LAC Future Bank: CAF initiative to promote the development of children and youth

According to UN population division, approximately 255 million children, adolescents, and young people (aged 0 to 24) live in Latin America and the Caribbean, representing nearly 35% of the regional population. More than 115 million—or 45%, according to ECLAC estimates—are living in poverty and face multiple risks that limit their overall development and perpetuate intergenerational cycles of inequality.

The poverty affecting this age group is multidimensional; it is not limited to insufficient income but is deeply rooted in structural factors such as limited access to essential services (education, health, nutrition), discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, or territory, and the lack of sustained and effective public policies that prioritize children and young people.

At CAF, we are convinced that investing in the next generations is not only an ethical imperative but also a strategic requirement to ensure the sustainable and competitive development of our region.

CAF and UNICEF have built a strategic partnership. The launch of LAC Future Bank represents a historic opportunity to mobilize strategic resources and consolidate alliances that allow us to lead transformative projects. With this initiative, we seek to generate a real and sustainable impact on the lives of millions of girls, boys, and young people in our member countries, helping to break the cycles of poverty and build a more just and inclusive future for the region.

What is the objective of LAC Future Bank?

The objective of this initiative is to mobilize financial and technical resources to formulate and implement quality projects focused on children and youth, with the following goals:

- Promote the comprehensive development of early childhood (ages 0 to 6).

- Improve the development of fundamental capabilities during childhood (ages 6 to 12).

- Strengthen 21st-century skills for adolescents (ages 12 to 18).

- Facilitate the transition from education to the labor market for young people (ages 19 to 24).

These objectives are aligned with CAF's corporate strategy through the Missional Agenda for Inclusive Social Well-being.

Alliance for the new generations

Following the official launch of Banco Futuro LAC at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2025, CAF and UNICEF will begin a phase of consolidating the CLIF methodology in prioritized operations. This process will not only allow for the fine-tuning of technical and financial instruments but will also lay the institutional and operational foundations for the active participation of partners in the Alliance for New Generations.

CAF aims to become the first development bank worldwide to adopt UNICEF's CLIF, ensuring that both new and existing projects under this initiative prioritize the well-being of children and young people from the outset.

In this context, we extend an invitation to all institutions committed to the comprehensive development of children and youth to join this network and community of practice. The coordination of efforts and knowledge will be essential to building a more efficient, transparent, and results-oriented social investment ecosystem, transforming the lives of millions of girls, boys, adolescents, and young people in Latin America and the Caribbean.

*UNICEF's collaboration with CAF is limited to the implementation of CLIF criteria in the partner's internal investment process. It does not act as an investment advisor, nor has it played or will play any role in the design, structuring, development, management, or operation of any fund or investment managed by CAF or its subsidiaries.