Publications

Apr 26, 2023

Creating Markets in Togo: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

This report takes an in-depth look at private sector challenges and opportunities in Togo. It identifies areas for reform and sectors with the greatest potential to advance Togo’s private sector–led development, in alignment with the country's National Development Plan (NDP 2018–2022)

English, French | 2023 IFC

Mar 10, 2023

IFC Ebuses Toolkit

IFC Electric Bus Toolkit: Accelerating Electric Bus Adoption

English | 4 pages | IFC 2023

Feb 24, 2023

Sector Overview | Global Infrastructure

Emerging markets face massive infrastructure gaps. Building smart and sustainable infrastructure helps improve economic efficiency and increase climate resilience. It also supports inclusive and sustainable growth, creates jobs, and improves lives by connecting people to basic services such as digital access, power, and clean water. IFC offers long-term financing, sustainabilitylinked financing, and industry-leading expertise, partnering with the private sector to develop infrastructure projects that provide essential services while ensuring that social and environmental standards are met.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2023

Feb 23, 2023

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. Leading companies are exploring new ways to ensure that local communities share in the benefits of their projects. Many companies also ensure that operations remain sustainable for the long term.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2023

Feb 16, 2023

Infrastructure Sectors Overview

Infrastructure Sectors Overview

English | 2022 IFC

Feb 14, 2023

Creating Markets in Moldova: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

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

English | 225 pages | 2023 IFC

Feb 14, 2023

Sector Overview | Telecoms, Media & Technology

Digital connectivity is the foundation of a flourishing economy and an informed society. It is essential for the running of e-government and other critical services including education, health, and finance. Digital infrastructure is also key to a green and climate-resilient global economy, enabling the development of smart, sustainable cities and energy grids that deliver clean and reliable power, among other components of a low-carbon future.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2023

Feb 13, 2023

Sector Overview | Waste Management

Two billion people worldwide lack access to basic municipal solid waste collection services. More than 90 percent of waste in low-income countries continues to be burned or openly dumped. Society’s most vulnerable are paying a high price: injury, illness, and loss of life from working in unsafe waste-picking conditions. The environment is also paying a high price, with our oceans choking on plastic waste, valuable land being contaminated by uncontrolled leachate, and methane emissions from landfills and dumpsites leading to significant greenhouse gas emissions.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2023

Feb 7, 2023

Want More Investment in African Infrastructure? Think Better Quality Institutions

An IFC study finds that improvements in governance and regulatory quality could boost private investment in African infrastructure by up to 0.8% of GDP over 4 years.

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

Jan 5, 2023

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 2023

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

Mar 11, 2022

Brochure | Scaling ReWater

Scaling ReWater is a World Bank Group initiative to scale-up sustainable wastewater treatment and water reuse infrastructure in emerging economies through unlocking public and private finance using blended financing models.

Mar 11, 2022

Circularity Plus: Accelerating Waste-to-Value Solutions

The IFC Circularity Plus platform is designed to assist companies and select municipal utilities with investment and advisory solutions that accelerate the waste-to-value approach.

Feb 25, 2022

Brochure | Sustainability-linked Finance

Sustainability-linked finance (SLF) is a powerful tool for mobilizing capital as the world moves towards a greener global future. SLF incentivizes companies to pursue ambitious, long-term environmental and social goals, and its use can help countries achieve the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Companies in nearly all industries and locations can make use of sustainability-linked finance.

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 | 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 | 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 climate change affecting the availability of water and regional ecosystems threatened by polluted wastewater, financing the expansion of water infrastructure is more important than ever.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2023

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 13, 2022

Brochure | Scaling Mini-Grid

Approximately 600 million people lack access to electricity in Africa. Clean energy mini-grids offer an affordable, sustainable way to expand electricity access across the continent. Mini-grids are highly suitable for remote load centers and offer an opportunity to accelerate electrification through diversification. Although prices have fallen significantly, many countries are still unable to develop sustainable mini-grid programs at scale due to various challenges.

Jan 13, 2022

Brochure | Scaling Wind

Wind energy has the potential to provide clean, reliable, cost-competitive power in emerging markets around the world. Wind can also be an excellent complement to solar energy, especially when wind output is strongest in the mornings and evenings during peak demand. Globally, the total potential of wind power generation is estimated to be more than 500 times current wind production levels. Despite this, many countries still face major challenges in initiating new wind projects.

Jan 13, 2022

Scaling Up E-Mobility Series

The Scaling Up E-mobility series illustrates IFC’s early-stage work to develop new private investments in e-mobility.

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.

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.

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

Feb 1, 2005

Ecolodges: Exploring Opportunities for Sustainable Business

This publication summarizes the results of research on the triple bottom line from two studies, emphasizing environmental, social and economic sustainability in the ecolodge sector.

Jan 1, 2005

Gender and Economic Growth in Uganda

This landmark report reflects the government of Uganda's concern that without the full economic contribution of both men and women, opportunities for job creation and economic growth are being missed.

Dec 1, 2004

HIV/AIDS Guide for the Mining Sector

Southern Africa is particularly affected by HIV/AIDS. The disease already has a major impact in the economies in the region and especially on the mining sector, which is a key business driver. Based on southern African experience, the Guide for the mining sector provides practical advice and management guidance that will help companies implement intervention strategies.

Sep 1, 2004

Sustainability Banking in Africa

This report looks at the role of the financial sector in Africa in promoting sustainability and identifies a number of innovations demonstrating sustainability banking in different countries in Africa.

Jun 1, 2004

Who Cares Wins — Connecting Financial Markets to a Changing World

The focus of the report is a series of recommendations which taken together seek to address the central issue of integrating environmental, social and governance value drivers into financial market research, analysis and investment.

Apr 2, 2004

2003 Sustainability Review

An annual overview of IFC's commitment to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries.

Dec 1, 2003

Good Practice Note: Addressing the Social Dimensions of Private Sector Projects

This Good Practice Note provides guidance on how to identify and assess project-related social issues and also provides guidance on options for social "value added" and sustainable development opportunities that may arise in project development.

Oct 31, 2003

Focus 2: Guidance for Directors of Banks

This manual, for present and prospective directors of non-complex banks, is intended to provide a guide to emerging international best practice. It is designed to help boards of directors in a practical way attain and maintain a high standard of internal governance.

52 pages | © October 2003 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 1, 2003

SRI in Asian Emerging Markets - ASrIA Reports

The purpose of this set of reports is to provide up-to-date and comprehensive information on the status of socially responsible investing (SRI) in seven of Asia's emerging markets and, through this work, to advise on potential next steps for further developing SRI in Asia.

Oct 1, 2003

Towards Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Emerging Markets

This report surveys the current status of socially responsible investment in emerging markets, assesses its growth potential, and recommends steps that could help catalyze that potential.

Jul 1, 2003

Toolkit 1: Developing Corporate Governance Codes of Best Practice

The toolkit distills practical experience from 17 developed and developing countries and provides practical advice on building organizations that train corporate directors in sound corporate governance practices.

28 pages | © July 2003 IFC | Complimentary

Jan 1, 2003

Beyond Risk

"Beyond Risk" is a casebook on sustainability in the emerging markets financial sector. It documents how the sector has increasingly integrated environmental issues into day-to-day operations.

Dec 1, 2002

Good Practice Note: HIV/AIDS in the Workplace

This document is intended to provide good practice guidance for conducting a health impact assessment (HIA) to determine potential impacts on community health as a result of project development.

Dec 1, 2002

Case Study Excerpt - Plantation Workers Benefit from NGO Partnership with Unilever in Ghana

The Unilever Company in Ghana was alarmed by the potential effects HIV/AIDS could have on its workers and the surrounding community; an estimated 100,000 people. Unilever partnered with a local NGO to improve its existing workplace program and reached nearly two thousand employees, their families, and the surrounding community.

Aug 1, 2002

Developing Value: The Business Case for Sustainability in Emerging Markets

Based on more than 240 real-life examples in over 60 countries, Developing Value is the first large-scale study analyzing the business case for sustainability in emerging markets.

Jun 1, 2002

Good Practice Note: Addressing Child Labor in the Workplace and Supply Chain

The Note seeks to provide companies who are interested in addressing the topic of child labor with a range of basic, good practice approaches that other businesses have successfully applied in addressing the issue of harmful child labor in their workplaces and those of their vendors and suppliers.

Mar 1, 2002

Handbook for Preparing a Resettlement Action Plan

The purpose of this handbook is to provide guidance to project sponsors in complying with World Bank Group's policy on Involuntary Resettlement (OD 4.30) and in preparation of a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP).

Jan 1, 2001

Voices of Women in the Private Sector

This report highlights some of the entrepreneurial obstacles and needs faced by women in Indonesia's micro, small and medium enterprises, from legal discrimination to educational disadvantage; social pressures and access to finance issues.

Jan 1, 2001

Public Private Partnerships — Promoting Gender Equity — The Gender and Growth Assessment for Uganda

The Gender and Growth Assessment identified specific legal and administrative barriers to investment that have a gender dimension and suggested that Uganda could gain as much as 2% growth per annum by addressing gender inequalities.

Jan 1, 2001

Gender Equal Land Laws: Driving Businesses Forward

Not having comprehensive rights to land restricts the way in which land can be used as collateral for business borrowing, and both hampers credit markets and dampens the business environment in general.

Jan 1, 2001

Access to Finance for Women - Leveraging Donor Funding to Assist Highly Disadvantaged Women Across Africa

This report focuses on AWDF, an Africa-wide fundraising and grant-making initiative for African women. It is the first attempt at an Africawide philanthropic institution promoting social change through the funding of autonomous women's organizations.

Jan 1, 2001

Investing in People: Sustaining Communities Through Improved Business Practice

This Guide aims to further IFC's mission to "promote private sector investment in developing countries, which will reduce poverty and improve people's lives." It seeks to help interested companies by drawing on the community development experiences of some of the world's leading companies.

Mar 1, 1999

Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook

The purpose of this study is to examine whether stabilization clauses, a widely used risk-management device in investment contracts, may affect a state’s action to implement its international human rights obligations.

Nov 1, 1998

Doing Better Business Through Effective Public Consultation: A Good Practice Manual

Public consultation, as referred to in this Good Practice Manual, is a tool for managing two-way communication between the project sponsor and the public. Its goal is to improve decision-making and build understanding by actively involving individuals, groups and organizations with a stake in the project. This involvement will increase a project's long-term viability and enhance its benefits to locally affected people and other stakeholders.