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Aug 3, 2021

Strengthening Sustainability in the Steel Industry

Today, steel is present in virtually every aspect of people’s lives, from homes and hospitals to roads and other infrastructure that provide the foundation for social and economic development. Steel is among the world’s most recycled materials, with circular economy practices incorporated into various stages of the production cycle. Yet the high-temperature heat vital to its production process still requires large amount of energy. Hence, the iron and steel sector remains among the largest consumers of energy and emitters of carbon dioxide, accounting for 6 to 7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

English | 15 pages | IFC 2021

Aug 3, 2021

Strengthening Sustainability in the Plastics Industry

Plastics are the building blocks of many value chains, including packaging, health care, construction, aviation, logistics, clothing, and increasingly, the recycling industry. They play a vital role in driving industrial development, creating jobs, expanding opportunities, and generating wealth to improve people’s lives. But as the use of plastic has increased, so too have the environmental and social costs. The production process uses petrochemicals as a raw material and generates greenhouse gas emissions. Perhaps the biggest cost is the waste generated by discarded plastic goods. Most of the common plastics of today are not fully biodegradable, and that has created a cascade of environmental, financial, and health problems around the world.

English | 17 pages | IFC 2021

Aug 3, 2021

Strengthening Sustainability in the Glass Industry

Glass is present in a myriad of products used in both daily life and manufacturing, from beverage containers to windows to fiber optic cables. Its many properties and affordable cost make it an essential material for development, whether in the construction of houses and high rises where people live and work or for use in industries such as agribusiness and automaking.

English | 18 pages | IFC 2021

Aug 2, 2021

Investing for Impact: The Global Impact Investing Market 2020

A comprehensive assessment of the global impact investing market with estimates of the market size, including publicly and privately managed impact assets.

Jul 29, 2021

Sector Notes | COVID-19's Impact on infrastructure

The COVID–19 outbreak has significantly impacted infrastructure development and the global economy. International response to the rapid disruption to key infrastructure sectors and industries is ongoing. IFC’s COVID–19 infrastructure sector notes provide a quick and short analyses on the impact of the pandemic on different infrastructure sectors while proposing recommendations for an effective response to this global crisis.

English | 2020 IFC

Jul 28, 2021

The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Subnational Governments in Emerging Markets: The Outlook One Year On

Subnational governments in emerging market cities have undoubtedly felt the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis. Cities have been at the forefront of the pandemic, given both the impact it has had on their budgets and their citizens, and their central role in managing it. In our October 2020 note, we shared thoughts on what the crisis could mean for cities. More than a year after the crisis first hit, we now project gradual recovery for subnational governments in the second half of 2021 and 2022. This should support investment and lending activity by development finance institutions (DFIs) to help address infrastructure needs globally.

English | 5 pages | IFC 2021

Jul 28, 2021

Workplace responses to Family and Sexual Violence in PNG: Measuring the Business Case

The report presents the results from the first round of research data—which provide a benchmark for measuring the business case for workplace responses. Impact to business will be measured through additional data collection efforts in 2021 and 2022.

Jul 22, 2021

Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania under the Finance2Equal Tanzania

This case study presents findings and recommendations of a survey done in 2020 by IFC in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania under the Finance2Equal Tanzania program. The study explores family-friendly workplace policies implemented by the bank and how employers can implement gender-smart strategies that support gender inclusion and yield benefits for companies.

Jul 19, 2021

Public Sector Advisory Operations in Fragile African Markets

The report, Public Sector Advisory Operations in Fragile African Markets, presents lessons learned and recommendations for improving project delivery of public sector advisory projects aimed at supporting governments' finance, private sector, and entrepreneurship agenda in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Jul 19, 2021

Creating Markets in Malawi: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

The Malawi Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) provides IFC & World Bank analysis of growth and investment opportunities, constraints, & policy recommendations for private sector development.

English | 129 pages | 2021 IFC

Jul 8, 2021

Navigating through COVID-19: Country snapshots on how the pandemic affected MSMEs in the Middle East and Africa

These country snapshots look at the state of business operations in countries across the Middle East and Africa and how businesses are navigating the challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The notes look at three main areas: The financial health and resilience of the MSME sector in the country, the crisis response and future plans of businesses, and MSME support needed from governments and financial institutions.

Jul 6, 2021

Fiji TC Yasa Business Survey

Tropical Cyclone Yasa (TC Yasa) crossed Fiji on December 17-19, 2020. It was one of the strongest cyclones recorded in the Pacific and the second Category 5 cyclone to hit Fiji since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.

Jul 2, 2021

Architectural and Cultural Heritage Tourism Products in Nepal

Jul 2, 2021

Blended Concessional Finance—The Benefits of Transparency and Access

Blended concessional finance, the combination of commercial finance from the private sector and development finance institutions (DFIs) with concessional finance from public and other sources, is increasingly being used by DFIs to support developmentally important projects where normal DFI or commercial finance is not available because of the high risks involved.

English | 8 pages—July—Note 105 | IFC 2021

Jun 29, 2021

Sourcing2Equal Kenya: Barriers and Approaches to Increase Access to Markets for Women- Owned Businesses

An IFC Sourcing2Equal study on gender-inclusive sourcing to understand the barriers that women-owned SMEs face in accessing procurement contracts in the private sector in Kenya

Jun 28, 2021

Creating Markets in Mozambique: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

The Mozambique CPSD provides IFC & World Bank analysis of growth and investment opportunities, constraints and policy recommendations.

English | 246 pages | 2021 IFC

Jun 25, 2021

Leading Tanzanian Women in Financial Services

Tanzania’s financial services sector is an important engine of economic growth and includes banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, and credit reference bureaus.

Jun 22, 2021

Creating Markets in Bangladesh: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

Bangladesh Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) evaluates constraints to realizing private sector potential, identifies strategic entry points for private investment.

English | 172 pages | 2021 IFC

Jun 21, 2021

Barriers and Opportunities for Refugee Women to Engage in the Digital Economy

The digital economy 1 can offer a new and promising path forward for people seeking employment across the globe. Online platforms are altering the future of work, reducing barriers to entry and blurring the distinction between formal and informal labor.

English | 75 pages | 2021 IFC

Jun 17, 2021

Enabling A Competitive Mobile Sector in Emerging Markets Through the Development of Tower Companies

Sharing mobile network infrastructure through specialized companies called towercos is a business model with the potential to accelerate access to quality mobile connectivity for individuals and businesses in emerging markets. A significant number of developing countries have yet to adopt this model, however, and many others continue to struggle with competition issues within their tower markets. This note provides the rationale and policy options for a light regulatory regime that can enable the entry and sustainable development of a dynamic market for towercos in emerging markets. The note also discusses the evolution of the towerco model into small cells and distributed antenna systems, both of which help enable high-speed mobile connectivity technologies like 4G and 5G.

English | 8 pages—June—Note 104 | IFC 2021

Jun 17, 2021

Focus 15: Sustainability Committees: Structure and Practices

This paper proposes the sustainability committee as a mechanism for managing and governing sustainability and provides guidance on this issue to directors and senior managers. It draws from good practice examples of sustainability committees in both developed and emerging markets, which include: Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Jun 17, 2021

Food Safety Reforms, Learning from the Best

This report was developed as part of IFC’s advisory activities to support and strengthen food safety systems in emerging markets.

English | 146 pages | IFC 2021

Jun 16, 2021

Demand for Digital Skills in Sub-Saharan Africa

The study was conducted jointly by IFC and the World Bank as part of the Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A) initiative under the broader umbrella of the Human Capital Project (HCP) framework. The DE4A initiative seeks to harness the digital technologies and innovation to transform Africa’s societies and economies to promote Africa’s integration, generate inclusive economic growth and stimulate job creation. The HCP aims to accelerate more, and better investments aimed at better equity and economic growth.

Jun 4, 2021

Sustainability Case Studies: Lessons Learned on Leading Through Crisis and Recovering Stronger

This publication features practical guidance from successful women business leaders on how companies can build their resilience. It is based on survey data, first-hand experience, and lessons learned as these women—all working in emerging markets or fragile contexts—steered their organizations through the COVID-19 crisis.

Jun 4, 2021

Sustainability Case Studies: Lessons Learned on Leading Through Crisis and Recovering Stronger

This publication features practical guidance from successful women business leaders on how companies can build their resilience. It is based on survey data, first-hand experience, and lessons learned as these women—all working in emerging markets or fragile contexts—steered their organizations through the COVID-19 crisis.

14 pages | © June 2021 IFC | Complimentary