Publications

Dec 14, 2022

Sector Overview | Sustainable Mining

Metals and minerals underpin the devices, vehicles, and infrastructure that link the world, connect the unconnected, and bridge the digital divide. They are necessary ingredients for a low-carbon future and foundational to the goal of equitable, inclusive, and sustainable growth. In many resource-rich developing countries, mining is a major contributor to GDP, creating jobs, and generating revenue for governments. Sustainable mining also offers the opportunity to bring tangible long-term benefits to the people who live in the surrounding communities.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2022

Jan 14, 2022

Sector Overview | Telecoms, Media & Technology

Telecommunications, media, and technology are the building blocks of the modern world. Digital infrastructure underpins every aspect of society and the economy. Smart cities, e-government, financial services, manufacturing and e-commerce all rely on strong digital infrastructure. Strengthening the digital capacity of developing countries enables inclusive growth, economic stability and improved quality of life for all citizens, including the most vulnerable.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2022

Jan 14, 2022

Sector Overview | Transport

Investing in ports, airports, roads, railways and other transportation infrastructure bolsters international trade, creates jobs, and reduces urban congestion. Through more efficient, safe and affordable movement of people and goods, transportation fosters both economic growth and sustainable development.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2022

Jan 14, 2022

Sector Overview | Global Infrastructure

Sustainable infrastructure is critical for addressing development challenges in emerging markets and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. Expanding access to essential services—electricity, telecommunications, transportation, water, and sanitation—enables inclusive growth and helps create markets and opportunity. IFC offers long-term financing, sustainability-linked financing, and industry-leading expertise to partner with the private sector to not only develop infrastructure projects that provide essential services, but also ensure social and environmental standards are met.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2022

Jan 14, 2022

Sector Overview | Energy

Energy access drives inclusive growth, creates jobs and strengthens economies. IFC helps bridge the development divide in emerging markets by financing power generation, transmission and distribution projects. IFC’s investment and advisory work takes place across a range of technologies, with an emphasis on low-cost renewable energy.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2022

Jan 14, 2022

Sector Overview | Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory

Across the infrastructure sector, companies are facing increasing demands for corporate transparency and stakeholder engagement. Institutional investors and shareholders are aware of the connection between stronger environmental, social, and governance standards and reduced project risks. Many leading companies are exploring new ways to ensure that local communities share in the benefits of their projects and that their operations remain sustainable for the long term.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2020

Jan 14, 2022

Sector Overview | Water

More than a quarter of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water. In many countries, the existing water infrastructure provides neither comprehensive sanitation services nor adequate wastewater treatment. With the COVID-19 pandemic still challenging public health services around the world, and regional ecosystems threatened by polluted wastewater, financing the expansion of water infrastructure is more important than ever. Water service improvements are complex and expensive. IFC works with clients in emerging markets to build innovative, market-oriented and long-term solutions to water infrastructure challenges.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2022

Jan 14, 2022

Sector Overview | Municipal & Environmental Infrastructure

As cities in emerging economies continue to grow, access to safe water, sustainable waste management and other municipal infrastructure must expand to meet demand. More than 150 million city dwellers lack efficient, affordable connections to water services and 700 million live without adequate sanitation, according to the United Nations. Lack of clean water is a serious public health concern, especially in the wake of the COVD-19 pandemic. Poor sanitation also poses significant environmental challenges. The cost and complexity of addressing these problems is very high. As a result, innovative market-oriented long-term solutions are needed.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2022

Jan 14, 2022

Infrastructure Sectors Overview

Infrastructure Sectors Overview

English | 2022 IFC

Dec 16, 2021

The Plurinational State of Bolivia: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

The Bolivia CPSD identifies barriers and opportunities to a dynamic private sector and opportunities for private investment in logistics, agricultural, and forestry.

English | 174 pages | 2021 IFC

Dec 15, 2021

Short Term Effects of COVID-19 on Digital Infrastructure in Emerging Markets

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the value of digital connectivity and has had numerous and at times contrasting effects on the digital infrastructure sector. Among these effects are an increased demand for quality digital connectivity, driven by falling telecommunications prices in certain countries and an increase in network capacity in others, set against a backdrop in emerging markets (EMs) of a digital divide that pre-dated the pandemic. This note leverages data from industry sources and an IFC survey of digital infrastructure companies to assess the short-term effects of COVID-19 on digital infrastructure in emerging markets. The note concludes with a discussion of emerging trends and their implications for public policy and corporate and investment strategies in support of the development of the digital infrastructure sector in emerging markets in the recovery phase of the pandemic and beyond.

Dec 6, 2021

Creating Markets in Madagascar: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

Madagascar CPSD examines inclusive growth, job creation, and economic recovery from COVID-19 through private sector policy reforms and investments.

English - 125 pages | French - 142 pages | 2021 IFC

Nov 9, 2021

Co-Investment Options in Infrastructure: A Guide for Institutional Investors

Pacific nations face many challenges in the delivery of essential infrastructure in sectors such as sustainable energy, health, transport, logistics and telecommunications. It’s estimated that from 2016 through to 2030, US$46 billion in investment is needed to overcome the region’s infrastructure deficit.

Oct 8, 2021

Creating Markets in Haiti: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

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

English | 137 pages | 2021 IFC

Sep 29, 2021

Investing in Sustainable Access to Communications

The report contributes to the growth and development of innovative solution providers for telecom sites located in areas with no access to electricity or substandard access by providing insights into the growth perspectives of the TESCO market globally. It also leverages existing investment opportunities to expand digital connectivity to rural/remote areas while reducing the carbon footprint of telecom operators.

English | 90 pages | IFC 2021

Sep 13, 2021

Creating Markets in Ecuador: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

The Ecuador Country Private Sector Diagnostic provides IFC & World Bank analysis of private investment opportunities, constraints, and policy recommendations.

English | 196 pages | 2021 IFC

Aug 1, 2021

The Business Case for Gender-Responsive Climate-Smart Mining

This document illustrates how gender-responsive climate-smart mining (CSM) strategies are good for business and good for the planet. It outlines entry points for gender considerations within the pillars of the CSM Initiative and enlists recommendations for different stakeholders such as companies, government and civil society to engage.

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 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

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 3, 2021

The Power of Batteries to Expand Renewable Energy in Emerging Markets

The global power and transportation sectors of the future will be fundamentally different from today, igniting opportunities for investment in new technologies that can bolster resilience and lower carbon emissions. One of those key technologies is batteries, which are creating increasingly compelling solutions for storing and distributing renewable energy.

Jun 3, 2021

Hydrogen's New Horizon— Scaling Up Clean Hydrogen for the Power Sector

EMERGING ENERGY SOLUTIONS A series on emerging energy trends and opportunities from IFC

Jun 3, 2021

Emerging Energy Solutions

Emerging Energy Solutions

Apr 28, 2021

Enabling Private Investment in 5G Connectivity in Emerging Markets—An Assessment of Challenges and Policy Options

This note proposes a high-level framework to assess challenges and policy options to enabling private sector-led investment in 5G connectivity in emerging markets. 5G is the latest mobile network technology and it has the potential to provide high-speed Internet connectivity and enable digital transformation across multiple sectors of an economy. The proposed framework leverages industry data to articulate the digital divide and benchmark the enabling environment for 5G connectivity in emerging markets. The note concludes with recommendations on policy options and business strategies, drawing from early experiences in advanced markets and major opportunities and challenges in emerging markets.

English | 8 pages — April —Note 102 | IFC 2021