2008 Annual Meetings Issue Briefs

The Issue Briefs below explain IFC's work in specific areas.
All documents are in PDF format.

	Africa Health Care Report IFC is playing a significant role in delivering and financing health care for people in Africa.
	Agribusiness Agribusiness is a strategic priority because of the sector's potential for broad development impact.
	Brazil Amazon Initiative IFC is helping companies operating in the Amazon raise their environmental and social standards.
	Energy and Climate Change IFC aims to maximize access to energy, while helping countries minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
	Extractive Industries The World Bank Group invests in extractive industries as natural resources can be an important driver of economic growth and poverty reduction.
	Gemloc Program Gemloc combines the comparative advantage of the World Bank Group and the private sector to help develop local currency bond markets.
	Global Trade Finance Program Trade is vitally important in an integrated world, and it can be an effective tool in private sector development.
	Improving Access to Water Water is a critical resource across many sectors and shortages pose risks to economic growth and the environment around the world.
	IFC in Post-conflict Countries: Liberia & Sierra Leone IFC's activities in Liberia and Sierra Leone are conducted through its conflict-affected countries initiative for Africa.
	IFC SME Ventures Program IFC SME Ventures provides risk capital and advisory services to small businesses in developing countries.
	Lighting Africa The Lighting Africa initiative aims to provide up to 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa with access to modern lighting by 2030.
	Local Currency Financing IFC is a pioneer in developing and providing local currency financing to companies in developing countries.
	Microfinance Microfinance has proven a critical tool in the fight against poverty and has begun entering the financial mainstream.

About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $16.2 billion in fiscal 2008, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.