Investing in a Sustainable Future: Inter-American Development Bank Support for the Goals of the Santa Cruz de La Sierra Summit

For Latin America and the Caribbean, sustainable development encompasses the broad objectives of our societies: sustainable economic development based on modernization, openness and competitiveness; greater social justice achieved through reductions in current levels of poverty, increased investments in human capital to create new opportunities, and improvements in the distribution of income; democratic institutions that respect human rights, as well as the participation of citizens in the political process and the quest for a national consensus on the future of our societies; and equitable growth that improves the quality of life and respects our natural resources in the cities and rural areas. This document contains the IDB's response to the call of action to the Conference on Sustainable Development in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

PROLOGUE The Inter-American Development Bank is pleased to be associated with this historic meeting of the Heads of State for the Summit Conference on Sustainable Development in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. During the past decade, the concept of sustainable development has been a central worldwide theme for politicians and academics alike. It represents a synthesis of the overarching objectives of integrated development which has come to characterize the efforts of the vast majority of countries in the waning years of this century. For Latin America and the Caribbean, sustainable development encompasses the broad objectives of our societies: sustainable economic development based on modernization, openness and competitiveness; greater social justice achieved through reductions in current levels of poverty, increased investments in human capital to create new opportunities, and improvements in the distribution of income; democratic institutions that respect human rights, as well as the participation of citizens in the political process and the quest for a national consensus on the future of our societies; and equitable growth that improves the quality of life and respects our natural resources in the cities and rural areas. The key to achieving these ambitious goals lies in each of our countries, through the use of appropriate economic and social policies, promoted by national governments and with the active participation of the private sector and other segments of society. Nevertheless, it is clear that this effort requires active international cooperation. The Summit in Miami and this Summit in Santa Cruz are aimed at mobilizing greater hemispheric solidarity. Following the mandate issued by its governors in 1994 at the time of the Eighth Replenishment, the Inter-American Development Bank has incorporated all the goals of sustainable development into its strategies. To support those goals, the Bank will respond by cooperating with each Government and collaborating in programs for regional action. In many of these efforts, we are associated, or seek to associate ourselves, with other regional organizations, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the European Union, and bilateral cooperation agencies. In this document, we inform the Heads of State meeting in Santa Cruz of the Bank's present and future efforts that respond to the call of the Santa Cruz Summit to international organizations in support of its Declaration. Enrique V. Iglesias President CONTENTS Prologue 1. The Challenge of Sustainable Development inLatin America and the Caribbean 2... The IDB's Mandate for Sustainable Development 3.. Strategic Areas of Action for the IDB 4...Human Capital Formation 5...Rural Poverty and Sustainable Agriculture 6...Integrated Natural Resource Management and the Environment 7...Urban Development 6Economic and Financial Modernization 8... IDB Actions in Support of the Santa Cruz de la Sierra Summit 9...Water 10...Coastal and Marine Resources 11...Forest Management 12...Sustainable Agricultural Development 13...Rural Development 14...Health and Education 15...Microenterprise 16...Sustainable Cities 17...Pollution and Waste Control 18...Energy 19.. Financial and Institutional Support for the Goalsof the Santa Cruz Summit 20...Meeting the Investment Needs: Lending and Technical Cooperation Activities 21...Making Sustainable Development Operational in the Bank 22...Investing in a Sustainable Future