EAA, IDB launch $100mn project to support youth uplift in Latin America

Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have announced the renewal of their strategic partnership through 2030 to support out-of-school children and expand economic opportunities for youth across Latin America and the Caribbean.The new agreement aims to mobilise up to $100mn in co-financing over the next five years: $40mn in EAA grants supported by Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and $60mn in IDB loans.The initiative will support countries across the region in several key areas: reintegrating out-of-school children into quality primary education, scaling post-secondary and vocational learning, embedding resilience and climate adaptability into secondary curricula, and creating clear pathways to employment and self-employment for youth aged 18-35.Innovative financing mechanisms and regional programmes, such as the "ONE Caribbean" initiative, will be leveraged to enhance impact.Acting CEO of EAA Mohammed al-Kubaisi said: "Renewing our partnership with the IDB and supported by our strategic partner QFFD, reaffirms our unwavering commitment to ensuring every child and young person, regardless of circumstance, has access to quality primary education and the tools to shape a better future. By addressing systemic barriers to learning and providing tangible pathways to employment, we are investing in sustainable solutions that empower entire communities."Commenting on the announcement, President of the IDB Dr Ilan Goldfajn said: "This partnership is about real outcomes, bringing children back to school, improving the quality of learning, expanding vocational training and connecting youth to the labour market. It reflects our shared commitment to inclusive opportunity and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean."This collaboration began in 2019 and is working to enrol more than 112,000 out-of-school children in Haiti. This new agreement marks an expansion of that work, deepening the focus on youth skills development, resilience building, and innovative, region-wide partnerships.