Luis Alberto Moreno on February 9 kicked off the Latino Federation of Greater Washington...

A Bank-wide bulletin signed by President Moreno on February 16 provided additional details about the case of a senior Bank employee who was dismissed last year for allegedly misappropriating several hundred thousand dollars in IDB funds.

President Moreno on March 2 announced the approval of a new Code of Ethics, entitled “Earning Public Trust,” updating the previous version, which had been in force since 1976.

Como resultado del intercambio de opiniones del Presidente Moreno con el Directorio de la Asociación de Jubilados en el almuerzo que se le brindó en noviembre pasado y en atención a la solicitud de la Oficina de la Presidencia...

The IDB-IIC Federal Credit Union teamed up with the credit unions of the Organization of American States and District of Columbia Government Employees to open a joint branch in the Mount Pleasant area of Washington on February 26. Called ACCESO (“Access”)...

The Campos Novos hydroelectric power project in Brazil, which received a US$75 million IDB loan from ordinary capital, was awarded the "Latin American Power Deal of the Year" by Project Finance Magazine...

Maria Cristina Samudio-Hamuy Price, an attorney in the Legal Department, passed away on March 30, 2006. A native of Paraguay, Cristina began her service with the IDB as a Junior Professional in 1982.

Nuestra compañera Bárbara Simón falleció inesperadamente en Belo Horizonte, Brasil, inmediatamente después de finalizar la 47 Reunión Anual de la Asamblea de Gobernadores del Banco, en la cual había trabajado como interprete simultánea. Su muerte ha sido sentida a todos los niveles en el BID, desde gerentes hasta mayordomos.

Félix Ángel, head of the IDB Cultural Center, poses in the White House with (from left) First Lady of the United States Laura Bush, First Lady of Peru Dr. Eliane Karp de Toledo and First Lady of Mexico...

Aunque otros departamentos del Banco realizan actividades de investigación y diseminación de conocimientos, el Departamento de Investigaciones (RES) es el más directamente involucrado en innovadoras tareas de investigación y de diseminación de conocimientos sobre temas de desarrollo que alimenten el debate sobre las políticas a implementar.

Project Finance Magazine awarded the 2005 “Latin American Water Deal of the Year” to the IDB’s Antofagasta desalination plant project. The private sector project consists of the design, phased construction and operation of a seawater desalination plant...

International Fiesta! hosted by the DC Community Relations Programs of the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

@ Guarapos Lounge
Wednesday, May 10 at 6:30 pm

To bring the 2006 World Cup as close to you as possible, the Goethe-Institut celebrates this special honor a special film series and exhibition.

Después de más de 10 años de trabajo como pionero en la capacitación de gerencia social en la región, el INDES se planteaba cómo llegar a quienes residen en zonas rurales sin posibilidad de acceder a los cursos de capacitación en sus propios países

Suriname is currently deeply afflicted by widespread flooding in the Upper Suriname River region located in the northeast of the country, near the border with French Guyana.

The IDB-DC Solidarity Program, in partnership with the International Monetary Fund, organized a fundraiser on May 10 for EOFULA, a Spanish senior citizens center and a Solidarity Program partner.

El 9 de abril pasado se realizaron las Elecciones Generales del Perú para elegir Presidente, congresistas y miembros del Parlamento Andino. De los 16.5 millones de peruanos inscritos para votar, casi medio millón reside en el extranjero y de éstos la mayoría (140.147 electores) en Estados Unidos.

You dont wan't to miss it!

Ricky Martin es la imagen de Llama y Vive, una nueva campaña de anuncios de televisión y radio que promueve líneas de asistencia telefónica para brindar ayuda a las víctimas de trata de personas y a su vez alertar a la población en riesgo.

Poco antes del amanecer del pasado 26 de abril, un visitante inesperado burló la estricta seguridad del Banco y se coló en el primer nivel del estacionamiento. Según Joe Adamany, jefe del estacionamiento, el maleante enmascarado viajó “a dedo” en un camión de basura...

Shortly before dawn on April 26, an uninvited visitor snuck past tight Bank security into the first level of the parking garage.

A few days ago I was riding up the elevator at the Bank. Like very Monday morning, the people were packed together in an uneasy silence. Suddenly someone smiled and asked the question that comes up every four years: “Who’s going to win the World Cup?”

Que el mundo es un teatro y que el teatro es un mundo son cosas sabidas y a veces injustamente olvidadas. No menos sabido es que a todos nos toca actuar y representar, y que algunos lo hacen con mayor felicidad y fortuna que otros.

Just six months into his job as the Bank’s new chief of corporate procurement, Roger Ball sat down with Chasqui editor Alexandra Russell-Bitting to tell us about his personal and professional background and his challenging assignment.

El directorio de la Asociación de Mujeres Bolivianas del área metropolitana de Washington, D.C. agradece la generosidad de los amigos y colegas de Bárbara Simón que han hecho posible la creación de un fondo especial para honrar su memoria.

Pedrito, como lo llamaban sus colegas en el Banco, fue uno de los compañeros y amigos más queridos por todos aquellos que tuvimos el honor y el privilegio de conocerlo.

Encrespada la piel al caer el crepúsculo

Desenfrenan los latidos del corazón

Ya la respiración agita tan noble músculo

On Saturday, June 10, the Maryland Multicultural Youth Center (MMYC) welcomed eight IDB volunteers, who teamed up to paint three classrooms and plant a garden. The MMYC, one of the IDB-DC Solidarity Program's partners, is a fam

Over 10 years ago a special task force reviewed the status of women in the IDB. In its final report, Using All Our Resources: Report of the Task Force on Women...

La Fundación Cultural Quipus, en colaboración con la ICDF, el gobierno de Bolivia, y otras organizaciones, está desarrollando Los Museos del Lago Titikaka – un complejo turístico a orillas del lago más alto del mundo.

La Fundación Interamericana para la Cultura y el Desarrollo (ICDF, según sus siglas en ingles) es una institución autónoma sin fines de lucro establecida el 12 de enero de 2005 en Washington, DC.

The Bank’s former External Relations Advisor, Mirna Liévano de Marques, has been appointed IDB Representative in Nicaragua. Educated in Belgium and a former cabinet minister in her native El Salvador, she discussed the prospects and challenges of her new assignment with Chasqui and provided a reprise of her five years as EXR chief.

Se trataba de uno de los tantos aviones a punto de aterrizar en Alemania, a pocos días de haber comenzado el gran evento del año: La Copa Mundial de fútbol.

Just over a year ago, Simon Gauthier took over the Information Technology and General Services Department. He tells us more about himself and the work he’s doing at the Bank.

The Bank’s new Code of Ethics approved by management on March 1 was only one part of the comprehensive framework for the “Integrity Initiative” President Moreno is putting in place.

There is no doubt that people and businesses have an impact on the environment. However measuring our own individual impact, or the collective impact of an organization, is not easy.

Cada verano, el BID cuenta con dos programas de pasantías: el Programa de Pasantías de Verano y el Programa de Diversidad para candidatos de ascendencia africana o miembros de pueblos indígenas de uno de los países miembros.

El representante, el subrepresentante y el especialista sectorial Dino Caprirolo se reunieron hace poco con Chasqui en la oficina de Buenos Aires para hablar de los proyectos que han tenido éxito en Argentina y de las funciones en evolución de las representaciones del BID.

The officials and sector specialist Dino Caprirolo met recently with Chasqui in the Buenos Aires office to talk about successful projects in Argentina and the evolving duties of IDB country offices.

Con un deseo de ayuda y bienestar Hiroko y el Dr. Miyakawa cumplen ya cuatro años de brindar servicios a comunidades necesitadas.

Roberto Benigni’s drama “Life Is Beautiful” (La vita è bella) garnered the most votes among Bank staff for favorite movies. Co-written by Benigni with Vicenzo Cerami and starring Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi and young Giorgio Cantarini...

IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno joined senior executives from the Sao Paulo State Sanitation Company (SABESP) for the traditional "closing bell" ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, October 25.

Did you know that the all-important morning cup of coffee you drink every day affects much more than your ability to kick-start your day?

Thanksgiving and the end-of-year holidays inspired several staff members to share their favorite crowd-pleasers, from appetizers to desserts.

“No vayas a tocar la ofrenda porque te agarra la mano el muerto”,  era la frase de mi abuela para mantener a los nietos alejados de todas las cosas que usaba en el Altar (u Ofrenda) del Día de Muertos.

IDB staff nurse Mirtha Ruiz and her husband Luis had planned a trip to Chicago for the birth of their son Luis’s first child. Their granddaughter Alyzandra Marcella Ruiz arrived just 48 minutes before the U.S. Census Bureau expected the nation’s population to reach the historic milestone of 300 million.

We all love the run-up to Christmas — shopping for loved ones, beautifully wrapped presents under a tree adorned in tinsel, flashing lights, festive feasts, abundant cheer and that mounting anticipation. At the same time, however, the season of peace on earth and goodwill to all has been overshadowed by global merchandising and a tendency towards overindulgence.

Ten recent graduates of the Japan-IDB Scholarship Program were selected among the top performers in the program for a visit to Japan in early October.

The Republic of Korea officially joined the IDB on March 16, 2005, becoming the 47th member country of the IDB and its second in Asia, with Japan.

Con el fin de apoyar el desarrollo profesional del personal administrativo del Banco y la Corporación, la Junta Directiva de la Asociación de Empleados aprobó la puesta en marcha de un programa piloto, el Programa de Asistencia Financiera para el Personal Administrativo de la Asociación de Empleados.

El pasado jueves, 23 de noviembre un grupo de empleados y familiares del Banco organizaron un almuerzo de Acción de Gracias para compartir el gesto de esperanza...

A holiday message from Chasqui

After months of discussions, on December 13, the IDB Board of Executive Directors approved President Moreno’s proposal to realign the Bank’s organization to development needs in Latin America and the Caribbean

The 2007 CDB/IDB Civil Society Organizations Dialogue, held in St. Lucia from January 22-24, brought IDB and Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) staff together with more than 80 delegates from 17 Caribbean countries, including members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and Bermuda.

Would you let anybody sign a check in your name? Would you teach them how to copy your signature? You’re probably thinking, “of course not!” but unfortunately many of us are giving away our signatures simply by letting other users know our system passwords. For the Bank’s computer applications, our passwords are our signatures.

An assistant editor in the Research Department, John Dunn Smith is one of 50 recipients of the 2007 Literature Fellowships in Poetry from the United States National Endowment for the Arts.

Telework, or telecommuting, means to work and communicate from any place outside the regular workplace. In a recently article published by Chasqui,  Dennis Courtney—who spends four hours every day commuting to the IDB Data Center in Ashburn, Virginia—suggested that the Bank allow this practice.

Me llamo Aitor Fernández y soy un chico asturiano de 23 años. Nací en Tineo, una localidad del sudoeste de Asturias, el 23 de octubre de 1983 y allí viví hasta que empecé mis estudios en la universidad...

The cafeteria survey recently conducted found that staff wanted more light and less crowding in the dining area, shorter lines at food stations and cash registers, and they want the coffee “kiosk” to remain on the terrace...

The “ATE II” electric power transmission project in the northeastern region of Brazil won Latin American Infrastructure Deal of the Year 2006, according to the February 2007 issue of ProjectFinance magazine.

One of the main items of business for the IDB governors at the recent Annual Meeting was to review the Bank’s financial statements published in the 2006 Annual Report. So how are we doing?

“We are mourning the loss of one of the region’s great champions, Antonio Ortiz Mena, who died last week on the eve of his one-hundredth birthday.”

New Ombudsperson Doris Campos-Infantino grew up seeing different perspectives. Born in Tijuana, Mexico, she was raised in Chula Vista, California and shuttled back and forth across the border. So negotiating two countries and two cultures comes naturally to her. Perhaps that’s why she went into public administration, with an emphasis on organizational development and conflict resolution.

La nueva Ombudsperson, Doris Campos-Infantino, creció rodeada de distintas perspectivas. Nació en Tijuana, México, y se crió en Chula Vista, California, movilizándose constantemente de un lado a otro de la frontera. Así que, para ella, es muy natural alternar entre dos países y dos culturas. Es quizá por esta razón que decidió dedicarse a la administración pública y especializarse en desarrollo organizacional y solución de controversias.

Thanks to the many years I have been bike commuting, I can feel my endurance, stamina, and strength have improved tremendously. 

The IDB has been a leader in environmental protection in Latin America and the Caribbean for many years.

According to Human Resources, although numerous IDB family members are enrolled at Virginia Tech, none of them were among the victims of the horrific shooting April 16. But many lost friends, especially the students from Northern Virginia.

Talk about hitting the ground running: Daniel Zelikow had barely come on board as executive vice president of the Bank when he was handed the formidable assignment of managing the realignment.

Earlier this year, IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno appointed a working group to revise and implement new Bank policies and procedures on conduct-related issues, including workplace violence and domestic abuse.

The sun is out, the grass is green and the winter wardrobe has gone back in the closet. Though some staffers like to take advantage of the warmer weather to get some exercise outdoors, many like to get out of the house to enjoy a barbecue, a picnic or a snack in their back yards. And others recommend going outside and doing absolutely nothing as the best way to relax. Now that the weather is nice, we love to go outside and…

Over 11 million people — nearly 90% of the population across seven Caribbean countries — have incomes under $300 a month in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.  The recent IDB seminar on Opportunities for the Majority in the Caribbean showcased new data on the region’s low-income majority.

All of us here at the IDB are in transition as we prepare for the realignment. Some of us, for instance, are working on documents and reports that will help management launch new programs and processes.

ACCESO, a credit union shared branch serving the Mt. Pleasant, Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., celebrated its first anniversary on Saturday, June 16.

On Saturday, June 9, the IDB, the World Bank and the IMF joined forces with Bikes for the World to collect used bicycles to be donated to developing countries.

The year was 1917: the United States entered World War I, the Bolsheviks took power in Russia, suffragists were arrested in front of the White House, the first jazz record was recorded and Babe Ruth led the Red Sox to a victory over the New York Yankees.

María Borrero was appointed to fill the new position of ethics officer on April 16, 2007. Recruited from the World Bank, where she held a similar position, Borrero will manage the Bank’s ethics program in the shifting sands of the realignment.

IDB staff have plenty of suggestions for interesting places off the beaten track to take visiting family and friends.

María Borrero fue nombrada como la nueva Oficial de Ética el 16 de abril de 2007. Vino del Banco Mundial, donde desempeñaba una función similar. En el BID Borrero dirigirá el Programa de Ética en las procelosas aguas de la realineación. Alexandra Russell-Bitting conversó con la abogada y abuela “nuyorriqueña” para conocer un poco más de ella y sus planes para el BID.

Los pasantes de verano son chicos y chicas de diferentes edades, entusiastas, bien preparados académicamente en diferentes áreas y sobretodo amigos, tanto para las fiestas que siempre son muy bien organizadas, como en el aspecto personal.

We may not know very much about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but everyone—especially IDB staff—should be familiar with at least three of the New Seven Wonders announced on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal.

When people ask me where I’m from and I reply “Suriname,” I usually get blank stares. Most have never heard of my country and very few could locate it on a map. The former Dutch colony lies in the northern part of South America...

If your idea of fun is biking 450 miles for seven days in the mountains, then you’ll be green with envy over the adventure of IDB staffers Jim Desrosiers, Carlos Gerardo Molina and Javier León. With friends Bill Jacobson and Adolfo Perez...

It is hard to break old habits. It has not been the culture for many of us to “reduce, reuse or recycle.”  As a colleague pointed out, a lot of our habits here in the Bank depend on what we do in our own household. If you recycle at home, you are more likely to recycle here in the Bank.

Ayudemos a nuestros hermanos peruanos participando en esta colecta.               

Muchas veces sacamos al león de la selva, pero no a la selva que yace dentro del león. Esto mismo suele pasar con cada uno de nosotros mientras nos encontramos fuera de nuestra tierra, lejos de nuestros allegados.

Las mejoras institucionales del Banco no se quedan en la sede, sino que están siendo expandidas a sus 26 representaciones en Latinoamérica y a sus dos representaciones especiales en Francia y Japón.

The IDB recently held a seminar on Brazil’s pioneer program to promote exports by small businesses through streamlined procedures available at post offices throughout the country...

Hablando de poner manos a la obra de inmediato, a Daniel Zelikow, apenas acabando de asumir funciones como Vicepresidente Ejecutivo del Banco, se le asignó la tremenda responsabilidad de poner en marcha el proceso de realineación.

En septiembre del año pasado, Brett Copeland, quien fue el arquitecto del BID por muchos años, me contactó —sabiendo que presido el Club de Pintura— para envolvernos en un proyecto tan lindo como lo fue pintar las paredes del pequeño patio que el Banco asignó a la guardería BIDKIDS...

A common myth about domestic violence is that it only occurs in developing countries or among the lower-income segments of the population. According to experts, though, the age-old problem transcends class, nationality and culture; in fact, it can even happen in the well-paid community of international civil servants.

IDBtv won third place in the 2007 CNN World Report Awards for Best Business Report for “Brazil: Highway To Death”.

El nuevo Vice Presidente de Finanzas y Administración del BID, Carlos Hurtado, sabe de bancos. El economista mexicano tiene una larga trayectoria profesional por haber trabajado en una gran variedad de ministerios e instituciones financieras.

New IDB Vice President for Administration and Finance Carlos Hurtado knows banking: the Mexican economist has made a lengthy career in a wide array of government ministries and financial institutions...

El economista brasileño Otaviano Canuto se incorporó al BID a principios de junio del presente año para asumir el cargo de Vicepresidente de Países que acababa de crearse. El economista Canuto —ex director en el Banco Mundial y catedrático de economía— dialogó con la redactora de Chasqui Alexandra Russell-Bitting acerca de sus nuevas funciones, del nuevo Banco y de su vida en Washington.

Brazilian economist Otaviano Canuto joined the IDB at the beginning of June this year to fill the newly created position of Vice President for Countries. A former World Bank executive director and economics professor, Canuto spoke with Chasqui editor Alexandra Russell-Bitting about his new office, the new IDB and life in Washington.

You know the old saying, “You don’t miss your water until your well runs dry.” Well, personally, I miss the cafeteria, with its convenience, its varied offerings and its vast seating area.

When I was cleaning out my files I found an old group of folders containing speeches I gave for the Bank. Years ago, it seems, I traveled around the U.S., speaking on Latin America, on the project cycle, business opportunities...

Eternal connectivity boosts productivity, increases competitiveness, triggers effectiveness and makes us happy. No, really.

Staff favorites include classics from across the hemisphere, from apple crumble to tres leches cake (made with three kinds of milk), along with some surprises.

Well, well, well. I’m starting to live in a perpetual déjà vu experience since the beginning of the re-stacking process.

In January last year, I was thinking about fresh starts, appreciating many things from the past and looking forward to better things to come. So I decided to participate in a program called “Living from Passion and Purpose” and would like to share with you an experience that could change your life.

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, the Greening the Bank task force would like to give staff its top 10 tips to reduce your environmental footprint.

IDB staff like to take advantage of the cultural offerings in the cities where they live and travel. The headquarters host city of Washington boasts numerous fine museums...

At the close of 2007, Chasqui donated all its classified ad revenue to nongovernmental organizations in four Latin American countries.

The government of Austria will finance associate professional officers at the IDB to prepare young Austrian professionals for careers in international development.

A vestibule was constructed in front of the main entrance to allow for better temperature control in the lobby. 

On April 29, 2008, the IDB hosted the launching of the Llama y Vive campaign in metropolitan Washington, D.C. to raise awareness about human trafficking, a present-day form of slavery that has affected this area. 

As part of the Bank’s efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking among the Latino and Caribbean communities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the IDB-DC Solidarity Program held a screening of the feature film "Trade"

The Teatro Colón in the Argentine capital, one of the finest opera houses in the Americas, known worldwide for its acoustics and the legendary artists who have graced its stage, celebrated its 100^th anniversary on May 25, 2008.

The Information Technology Department’s Client Center (ICC) is the IDB’s “one-stop shop” for all computer-related servi

The Bank, according to the Corporate Procurement Policy (AM 401), recently undertook a formal bidding process for its travel agency services. The evaluation team, comprised of a cross section of Bank staff, including travelers, executive staff and front office staff...

The IDB child care center, BIDKIDS, currently serves 50 children and occupies 5,375 square feet on the ground floor of the main headquarters building. There is a waiting list for enrollment in the center.

Do you remember your first few days at the Bank?  Walking down the labyrinth-like corridors, trying to grasp the intricacies of your role in fulfilling the Bank’s mission, feeling overwhelmed by the bombardment of new information and confused by the many acronyms in IDB-speak. Does that sound familiar? 

Until 2006, each IDB department managed its own budget for computers, leading to some less than efficient practices. Many departments waited until the end of the year and bought whatever they could with the money available; others leased.

The IDB’s presence in each of our borrowing countries has always given the IDB an edge over other multilateral development banks, helping to make it the primary source of multilateral financing for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Cada año se registran pérdidas de miles de millones de dólares cuando las instituciones financieras pierden el rastro de los titulares de las cuentas.

Each year billions of dollars become lost when financial institutions lose track of the owner of the funds. Unclaimed property consists of inactive funds and other personal assets that are considered abandoned when a financial institution cannot locate the owner during a given period of inactivity, called “dormancy,” which differs by state.

The Showcase of Scholars, hosted by the IDB-DC Solidarity Program, is a recognition ceremony for Hispanic students who received merit-based grants to enable them to attend a private school or university, thanks to the Latino Student Fund.

Trade Finance magazine named the IDB and its partners American International Group (AIG) and the Odebrecht Group as recipients of the 2008 “Deal of the Year” award.

La presencia del BID en cada uno de sus países prestatarios ha sido siempre una ventaja frente a otros bancos multilaterales de desarrollo y ha convertido a nuestra institución en la fuente principal de financiamiento multilateral en América Latina y el Caribe.

Traducción al español del artículo "eCafeteria launched" publicado en Junio.

Las Representaciones han generado a través de los años un repertorio impresionante de innovaciones aplicadas a los procesos internos, a los sistemas y a otras formas de atender las necesidades de los clientes. Estas soluciones innovadoras podrían ser útiles en otras Representaciones y también en la Sede.

Over the years, the Country Offices have produced an impressive array of innovations in internal processes, systems and other ways to meet our clients' needs.

¿Qué dilemas éticos son los más comunes en el Banco? ¿Cuántos casos examinó el Comité de Ética y Conducta Profesional el año pasado? ¿Cuál fue su fallo? ¿Cómo se supone que debemos proceder ante casos de mala conducta y falta de ética profesional?

What are the most common ethical dilemmas at the Bank? How many cases did the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee review last year? How did it rule? What are you supposed to do if you witness unethical behavior or misconduct? 

With its recent approval of indefinite-term contracts for international staff, management is giving a clear signal that it values IDB employees as key partners in pursuing the Bank’s mission and new institutional strategy.

La reciente anunciada modalidad de contratación por término indefinido para personal internacional es una clara señal que la Administración envía al personal sobre la valoración de los empleados como socios claves en llevar adelante la misión institucional.

IDB Group personnel is invited to participate in the twelfth annual Outstanding Team Awards. The objective of the awards is to recognize the extraordinary performance of teams within the IDB Group.

Through November 7: "Inside and Out. Recent Trends in the Arts of the Dominican Republic," Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., IDB Cultural Center Art Gallery, 1300 New York Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20577, Tel. 202 623 3774 (free admission). 

Premiere of "Sleep Dealer" (USA-MEXICO), directed by Peruvian-American Alex Rivera, who will introduce the film, at 6:30 p.m in the Enrique V. Iglesias Conference Center Auditorium, 1330 New York Avenue. Free but seating on a first-come, first served basis."

Go to IDB Staff Association “La Tiendita” or Drama Club website at www.teatrobid.org.

The Corporate Procurement Section (ACP/PRC) of the Budget and Administrative Services Department obtained the National Purchasing Institute’s Achievement of Excellence in Procurement award for 2007, meeting rigorous requirements in 19 categories for procurement processes and implementation of best practices in the field.

Háblennos de sus experiencias con proyectos innovadores y que han tenido éxito particular o de sus otras actividades, sean éstas organizadas por el BID, por uno de los clubes que existen en el Banco, por organizaciones de base o por instituciones culturales.

Tell us about your experiences with successful, innovative projects, and your other activities, whether they're organized by the IDB, one of the many clubs at the Bank, community organizations or cultural institutions.

Did you know that in a mere two hours a group of 12 people can make 500 sandwiches and pack 800 desserts? Did you know that all that food can be delivered to the homeless in Washington, D.C. in just one night? Can you imagine how many more people we could feed if more people helped?

This summer, a group of IDB staff members were recruited by the Hispanic College Fund (HCF) during several brown bag lunches organized by the IDB-DC Solidarity Program to volunteer as speakers and mentors at the HCF’s Hispanic Youth Symposium.

Human Trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery involving victims who are typically forced or tricked into sexual or labor exploitation.

Guckenheimer, the IDB food services provider, has offered to contribute a monthly column to Chasqui highlighting IDB-specific news and upcoming events.

The IDB’s Domestic Abuse and Workplace Prevention Group (DAWVPW) has helped the Bank make great strides since 2006 in addressing potential problems of domestic abuse, and in making resources available to victims of abusive relationships.

Domestic abuse is a public health issue that affects all segments of society across the globe. It has a devastating impact on families and society as a whole.

The IDB is definitely not in the art business, but its walls can be considered a fine window onto the region. Noticed by everyone who visits the Bank and many employees as beautiful, alluring and occasionally provocative, the fine art collection owned by the IDB is not just another pretty face.

Guillermo Miranda, of Peru, recently sat down with Chasqui’s Alexandra Russell to tell us about himself and his plans for human resources at the Bank.

Guillermo Miranda, de nacionalidad peruana, recientemente habló con Chasqui sobre las actividades prioritarias dentro de su departamento en los próximos meses.

The autumn chill means that warm and satisfying soups are coming. We will be featuring five soups that are sure to brighten up your days. Look for hearty vegetable soup and spiced pumpkin bisque during the next few weeks. Here is a great recipe for a hearty and nutritious winter grain soup.

With the growth of the IDB’s portfolio and its new business model, a need emerged for more and better internal communications between headquarters and country offices, and between country offices.

En este mundo revuelto e incierto creado por la crisis financiera, Chasqui consultó al funcionario de finanzas del Banco Yuri Zamora sobre sus impresiones de cómo hacer para calmar ansiedades y orientarse a corto plazo.

Of the close to 200 Chasqui articles published from January 2007 through November 2008, only about a quarter were written by the editor. The rest come from you, the IDB staff and extended family, who report to us on who you are and what you’re doing both inside and outside the Bank.

President Luis Alberto Moreno was conferred the degree of ¨Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa¨  from Georgetown University as a recognition for his leadership and tireless effort to improve the financial and economic development of Latin America.

Durante el pasado mes de junio se llevó a cabo un encuentro de oficiales administrativos (AO) y asistentes administrativos (AA) de las representaciones del Banco en tres diferentes países: Honduras, Paraguay y Trinidad & Tobago.

In 2002 the VPO, started the process of re-visiting the Business Continuity Program as a result of 9/11. Since then and after the realignment the ITE Department within the Bank provides the business continuity and disaster recovery planning expertise and methodology.