This four-page brochure summarizes the key highlights of IFC's 2008 Annual Report.
Financial year 2008 was a remarkable one for IFC. We delivered strong, measurable development impact and continued to grow our private sector development activities, especially in the poorest countries. Our efforts to respond swiftly to clients' needs are making a difference—we are creating new opportunities for people to break free from poverty and improve their lives.
We are doing our part for an inclusive and sustainable world.
- We made investments to expand the supply of high-quality water, one of the keys to expanding agriculture and producing more food at a time of escalating prices.
- We addressed longer-term challenges to economic development, such as climate change, designing business models and financial instruments to deliver cleaner energy and protect the environment.
- We pledged $1.75 billion to the three-year funding cycle of the International Development Association, the lead World Bank Group agency assisting the poorest countries.
We are achieving strong development outcomes.
- IFC clients generated power for nearly 147 million customers in developing countries and distributed water to 18 million consumers in the most recent year for which statistics are available.
- We strengthened the managerial capabilities of small and midsize firms in many countries, training more than 20,000 entrepreneurs—many of them women—through our Business Edge program.
- We helped increase the availability of credit, assisting in providing nearly 7 million microfinance loans and more than 500,000 housing.
