All Publications | COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Nov 12, 2020

COVID-19 and Gender Equality: Six Actions for the Private Sector

This guidance note recommends six actions that private sector companies can implement to ensure that both women and men can return to economic activities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and participate equally as leaders, employees, business owners, and consumers.

English | 45 pages | 2020 IFC

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. This framework promotes the issuance of standardized corporate reports and data – and provides investors and key stakeholders with the information they need to assess company resiliency, preparedness, and continued management of material environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues both during and after the crisis. It can also provide guidance for stock exchanges and regulators who are adapting their disclosure and transparency framework during COVID-19.

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

Nov 6, 2020

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Private Sector in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant negative impact on the private sector in developing economies, and businesses and individuals in fragile and conflict-affected situations are among the most severely affected. The pandemic has evolved rapidly from a health emergency to a global economic crisis, spreading through the real sector and posing growing risks to financial systems. Notable sector-level impacts include supply- and demand-based shocks to infrastructure and private healthcare; disruptions to imports, exports, and global and local value chains; and declining agribusiness activity that threatens food insecurity, all leading to financial sector instability.

English | 8 pages — November — Note 93 | IFC 2020

Oct 23, 2020

When Trade Falls—Effects of COVID-19 and Outlook

This note provides an overview of this year’s multi-body trade forecasts and the extent to which those forecasts were realized as reported across various publications.

English | 36 pages | 2020 IFC

Oct 21, 2020

COVID-19’s Impact on Sub-National Governments

In emerging markets, urban centers feel the brunt of both the health and economic crises, putting subnational governments, or SNGs, front and center in the efforts to contain COVID-19. SNGs in emerging markets face significant challenges brought on by the pandemic, for example, significantly less use of public transit, dramatically lower sales tax revenue due to retail and tourism closures, and limited capacity to mount an effective health response. Low levels of preparedness compound these vulnerabilities.

English | 6 pages | IFC 2020

Oct 14, 2020

COVID-19 Rapid Assessment: Impact on the Nigerian Private Sector and Perspectives on Accelerating the Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching and devastating impact on Nigeria’s economy. This rapid assessment of the COVID-19 impact on the private sector in Nigeria is a supplement to the Nigeria Country Private Sector Diagnostic, which assesses opportunities for and constraints to private sector-led growth.

Oct 6, 2020

How the COVID-19 crisis is impacting African pension fund approaches to portfolio management

This note assesses the short-to-medium term impact of the COVID crisis on emerging African pension fund sectors’ portfolio management approaches and related challenges and opportunities that the crisis has brought to light.

English | 15 pages | 2020 IFC

Sep 28, 2020

The Impact of COVID-19 on Disruptive Technology Adoption in Emerging Markets

This note presents examples of how disruptive technologies have been employed in emerging markets during the COVID-19 crisis; discusses market trends that may heighten the role of disruptive technologies in emerging markets post crisis; and reviews risks to and opportunities of faster adoption of disruptive technologies in emerging markets.

English | 17 pages | 2020 IFC

Sep 24, 2020

Lessons for Electric Utilities from COVID-19 Responses in Emerging Markets

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic shutdown have severely depressed electricity demand across the globe, with acute consequences for the revenues and financial health of utilities, as well as smaller providers of utility services and off-grid companies. In many places, utility service providers also must manage the inability of consumers to pay for their services. Government support has been forthcoming, but utilities need to work closely with policymakers to ensure that programs are carefully designed in order to maintain ongoing system reforms, competitiveness, and affordability, and avoid long-lasting market disruptions. These support measures should avoid redundancy among sectors and ensure that resources are efficiently allocated and that welfare improvements are fairly distributed across the country in a sustainable manner. Investors must also understand changes to utilities’ finances and should work to support further reforms.

English | 8 pages - September - Note 90 | IFC 2020

Sep 9, 2020

COVID-19 Economic Impact: Sub-Saharan Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to trigger a severe economic contraction in Sub-Saharan Africa. IFC is working with existing clients in the region to evaluate where our support is needed most.

English | 2 pages | 2020 IFC

Aug 28, 2020

Social Bonds Can Help Mitigate the Economic and Social Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis

Social bonds have become an increasingly popular fixed-income product since the Social Bond Principles were published in 2017, and their growth and popularity have accelerated in recent months due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting need for new funding avenues to address the unforeseen economic and social disruptions. Since the outbreak of the crisis, global issuances of social bonds have risen considerably, and an increasing number of market participants have turned to IFC, a prolific and experienced issuer of social bonds, for advice on how to set up Social Bond Programs and Social Bond Frameworks. The hope now is that social bonds can become a significant method for financing projects that mitigate the socioeconomic impact of the current health crisis, and that the growing use of and interest in these bonds can be sustained post-crisis.

English | 8 pages – August – Note 89 | IFC 2020

Aug 24, 2020

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Cement Industry

As the COVID-19 outbreak has slowed construction in many countries, the industry has seen lower demand for its products, leading to overcapacity. Cement companies are largely expected to survive the crisis, but they must strengthen their sustainability and competitiveness. Companies must also reduce their carbon emissions for their long-term viability; with the cement sector generating 7 to 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, pressure is growing for the industry to achieve carbon neutrality.

Aug 24, 2020

Impacts of the COVID-19 Crisis on Private Equity Funds in Emerging Markets

This note assesses how Private Equity Funds in emerging markets may evolve as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, focusing in particular on the Growth Equity and Venture Capital (VC) asset classes. It also discusses how selected “megatrends” may impact these two asset classes in the medium term, along with opportunities for the industry and for enhanced DFI support.

English | 14 pages | 2020 IFC

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

Jul 8, 2020

COVID-19 and Gender-Based Violence: Workplace Risks and Responses

This guidance note seeks to inform employers about the heightened risks of gender-based violence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and outline ways in which employers can address these risks, improve employee and community well-being, and create a safe and resilient workplace.

English | 14 pages | 2020 IFC

Jun 26, 2020

The Economic Policy Response to the Covid-19 Crisis

Note for discussion.

English | 9 pages | 2020 IFC

Jun 16, 2020

COVID-19’s Impact on the Waste Sector

This publication examines COVID-19’s impact on the waste sector. It explains how governments and private sector can work together to find sustainable solutions.

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

Jun 9, 2020

The Impact of COVID-19 on Logistics

Logistics firms, which are involved in the movement, storage, and flow of goods, have been directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As an integral part of value chains, both within and across international borders, logistics firms facilitate trade and commerce and help businesses get their products to customers. Supply chain disruptions to the sector caused by the pandemic could, therefore, impact competitiveness, economic growth, and job creation.

English | 5 pages | 2020 IFC

Jun 5, 2020

Growing Impact: New Insights into the Practice of Impact Investing

Impact investing in private markets could be as large as $2.1 trillion in assets under management, but only a quarter of that, $505 billion, is clearly measured for its impact, both for development impact and financial returns, according to the report Growing Impact—New Insights into the Practice of Impact Investing.

Jun 4, 2020

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Power Sector

Power is essential for driving economic growth, especially in emerging markets. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7—Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all—is a necessary precondition for progress on many other SDGs, including those concerning health, education, industry, sustainable cities, and more.

English | 4 pages | 2020 IFC

Jun 3, 2020

COVID-19 and the Insurance Industry: Why a Gender-Sensitive Response Matters

The COVID-19 crisis poses new challenges for women and insurers. This guidance note highlights best practices from insurance companies on how they can support female employees, customers, and agents during the pandemic. The publication also explains how women can contribute to the success of the insurance industry and how insurers can better engage with them during the crisis.

English | 22 pages | 2020 IFC

May 29, 2020

COVID-19 Economic Impact: Middle East and North Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to trigger a severe economic contraction in Middle East and North Africa. IFC is working with existing clients in the region to evaluate where our support is needed most.

English | 2 pages | 2020 IFC

May 28, 2020

COVID-19 Economic Impact: East Asia and the Pacific

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to trigger a severe economic contraction in East Asia and the Pacific. IFC is working with existing clients in the region to evaluate where our support is needed most.

English | 3 pages | 2020 IFC