IFC’s Advisory Services business, the Corporation’s principal means of providing advice and training to clients around the world, is funded by IFC and its partners.
Advisory services are implemented along five main areas of expertise:
Business Enabling Environment: helping client countries improve their investment climate so that firms can grow and create jobs. We advise on the design and implementation of business-friendly reforms at the national and subnational levels, in areas such as business entry, operations and taxation, investment policy and promotion and alternative dispute resolution.
Access to Finance: helping to increase the availability and affordability of financial services to under-served firms and people. Advisory services cover 3 areas – building financial institutions; improving financial infrastructure; and improving the legal and regulatory framework.
Infrastructure: improving access to basic services in transport infrastructure, telecommunications, water and energy utilities, health, and education. IFC advises national and municipal governments how to structure private sector participation in projects that improve the delivery of essential services.
Environment and Social Sustainability: developing and testing innovative environmental and social business models. With our support, these business models become commercially viable and deliver environmental and social benefits in the areas of biodiversity, carbon finance, cleaner technologies, corporate social responsibility, sustainable energy, and sustainable investing.
Corporate Advice: reaching small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the bigger clients that we invest in. Our services include tools to help these larger companies integrate local SMEs into their supply chains and improve their access to finance. We provide advice to enhance corporate governance practices in companies, countries and sectors. We also help companies deal with HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases at the corporate and community level.
Managed by IFC’s East Asia and Pacific Department headquartered in Hong Kong, China, advisory services in field offices deliver sustainable results combining our knowledge of local markets and broad industry expertise, with our global development experience.
