Pros
Access to experts in their respective fields, high level government officials, and emerging sectors. Ability to network with international experts and carry out high level projects. Work was extremely interesting and contributed to the development of latin countries on issues not always addressed at other private sector banks or environmental institutions. Ability of the bank to put large amounts of money behind projects. High profile of the bank in Latin America lent to credibility of projects and scope of work that could be planned and accomplished. DC is a very international city and contributed to the general awareness of IDB staff.
Cons
The bank is very slow in approving projects and has a matrix type of organizational structure that is extremely difficult to manage. Every decision has to be approved by someone at the sector level and at the country level. The bank carries out a lot of work done by private sector banks, and may be crowding out their work, therefore it is difficult to find the positive, development angle to some of the work ongoing. There is a competition with the World Bank that is not helpful to staff who could otherwise benefit from more knowledge sharing between the two.
