Publications

Sep 19, 2019

The Dirty Footprint of the Broken Grid

To better understand the impacts of generators on health, economies, and the climate, IFC has partnered with the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University to embark on the most comprehensive inquiry to date into the footprint and repercussions of using backup generators. This study explores fundamental questions about the scale and impacts of backup generators that have been largely unanswered beyond anecdote and local or regionally focused studies.

English | 64 pages | 2019 IFC

May 7, 2019

Setting Sail Towards Zero Emissions in Shipping

The need for new technologies to make fleets more sustainable, and compliant with changing industry standards, is creating investment opportunities in green shipping. This research note explains how IFC helped the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) improve operational efficiency and manage water treatment systems amid shipping industry change.

English | 3 pages | 2019 IFC

Mar 12, 2019

Natural Gas and the Clean Energy Transition

In the clean energy transition, the value of natural gas infrastructure is very important for operating the energy system. Gas-fired power plants contribute to optimized energy systems when they are designed to operate flexibly, responding to demand patterns and the variable supply of renewable energy. Smart electricity grids, renewable energy, battery storage technology, and gas-fired power plants in combination will generally be the lowest cost, low-carbon solution to the growing energy requirements of emerging markets. Private investors and financiers are responding to these opportunities, but the full potential will only be reached with improvements in policy, regulation, and procurement in destination markets.

English | 8 pages - March - Note 65 | IFC 2019

Feb 22, 2019

Institutional Investing: A New Investor Forum and Growing Interest in Sustainable Emerging Markets Investments

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is estimated to require additional financing on the order of $2.6 trillion in emerging markets and low-income countries in 2030. A substantial increase in private investment is required to close this financing gap. The Investor Forum held at the 2018 G20 Buenos Aires Summit, which included some of the world’s largest investors, focused on solutions to these challenges. The resulting Buenos Aires Call to Action calls for a more regular dialogue with policy makers at the highest level and underlines the need to break away from the short-termism that plagues current investment strategies.

English | 8 Pages - February - Note 64 | IFC 2019

Oct 30, 2018

Construction Industry Value Chain

Construction companies are becoming increasingly accountable for their contribution to global emissions and are facing pressure from investors, banks, regulators, contracting authorities, and consumers to mitigate their climate risk and find new solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. In response, the industry is making inroads toward addressing these concerns.

English | 48 pages | 2018 IFC

Jun 28, 2018

Peru’s Works for Taxes Scheme: An Innovative Solution to Accelerate Private Provision of Infrastructure Investment

Created in Peru in 2008, Works for Taxes is an innovative approach to accelerating infrastructure investment. It allows private firms to “pay” their income taxes in advance through the execution of public works projects. By accepting infrastructure projects in lieu of future taxes, national, regional, and local governments can forego mobilization of public funds and reduce the burden on government budgets, as the private sector assumes the upfront costs and management of new infrastructure projects.

English l 7pages l - June - Note 55 l IFC 2018

May 30, 2018

Factsheet: IFC in Transportation

IFC is a leading investor in emerging market transportation.

English | 2 pages | 2018 IFC

Mar 12, 2018

Good Practice Note: Environmental, Health, and Safety Approaches for Hydropower Projects

This Good Practice Note is intended to be used in conjunction with other EHS Guidelines and IFC's Performance Standards to identify, avoid, mitigate, and manage EHS risks and impacts in hydropower projects.

74 pages | © March 2018 IFC | Complimentary

Mar 8, 2018

World Bank Group Support for Uganda’s Bujagali Hydropower Project

The Bujagali hydropower plant is one of the largest power generation plants in Uganda, providing low-cost, clean, reliable baseload energy. It contributes close to 45 percent of the country’s annual electricity generation.

English 1 page | 2018 IFC

Mar 2, 2018

Good Practice Handbook on Environmental Flows for Hydropower Projects

This Good Practice Handbook provides guidance to practitioners on taking rigorous and consistent approaches to assess and manage hydropower project impacts on downstream river ecosystems and people, through the assessment and provision of environmental flows (EFlows).

154 pages | © March 2018 IFC | Complimentary

Apr 27, 2017

IFC Infrastructure & Natural Resources Overview

IFC is working to improve access to energy, transportation, and municipal infrastructure through investments and advisory engagements that open markets, spur growth, and create jobs.

Apr 19, 2017

Queen Alia International Airport – The Role of IFC in Facilitating Private Investment in a Large Airport Project

In 2007 Jordan lacked the financial resources and experience to embark on a renovation and expansion of its international airport, a colossal public-private undertaking. Yet by 2013 it was able to successfully complete the complex endeavor in collaboration with a private sector concessionaire, and without a sovereign guarantee, setting an example for countries and public-private project practitioners confronting similar circumstances. IFC played multiple roles in facilitating private investment over a 10-year period.

English | 5 Pages - April - Note 35 | IFC, 2017

Apr 13, 2017

Mobilizing Institutional Investments into Emerging Market Infrastructure

The infrastructure financing gap remains a critical global challenge for sustainable development. New thinking and innovative financial models are needed in order to mobilize more private capital to infrastructure investments. IFC’s new Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program for Infrastructure seeks to address numerous infrastructure financing challenges that inhibit the flow of resources to emerging markets. The program provides an innovative model for mobilizing financing for infrastructure projects that combines financing from insurance companies, project origination and credit enhancement from IFC, and support from public sector donors.

English | 4 Pages - April - Note 36 | IFC, 2017

Mar 1, 2017

Creating Markets in Turkey's Power Sector

The World Bank Group’s engagement in Turkey’s power sector, which began in the 1990s and continues today, has helped to expand independent power production and privatize electricity distribution in the country. Significant investments made in both generation and distribution shifted the power sector toward private investment and management while meeting growing energy needs.

English | 3 Pages - March - Note 33 | IFC, 2017

Feb 15, 2017

Tafila Region Wind Power Projects - Cumulative Effects Assessment

The Tafila Region Wind Power Project Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) is the first of its kind in the Eastern Europe, Middle East, and North Africa region. It aims to promote more sustainable wind energy investments in Jordan while assessing and managing potential adverse environmental and social effects of renewables. The overall management and technical direction of the CEA was undertaken by IFC, supported by a team of multidisciplinary international and Jordanian experts and advisors.

184 pages | © February 2017 IFC | Complimentary

Feb 2, 2017

Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines for Ports, Harbors, and Terminals

The EHS Guidelines for Ports, Harbors, and Terminals are applicable to marine and freshwater ports, harbors, and terminals for cargo and passengers.

35 pages | © February 2017 World Bank Group | Complimentary

Dec 13, 2016

Private Provision of Infrastructure—Opportunities for Emerging Markets

Infrastructure delivers basic services critical to sustainable economic growth, improved living standards, and shared prosperity. The traditional role of financing and operating infrastructure projects has been shaken up in recent decades by the emergence of Public-Private Partnerships. Designed and implemented correctly, these partnerships can bring greater efficiency and sustainability to the provision of public services such as water and sanitation, electric power, transport, and telecommunications.

English | 6 Pages - December - Note 26 | IFC, 2016 6| IFC

Nov 18, 2016

Energy Storage Business Solutions for Emerging Markets

With the application of new storage capacity technologies, advances in the capabilities of energy networks promise to deliver not only efficiency and productivity gains but also business opportunities for remote areas in emerging countries.

English | 6 Pages - November - Note 23 | © IFC, 2016

Oct 3, 2016

Attracting Private Investment Through Power Sector Reforms

Private sector investment is much needed in emerging markets to upgrade energy supplies, but too often power utilities in these markets are uncompetitive. In order to attract private investment, many aspects of how power utilities are operated need to be reformed. With their experience in helping to structure and finance successful infrastructure projects in emerging markets, development finance institutions are well positioned to support emerging market government efforts to translate power sector reforms into private investment.

English | 4 Pages - October - Note 21 | © IFC, 2016

Sep 30, 2016

Mitigating Private Infrastructure Project Risks

Private sector financing is essential to bridging the infrastructure gap between emerging markets and developed countries. Given the risk profiles of many of these projects, however, private investors are reluctant to help finance important infrastructure investments. Now, new packages of financial and advisory products offered by development finance institutions are substantially improving these risk profiles, making them viable for private investment even in very challenging environments.

English | 4 Pages - September - Note 20 | © IFC, 2016

Sep 30, 2016

Creating Mobile Telecom Markets In Africa

Mobile telecommunications has many benefits, from linking communities and citizens to mobile applications that bring financial services to the unbanked and help farmers improve crop yields. Yet at one time it looked as though Africa’s mobile sector might fare as poorly as its fixed line system did. Instead, an appropriate mix of regulation and competition, investment, and affordability allowed mobile phones and broadband access to flourish.

English | 4 Pages - September - Note 19 | © IFC, 2016

Sep 29, 2016

Seven Sisters: Accelerating Solar Power Investments

In the face of high and volatile fossil fuel prices the government of Jordan launched an aggressive national strategy to increase production of privately financed, commercial scale renewable energy. This pivot was initially met with skepticism from developers and financiers. Yet by aggregating seven small, individual solar power projects into a single, standardized financing structure—the Seven Sisters—the country was able spread costs, shorten timelines, and ultimately attract the necessary financing and developers to make the effort a reality.

English | 3 Pages - September - Note 18 | © IFC, 2016

Sep 29, 2016

How to Scale Solar Power Generation in Emerging Markets

Solar power is an increasingly affordable, quick-to-build solution for countries in need of additional electricity generation. Yet many emerging markets face challenges to developing photovoltaic projects, as small project sizes and lengthy negotiations increase costs and timelines. Scaling Solar, launched by the World Bank Group in 2015, addresses these issues by providing an easy-to-follow process to plan, procure, and launch grid-connected solar projects using private sector financing within two years of engagement. It offers governments the tools to quickly increase energy generation at stable low tariffs and allows developers to bid on well-structured, standardized projects through a competitive, transparent process that reduces risk and costs—making new markets easier to navigate.

English | 2 Pages - September - Note 17 | © IFC, 2016

Sep 14, 2016

How To Make Infrastructure Climate Resilient

In emerging markets, climate change threatens infrastructure that is critical for development. Roads, airports, water systems, and power plants are vulnerable to weather changes. Severe storms and major droughts can disrupt economic activity. Because private companies and investors in emerging markets often manage infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships, they will now need to address climate change risks when planning and building these projects. The uncertainty of such risks has made incorporating them into project planning a challenge, but new tools and approaches, including insurance, are helping PPPs better respond to climate risks.

English | 4 Pages - September - Note 14 | © IFC, 2016

Jul 12, 2016

Scaling Solar: Unlocking Private Investment in Large-Scale Solar Power

Scaling Solar brings together a suite of World Bank Group

English | 4 pages | 2016 IFC