Doing Business Better

The objective of IFC Advisory Services' Doing Business Better program is to engage policy makers and other stakeholders— especially the private sector and donors—in open discussions about specific private sector constraints and to motivate them to adopt concrete reform initiatives, including the possibility of direct advisory services by IFC Advisory Services or other parts of the World Bank Group.

These open discussions typically are in the form of conferences and workshops, where analytical findings are discussed with all the parties involved, including strong participation from the private sector and civil society.

The Doing Business Better program has been active in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco.


What Does the Program Offer?

• Broad dissemination of analyses of a country’s business climate
• High-visibility events, such as conferences and workshops with strong media coverage
• Open exchange of ideas and concerns among all stakeholders
• Joint development and design of action plans and follow-up advisory services activities

Expected Outcomes

The expected outcome of the program is targeted policy reform initiatives by the relevant government authorities. IFC Advisory Services will engage the country’s reform champions in detailed discussions during and after the event to design focused action plans, including advisory services to be carried out by IFC Advisory Services directly, often in collaboration with other donors.

Key Achievements

From the inception of IFC Advisory Services to the end of fiscal year 2007, the program has been successful at:

• Organizing 12 training events and workshops which brought together policy makers and other stakeholders
• Creating three reform initiatives in Algeria and Morocco
• Supporting the formation of a "Doing Business Technical committee" at the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Jordan consisting of nine influential members of both private and public institutions
• Leading to more detailed and resource-intensive reform projects in Algeria, Jordan, and Lebanon

Eligible Partners & Clients

Our partners in the program include ministries and leading policy makers, who are likely clients for future assistance projects. Active participation of leaders from the business community and civil society in events and follow-up activities is essential.

In addition, IFC Advisory Services works closely with the World Bank's relevant country team or the central and regional private sector units, to ensure that events and follow-up work are in line with the Country Assistance Strategy and all ongoing or planned operations.

Examples of Projects

In Lebanon, IFC Advisory Services held a Doing Business conference in November 2005 at the request of the Minister of Economy and Trade. A smaller brainstorming session with private sector representatives followed in December 2006 and January 2007 to design specific advisory services projects. A Business Registration Simplification project was inaugurated in January 2007.

In Algeria and Morocco, IFC Advisory Services is collaborating with the World Bank’s regional private sector development unit in a series of events and activities to review and validate the Doing Business findings, and to identify short and medium-term reforms needs and opportunities.

For additional information contact:

Thomas Moullier
Program Manager
E-mail: tmoullier@ifc.org