Publications

May 9, 2023

Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN) Toolkit: Developing Sustainable Finance Roadmaps

This Toolkit combines existing sources, emerging trends, and lessons from Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN) members into a practical guide to help regulators and industry associations design and operationalize sustainable finance roadmaps.

116 pages | © May 2023 IFC | Complimentary

May 8, 2023

IFC Climate Governance: Progression Matrix & Tip Sheet

The Climate Governance Progression Matrix is a tool to assist Boards of Directors in identifying and overseeing climate-related risks and opportunities. The accompanying tip sheet offers guidance to Boards of Directors on climate governance and recommended practices to assist them in identifying and overseeing climate-related risks and opportunities.

14 pages | © May 2023 IFC | Complimentary

Mar 7, 2023

Tip Sheet for Financial Intermediaries — Sample Environmental & Social-Related Contractual Provisions for Legal Agreements Between a Financial Intermediary and Its Clients

This publication provides an overview of common environmental and social contractual provisions and sample language for such provisions..

7 pages | @ March 2023 IFC | Complimentary

Mar 7, 2023

Technical Guidance for Financial Institutions — Assessment of Greenhouse Gases

This publication is a compilation of publicly available sources concerning the methodologies and tools available to guide financial institutions assess, set targets, and disclose greenhouse gas emissions.

50 pages | © March 2023 IFC | Complimentary

Feb 24, 2023

Tip Sheet: Guidance for Boards of Directors on Overseeing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment Risk

This tip sheet offers guidance to Boards of Directors on the effective governance of gender-based violence and harassment risks.

16 pages | © February 2023 IFC | Complimentary

Jan 23, 2023

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Energia del Pacifico, Infrastructure, El Salvador

In a country with a high prevalence of Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Harassment (GBVH) (estimated to cost the GDP 3.9% (2019), Energia del Pacifico (EDP) recognized the need to go beyond minimum environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements to boost its ESG performance and manage GBV risks.

13 pages | © January 2023 | Complimentary

Dec 20, 2022

The State of Gender Equality in Corporate Leadership: Market Monitors for Latin America, G20, Regional

The United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative in partnership with IFC and UN Women have produced these three market monitors to present a ranking of stock exchanges based on gender balance of issuers’ boards in Latin America, G20, and regional markets.

6 pages | © December 2022 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 13, 2022

Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management of Renewable Energy Development in the Sekong River Basin, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

The Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management of Renewable Energy Development in the Sekong River Basin, Lao People’s Democratic Republic aims to support decision making for sustainable development of renewable energy resources.

225 pages | © December 2022 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 7, 2022

Analysis of Best Practices in Environmental Disclosure Policies

IFC and CDP, a not-for-profit, which runs the global environmental disclosure system, prepared a report analyzing the current state of best practices in environmental disclosure, examining more than 100 disclosure practices across developed and developing economies.

44 pages | © December 2022 IFC, CDP | Complimentary

Dec 6, 2022

Powered by Women Nepal Progress Update (December 2020 - March 2022)

This is an update from 19 hydropower companies who have signed up to IFC’s Powered by Women Nepal initiative to promote gender equality and diversity at the workplace.

8 pages | © December 2022 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 28, 2022

Being Bold—Case Studies on Women's Business Leadership in Sierra Leone and Liberia

“Being Bold—Case Studies on Women’s Business Leadership in Sierra Leone and Liberia” presents four powerful examples of how women leaders in fragile markets are using their passion, intelligence, skills, and talents to transform their economies and societies.

22 pages | © November 2022 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 24, 2022

Bridging the Gap in the Arab States: Emerging Private Sector Response and Recovery Measures for Gender Equality amid COVID-19

This regional report aims to inform companies in the Arab region and around the world on practices and initiatives for supporting women leaders, employees, entrepreneurs and those in value chains to navigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

39 pages | © October 2022 IFC | Complimentary

May 13, 2022

She Matters: Women in Kazakhstan Corporate Leadership

This study examines 77% of all joint-stock companies in Kazakhstan, determining a clear correlation between gender diversity and financial and non-financial performance.

86 pages | © May 2022 IFC | Complimentary 86 pages | © May 2022 IFC | Complimentary

Mar 11, 2022

Enquête Gouvernance et Parité -- Women on Boards in Morocco

This study, the first ever in Morocco and the Maghreb region, aims to gather data on board practices in the country and raise awareness about the importance of benefits of board diversity.

11 pages | © March 2022 CFA, IFC, PwC | Complimentary

Mar 8, 2022

How Exchanges Can Advance Gender Equality -- Updated Guidance and Best Practice

In this joint report, UN SSE and IFC identify three broad areas where stock exchanges can play a role in advancing gender equality, namely the promotion of gender-focused and/or gender-aware products and services, strengthening of market performance on gender equality, and leading by example.

51 pages | © March 2022 SSE, IFC | Complimentary

Mar 8, 2022

Realizing Sustainability through Diversity: The Case for Gender Diversity Among Sri Lanka's Business Leadership

This Updated Edition of Realizing Sustainability through Diversity: The Case for Gender Diversity Among Sri Lanka's Business Leadership highlights the progress made by Sri Lankan companies in bringing more women to their boardrooms.

57 pages | © March 2022 IFC | Complimentary

Jan 31, 2022

Supporting Companies to Develop and Manage Community-Based Grievance and Feedback Mechanisms Regarding Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment

This toolkit is intended to support private sector companies to amend existing community-based grievance and feedback mechanisms, or develop new mechanisms, that are designed to receive and effectively manage reports of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

20 pages | © January 2022 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 31, 2021

Trishuli Assessment Tool Field Manual: A Standardized Methodology for Freshwater Aquatic Biodiversity Sampling and Long-Term Monitoring for Hydropower Projects in the Himalayan Region

This field manual provides guidance for implementing the Trishuli Assessment Tool in the rivers of Nepal and other Himalayan regions.

108 pages | @ December 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 10, 2021

IFC ESG Guidebook

IFC has created this guidebook as part of a broader effort to raise awareness of ESG issues among companies and investors in developing markets.

84 pages | © December 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 29, 2021

Accelerating Sustainable Finance Together: Global Progress Report of the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network

The third SBFN Global Progress Report captures the significant increase in collective efforts across all parts of the financial sector, and between regulators and industry, to develop shared enabling frameworks for sustainable finance.

116 pages | © October 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 1, 2021

How to Support Your Company to Write and Implement a Workplace Policy for Prevention of Sexual Harassment

This tip sheet provides ‘How To’ steps for integrating the systematic prevention of sexual harassment into human resources policies.

14 pages | © October 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 1, 2021

How to Support Your Company to Write and Implement an Employee Code of Conduct for Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

This tip sheet provides ‘How To’ steps to ensure that prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment is systematically integrated into codes of conduct.

14 pages | © October 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 1, 2021

How to Support Your Company to Establish and Manage a Worker Grievance Mechanism for Sexual Harassment

This tip sheet provides ‘How To’ steps to ensure that the issue of addressing sexual harassment is systematically integrated into company grievance processes.

14 pages | © October 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 1, 2021

How to Support Your Company to Develop a Community-Based Grievance Mechanism for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

This tip sheet provides ‘How To’ steps for addressing gender-related grievances from affected communities, including stakeholder consultation and how to set up a community-based grievance mechanism.

14 pages | © October 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Jun 30, 2021

Strategy for Sustainable Hydropower Development in the Jhelum Poonch River Basin Pakistan

The strategy for sustainable hydropower development described in this document aims to balance conservation and development as well as minimize the negative environmental and social impacts of hydropower projects in the basin.

334 pages | © June 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Bioparques de Occidente, Agribusiness and Forestry, Mexico

The case study explores how the company has implemented a holistic approach towards the prevention of gender-based violence and sexual harassment within the workplace and its worker housing complexes.

10 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Nov 11, 2020

Disclosure and Transparency During COVID-19 – Increasing Resilience and Building Trust During and After the Pandemic

This tip sheet provides guidance for both listed and privately-owned companies on how to disclose what they are doing to manage the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the pandemic, using IFC’s Disclosure and Transparency Framework, which is focused on strategy, governance, and performance.

7 pages | © November 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Sep 21, 2020

Powered by Women - Business Case for Gender Diversity and Equality in Nepal’s Hydropower Sector

This Powered by Women report was developed by International Finance Corporation (IFC) as part of its commitment to mainstream gender into its programs. By building the Business Case for Gender Equality and Diversity in Nepal’s Hydropower sector, this report provides the foundation for the Powered by Women Initiative to help companies promote business growth and efficiency and enhance sustainability through increased gender diversity.

50 pages | © September 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Jul 14, 2020

Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment: Emerging Good Practice for the Private Sector

This publication outlines emerging practices in addressing gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in operations and investments, while accompanying sector-specific briefs provide targeted guidance on addressing GBVH risks in key sectors, including transport, construction and manufacturing.

96 pages | © July 2020 IFC, EBRD, CDC Group | Complimentary

Jul 8, 2020

Interim Advice for IFC and EBRD Clients on Migrant Workers and COVID-19

This Interim Advice provides guidance to European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) clients on how to respond to the particular challenges experienced by migrant workers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

13 pages | © July 2020 IFC, EBRD | Complimentary

Jun 22, 2020

Necessary Ambition: How Low-Income Countries Are Adopting Sustainable Finance to Address Poverty, Climate Change, and Other Urgent Challenges

This report is the first comprehensive review of drivers and innovation behind market-level efforts to promote sustainable finance in low-income countries.

64 pages | © June 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Jun 12, 2020

Addressing Increased Reprisals Risk in the Context of COVID-19

The purpose of this tip sheet is to provide practical advice that businesses can follow to minimize risk of reprisals, and to flag specific issues that could be exacerbated in a COVID-19 context.

7 pages | © June 2020 IFC | Complimentary

May 28, 2020

Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Hydropower Development in the Trishuli River Basin, Nepal

This report was undertaken by IFC to strengthen understanding of environmental and social impacts of hydropower development that go beyond individual project-level impact assessments by considering a multiproject, basin-wide understanding of potential cumulative impacts in the Trishuli River Basin (TRB).

300 pages | © May 2020 IFC | Complimentary

May 26, 2020

Interim Advice for IFC Clients on Developing a COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP)

This document provides IFC clients with basic advice and resources for developing emergency preparedness and response plans (EPRPs) for COVID-19-related risks to help prevent and mitigate any harm to workers, their operations, communities, and other stakeholders and to be able to maintain business continuity.

10 pages | © May 2020 IFC | Complimentary

May 20, 2020

Interim Advice for IFC Clients on Safe Stakeholder Engagement in the Context of COVID-19

The main objective of this Interim Advice is to assist IFC clients in identifying alternative approaches and mechanisms for engaging stakeholders while taking all feasible steps to protect the health and safety of those involved.

6 pages | © May 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Apr 7, 2020

Interim Advice for IFC Clients on Supporting Workers in the Context of COVID-19

This Tip Sheet sets out useful information to support decision making in response to the impacts of COVID-19 on workers and employment.

9 pages | © April 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Apr 7, 2020

Interim Advice for IFC Clients on Preventing and Managing Health Risks of COVID-19 in the Workplace

The main objective of this Interim Advice document is to collate and provide publicly available advice from internationally recognized sources to help IFC clients rapidly identify measures for preventing and managing outbreaks of COVID-19 in the workplace and for responding to community COVID-19 infection.

7 pages | © April 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Apr 7, 2020

Tip Sheet for Company Leadership on Crisis Response: Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic

The publication provides company leadership tips on crisis response, from each level of a corporate structure, to ensure the best practices are adopted for short and long-term business implications.

3 pages | © April 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 11, 2019

Guía de Buenas Prácticas para el Desarrollo Eólico en Argentina: Gestión de Impactos en Aves y Murciélagos (Good Practice Guidelines for the Wind Energy Sector in Argentina: Management of Impacts on Birds and Bats)

La Guía de Buenas Prácticas para el Desarrollo Eólico en Argentina: Gestión de Impactos en Aves y Murciélagos ha sido desarrollada por BID Invest y el IFC en cooperación con la SSERyEE para brindar lineamientos técnicos sobre la gestión de los impactos en aves y murciélagos en los proyectos de energía eólica.

87 pages | © December 2019 IDB Invest, IFC | Complimentary

Oct 14, 2019

Global Progress Report of the Sustainable Banking Network - October 2019

The IFC-supported Sustainable Banking Network (SBN)’s second Global Progress Report documents the accelerated progress of SBN members in translating policy innovations into practical implementation.

94 pages | © October 2019 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 3, 2018

Good Practice Note: Managing Risks Associated with Modern Slavery

This Good Practice Note supports the private sector in the fight against modern slavery by providing companies in emerging markets the tools to identify and manage potential risks proactively.

80 pages | © December 2018 IFC, CDC Group, EBRD, DFID | Complimentary

Nov 30, 2018

Private Equity and Venture Capital's Role in Catalyzing Sustainable Investment

The report suggests several specific options to increase the role of private equity and venture capital funds in mobilizing sustainable finance, including the establishment of incubators/accelerators for sustainable startups, among other suggestions.

50 pages | © November 2018 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 1, 2018

Sustainable Banking Network (SBN) Creating Green Bond Markets Report

The Creating Green Bond Markets Report highlights the importance of integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices as a foundation of integrity and value creation in any impact-focused investment, including green bonds.

74 pages | © October 2018 IFC | Complimentary

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 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

Feb 26, 2018

Sustainable Banking Network (SBN) Global Progress Report

The IFC-supported Sustainable Banking Network (SBN)’s first comprehensive Global Progress Report evaluates sustainable finance principles and policies in 34 member countries.

74 pages | © February 2018 IFC | Complimentary

Jan 31, 2018

Addressing Gender and Gender-Based Violence in IFC Projects (flyer)

This tip sheet outlines how IFC's Environmental and Social Performance Standards support gender equality and help combat gender-based violence.

2 pages | © January 2018 | Complimentary

Jan 10, 2018

Fact Sheet: Building a Sustainable Textile and Apparel Market in Bangladesh

This fact sheet provides an overview of how IFC's advice and expertise is helping Bangladesh meet the challenges and opportunities facing the textile and apparel industries, which account for 80 percent of the country's export earnings and employ 4.5 million people, mostly women.

Jan 3, 2018

Use of Alternative Fuels in the Cement Sector in Senegal: Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions

This market assessment reports on alternative fuels opportunities in the cement sector in Senegal. The assessment examined different experiences and possible options to utilize municipal, commercial and industrial waste, along with tires, sewage sludge and agricultural residue in cement kilns in key production clusters.

Jan 3, 2018

Use of Alternative Fuels in the Cement Sector in Ethiopia: Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions

This market assessment reports on alternative fuels opportunities in the cement sector in Ethiopia. The assessment examined different experiences and possible options to utilize municipal, commercial and industrial waste, along with tires, sewage sludge and agricultural residue in cement kilns in key production clusters.