In 2015, the Initiative will provide up to $7 million in grants to finance regional public goods (RPGs) that are produced collectively by a minimum of three IDB borrowing-member countries. Even though the Initiative is open to the promotion of RPGs in any development area covered by the IDB, alignment with the IDB’s operational priorities is a selection criterion. The other two selection criteria are the value added of a regional (vs. national) approach to addressing a development challenge or opportunity, and the prospects of sustaining the benefits of regional collective action beyond the support of the Initiative.

The Initiative is the Bank’s most prominent grant instrument to support intra-regional cooperation and the collective design of development solutions in LAC. Demand for its resources has intensified in tandem with the increasing importance of multi or bilateral South-South cooperation (SSC) in the development agenda of most LAC countries. The interest in SSC among the Bank´s borrowing members is a reflection of the fact that the region is a source of innovative development solutions that can be shared and replicated throughout LAC and in other parts of the developing world. Since 2004, the RPG Initiative has financed 114 projects, investing a total of more than $90 million.

Information regarding the 2015 Call for Proposals can be accessed here. All proposals must be presented in accordance with the Call for Proposals Guidelines and must be submitted online before 11:59 pm EST, April 9th, 2015.