• 10 development finance institutions were honored at the ALIDE awards in various categories, and Banco Provincias was recognized as the Bank of the Year 2025.

May 14, 2025 – During the second day of the 55^th General Assembly of the Latin American Association of Development Finance Institutions (ALIDE), held in Santo Domingo and co-organized with Banco Agrícola de la República Dominicana—host of this edition—the ALIDE Awards 2025 ceremony and the Bank of the Year recognition were held.

These awards highlight the work these financial institutions do to promote the economic and social development of countries. During the eighteenth edition of the awards, 43 proposals from 19 institutions were submitted, and eleven were the winners.

Category I. Financial Products:

BNDES Mais Inovação Program of Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES), Brazil.

A line of credit that boosts private investment in research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) and strengthens the digital transformation of Brazilian industry. Between 2023 and 2024, projects worth more than US$2.5 billion were approved, consolidating this program as a key tool for the “New Industry Brazil” industrial policy.

LabAgroMInas of Banco de Desenvolvimento de Minas Gerais (BDMG), Brazil.

This program seeks to facilitate the transition of rural producers toward more sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices. Through indirect operations with credit cooperatives, the program promotes financial inclusion, agro-industrial development, food security, and the use of new technologies. In 2024, it disbursed approximately US$46 million, benefiting many producers historically excluded from credit.

Category II. Management and Technological Modernization:

Decision Platform of Fondo Para el Financiamiento del Sector Agropecuario (FINAGRO), Colombia.

A free tool that allows for the evaluation of the technical and financial viability of agricultural-livestock projects, especially in rural areas of Colombia with low connectivity. This application seeks to strengthen financial inclusion. Since 2021, it has facilitated nearly 11,600 operations, totaling approximately US$53 million.

Technical Advisory Platform of Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura (FIRA), Mexico.

This tool brings Agriculture 4.0 technologies to small and medium-sized rural producers in Mexico, using AI, satellite imagery, and remote sensing. It subsidizes up to two years of use and has benefited more than 4,000 users in 25 Mexican states, monitoring nearly 100,000 hectares.

Category III. Information, Technical Assistance and Social Responsibility: 

Agroclimatic System SAC – BDP, of  Banco de Desarrollo Productivo (BDP), Bolivia.

It provides hyperlocal climate alerts and recommendations to rural producers through sensors, forecasts, and audiovisual content in native languages. It has reached more than 37,000 producers, improving productivity by up to 15%, reducing losses from extreme weather events, and facilitating the design of tailored financial products.

Transforming Communities Program of Banco Nacional de Costa Rica (BNCR).

Since 2016, it has financed 137 socio-productive projects that generate economic, social, and environmental impact throughout the country, benefiting more than 625,000 people through non-repayable funds aimed at economic, local, and community development.

Category ALIDE Green:

BNDES Blue of Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES), Brazil.

An initiative that finances blue economy projects related to marine and coastal conservation, combining repayable and non-repayable financial instruments. It has already mobilized more than US$13 million and is projected to reach US$180 million by 2030.

Blue Bond: fishing and aquaculture of Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura (FIRA), Mexico.

First thematic bond in Mexico aimed at sustainable financing for the fishing and aquaculture sector. With an amount of US$229.5 million, it has already financed more than US$40 million in responsible projects that improve the sector’s climate and productive resilience.

Category Support for Women Entrepreneurs::

Breaking Gaps: Access to Financing for Women’s Development, of Corporación Financiera Nacional (CFN), Ecuador.

An initiative that promotes access to credit for women entrepreneurs and business owners through partnerships with multilateral organizations such as the IDB. As of February 2025, it has financed 15,800 operations, and nearly 28,000 MSMEs have benefited, 60% of which are led by women.

Category Regional and Extra-regional Banks:

Platform Goroda.RF of VEB.RF – State Development Corporation, Russia.

A tool that assesses and improves the quality of life in 250 Russian cities through more than 300 indicators, predictive algorithms, and interactive interfaces. Its goal is to guide urban investment, strengthen public policies, and encourage citizen participation.

Generation of Operations for Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability in the SICA Region of Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (BCIE).

An initiative that seeks to structure a regional portfolio of climate projects in the countries of the Central American Integration System. It is financed with non-repayable resources. A total of 67 projects in key sectors have been prioritized, and the technical capacities of the National Designated Authorities have been strengthened, while also promoting regional coordination in venues such as COP29.

Bank of the Year

With more than 200 years of history, Banco Provincia de Buenos Aires was recognized as Bank of the Year 2025, in recognition of its outstanding performance in productive financing, financial inclusion, and sustainability, consolidating its role as a development bank in Argentina.

With assets totaling more than US$14 billion and a portfolio that grew 128% in 2024, it allocated 7 out of every 10 dollars to MSMEs, prioritizing the medium and long term. Through products such as Procampo Digital and the Cuenta DNI wallet, with more than 9.9 million users, it has driven digital and social transformation. In addition, it participated in social and green bond issuances for more than US$220 million, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive and sustainable banking.

More about the event

The 55^th ALIDE General Assembly, held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, brought together representatives of development banks, multilateral organizations, and governments of the region for three days to discuss the main challenges of development financing. Under the theme “From Global Crisis to Comprehensive Security,” the event was organized by ALIDE and Banco Agrícola, with support from BANDEX, IDB, S&P Global Market Intelligence, and Texel Group. It included panels, workshops, and plenary sessions on sustainability, digital transformation, and financial inclusion. For the full program of the meeting held in the Dominican Republic, including conferences and workshops, please visit the event’s website.

Contact

Communnication Unit of ALIDE
Phone: +511-203-5520 |: Ext: 227
comunicaciones@alide.org, comunicaciones2@alide.org