IFC has been working with leading academics/experts to identify innovative safe water technology solutions/business models serving base of the pyramid markets and the challenges they face in scaling up. This report is based on a survey conducted in four countries — Kenya, Uganda, India, and China — and includes several recommendations for IFC and its private sector partners on how to better support the nearly 900 million people around the world who lack adequate access to improved water sources.
A new publication jointly produced by the IFC and World Bank provides a detailed look at how these organizations are fostering increased private sector investment in clean energy technologies and services. The report documents the increase in World Bank Group (WBG) lending for clean energy in Fiscal Year 2007 (July 2006-July 2007). During that period, clean energy funding jumped by two-thirds to US$1.43 billion — 40 percent of total WBG energy-related lending. Noting that the total resources of the WBG are extremely modest relative to the scale of investment required to meet the growing demand for energy in developing countries, the report focuses on examples of IFC and World Bank projects that are helping to transform markets and leverage much greater private sector investment in clean energy. Numerous case studies and detailed supporting information are provided in chapters focused on solar energy, energy efficiency investments, and sustainable hydropower.
IFC has, from the earliest opportunity, used Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other donor funds to explore options for the commercialization of solar photovoltaic (PV) in the developing world. Through the implementation of its solar PV initiatives IFC has learned substantially not only about the solar PV market in general, but also about the type of financing required to support solar PV market growth and what it takes to develop a successful solar PV company — particularly for small solar household systems. This report aims to share some of these lessons learned and outlines IFC’s current approach to addressing rural electrification issue.
This publication details how, seeded with a $15 million investment from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in 1999, the Efficient Lighting Initiative (ELI) catalyzed vibrant markets for energy-efficient lighting over three years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in seven countries—Argentina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Peru, the Philippines, and South Africa.
This publication summarizes the results of research on the triple bottom line from two studies, emphasizing environmental, social and economic sustainability in the ecolodge sector. Key factors are highlighted regarding what makes an ecolodge environmentally, socially and financially successful.
