Access to transport services is a game-changer for economic growth in emerging markets and a main enabler of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Supporting the transition to safe, accessible, and resilient transport systems requires innovative solutions and technologies, supported by insights and finance.
The Challenge
By connecting people to goods, services, and opportunities, transport plays a pivotal role in bolstering international trade and local markets, creating jobs, and improving quality of life. But the sector faces significant challenges in realizing positive impact in a way that is sustainable, efficient, safe, and accessible for all
As extreme weather events increase in severity and frequency, the need for resilient transport infrastructure is more urgent than ever. Water, air, and ground passenger transportation assets are particularly vulnerable to hurricane risk, with 10–25 percent of assets currently exposed.
Transport is responsible for nearly a quarter of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. With rising demand for its services, transport can leverage new technologies and efficiencies as it embraces the energy transition.
Transport remains inequitable. Women are underrepresented in its workforce, systems often fail to meet women’s travel needs, and inadequate infrastructure limits access for persons with disabilities, the youth, and the elderly. These inequalities must be addressed, particularly since older adults—aged 60 years and above—are expected to make up 28 percent of the world population in 2040, up from 12 percent in 2010.
With road accidents claiming 1.2 million lives annually, disproportionately affecting developing countries, road safety remains a significant problem and improvements must be prioritized.
The Solution: Transport Innovation Platform for Sustainability (TRIPS)
IFC’s Transport Innovation Platform for Sustainability (TRIPS) is a one-stop shop that empowers transport operators with customized advisory, investment, and networking solutions to accelerate sustainability goals and position them as market leaders.
By harnessing IFC’s extensive global expertise in financing and advising on transportation infrastructure such as ports, airports, roads and railways, TRIPS helps clients in emerging markets develop projects that are resilient, efficient, safe, and accessible.
Sample Advisory Themes
Our tailor-made advisory services leverage global expertise and respond to client needs
Sustainability strategy and reporting: Sustainability strategy development and review, reporting and disclosure advisory, sustainability-related capital expenditure plan review, and stakeholder engagement.
Climate and nature advisory: Physical and transition risk and opportunity identification, resilience strategy (change from adaptation strategy), nature-based solutions, emissions inventory, net zero roadmap, fuel efficiency assessment and green technology selection, and resource efficiency and circularity.
Social advisory: Just-transition planning — including reskilling and upskilling workforce, gender assessments and action plans, universal accessibility assessments and action plans, and road safety assessments and action plans.
Sustainable finance: Sustainable finance readiness assessment and strategy review, target and kpi setting, sustainability-linked and green/blue/social/transition financing frameworks, second party opinion support, and financing plan.