Recognizing that aspiring businesswomen are often prevented from realizing their economic potential, the IFC is committed to creating opportunities for women in business. The gender program aims to mainstream gender issues into IFC's work, while helping to better leverage the untapped potential of women as well as men in emerging markets.

IFC provides financial products and advisory services to:

• increase access to finance for women entrepreneurs
• reduce gender-based barriers in the business environment
• improve the sustainability of IFC investment projects.

Recent Highlights

On the occasion of International Women's Day, IFC, member of the World Bank Group, celebrated a range of achievements that better leverage the untapped potential of women in emerging markets. The day of celebration also offered an occasion for participants to share-lessons learned on how to create more opportunities for women in business world wide. Read more...

IFC Partners with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) to improve corporate reporting of gender issues
This joint twelve month research and consultation project aims to help companies see the business value of gender inclusion. This global initiative, for which the governments Germany, Iceland, and Switzerland are lead sponsors, seeks to help enterprises tap emerging best practices in sustainability reporting, achieve bottom-line benefits, and create new opportunities for women in the private sector by better understanding and managing gender perspectives in their businesses.

• Visit the Gender and Sustainability Reporting Website
• For additional information, contact Carmen Niethammer.