IFC implements advisory services projects in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in partnership with donor governments and private companies. Projects work to facilitate private sector investment; support the growth of the private sector, especially SMEs; and improve the business enabling environment.
IFC donor partners have included Austria, Canada, the Commission of the European Communities, Denmark, Finland, Germany (Bavaria and the Free State of Saxony), Iceland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. IFC also receives private sector funding from BP in this region. Since 2000 our donor partners have contributed over $100 million in funding to advisory services programs in the region.
Currently, IFC implements more than 30 advisory services projects in 14 offices in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Our regional headquarters is located in Moscow.
IFC Advisory Services projects fall under five general categories:
Access to Finance projects serve to foster the development of domestic financial markets, primarily by extending financial services to underserved segments of the population. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, IFC focuses on expanding the markets for Energy Efficiency Financing, Housing Finance, Banking, Insurance and Leasing.
Business Enabling Environment projects work to improve the regulatory environment and promote investment policy in countries with difficult investment climates, in order to lower the risk of doing business in these countries. Projects in this region focus on Regulatory Simplification and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Corporate Advice projects serve to strengthen and promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing direct assistance to firms. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, IFC works to improve Corporate Governance practices and strengthen Linkages and Agribusiness Supply Chains.
Environmental and Social Sustainability projects support innovative environmental and social business initiatives such as Cleaner Production, Sustainable Energy and Social Responsibility, to demonstrate their commercial attractiveness and encourage replication in the private sector.
Infrastructure projects provide advisory services to member governments to structure and implement public-private partnerships in areas such as health and education, privatization, and infrastructure.
