IFC has a long history with environmental and social standards. The institution adopted its Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies and its Disclosure Policy in 1998. Since 2006, IFC has applied the Policy and Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability to all investment projects to minimize their impact on the environment and on affected communities.
The following resources define the roles and responsibilities of IFC and its client companies with regard to the Policy and Performance Standards. For additional information, see Understanding IFC's Environmental and Social Review Process [PDF].
IFC Policies and Procedures
Resources for Clients
Policy on Social and Environmental Sustainability:
Defines IFC's responsibility in supporting project performance in partnership with clients.
Performance Standards:
Defines client roles and responsibilities for managing projects and requirements for IFC support; includes disclosure requirements. Available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese.
Environmental and Social Review Procedure:
Gives direction to IFC officers in implementation of and compliance with the Policy on Social and Environmental Sustainability.
Guidance Notes:
Companion documents to the Performance Standards providing guidance to clients (and IFC staff) in meeting the standards. Available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chinese.
Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines:
Technical guidance on environmental, health and safety issues, such as ambient air quality, chemical hazards, and disease prevention.
Background information on the Environmental and Social Standards: (Note: The following resources were developed when the Standards were adopted in 2006)
For information on the 1998 Safeguards and Disclosure Policies and previous editions of EHS Guidelines and Guidance Notes, etc., please view our page on Archived Policies and Guidelines. Please note that earlier versions of these materials are for informational purposes only.
