Publications

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 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

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

Apr 30, 2021

Boosting Tourism: Environmental and Social Diagnostic of the Tourism Sector in Solomon Islands' Western Province

This study gives investors an overview of the potential environmental and social (E&S) risks, impacts, and opportunities, with a focus on a tourism corridor in the Western Province, Solomon Islands, and how to reduce potential risks and impacts to realize the tourism development opportunities.

232 pages | © April 2021 | 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

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

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

Dec 31, 2014

Good Practice Note: Improving Animal Welfare in Livestock Operations

This Good Practice Note contributes to IFC's continued commitment to supporting clients in a responsible and forward-looking approach to traditional livestock production and aquaculture in intensive and extensive systems to, among other things, help producers access and maintain entry to high quality and value market segments.

29 pages | © December 2014 IFC | Complimentary

Aug 1, 2013

Good Practice Handbook: Assessing and Managing Environmental and Social Risks in an Agro-Commodity Supply Chain

Supply chain risk has become a major area of concern for companies in the agribusiness sector, as well as for their customers, financiers, and external stakeholders. This Good Practice Handbook is intended for those agro-commodity companies that want to better manage supply chain environmental and social risks. The Handbook focuses on five major agro-commodity supply chains—palm oil, soy, sugarcane, cocoa, and coffee—but many of the tools, resources, and case studies can be used as guidance for other agro-commodities.

196 pages | © August 2013 IFC | Complimentary

Aug 1, 2013

Good Practice Handbook on Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Guidance for the Private Sector in Emerging Markets

This Good Practice Handbook on Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Guidance for the Private Sector in Emerging Markets proposes a six-step process to assist private sector companies in emerging markets identify cumulative impacts and guide them in the effective design and implementation of measures to manage such cumulative effects.

102 pages | © August 2013 IFC | Complimentary

Jun 12, 2013

IFC Sustainability Resources Brochure 2013

This brochure highlights sustainability resources produced or co-produced by IFC's Environment, Social and Governance Department (CES), the Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA) and the Climate Business Department (CBG). These resources include publications, tools, and learning & training programs. While not exhaustive, this brochure offers a navigation point for users on some of IFC's key sustainability resources.

36 pages | © June 2013 IFC | Complimentary

Mar 1, 2013

Lessons of Experience No. 3 - Peru LNG: A Focus on Continuous Improvement

This publication highlights the lessons of experience from the IFC-PERU Liquefied Natural Gas (PLNG) project. A focus on continuous improvement and adaptive management throughout the project, and an emphasis on stakeholder engagement and participatory monitoring are among lessons that are useful across sectors.

40 pages | © March 2013 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 21, 2012

IFC's Sustainability Framework: From Policy Update to Implementation

This publication summarizes key aspects of IFC's updated Sustainability Framework (2012), and highlights environmental and social issues of current and emerging importance for business, including climate change, business and human rights, supply chain management, gender issues, stakeholder engagement, Indigenous Peoples, and biodiversity and ecosystem services.

40 pages | © December 2012 IFC | Complimentary

Nov 7, 2012

Performance Standards Objectives

2 pages| © November 2012 IFC | Complimentary

Jan 1, 2012

Interpretation Note on Small and Medium Enterprises and Environmental and Social Risk Management

Presents IFC's range of investment products aimed at supporting the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

6 pages | © January 2012 IFC | Complimentary

Jan 1, 2012

IFC Sustainability Framework - Effective January 1, 2012

IFC's Sustainability Framework articulates the Corporation's strategic commitment to sustainable development, and is an integral part of IFC's approach to risk management. The Sustainability Framework comprises IFC's Policy and Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability, and IFC's Access to Information Policy.

84 pages | © January 2012 IFC | Complimentary

Jan 1, 2012

IFC Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability - Effective January 1, 2012

The Performance Standards are directed towards clients, providing guidance on how to identify risks and impacts, and are designed to help avoid, mitigate, and manage risks and impacts as a way of doing business in a sustainable way. Translations are available in French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish and Myanmar Language (Burmese).

72 pages | © January 2012 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 20, 2011

Understanding IFC's Environmental and Social Review Process (flyer)

2 pages | © October 2011 IFC | Complimentary

Jul 1, 2011

Biodiversity and Agricultural Commodities Program (BACP) (flyer)

2 pages | © July 2011 IFC | Complimentary

Aug 6, 2007

Forest-Backed Bonds Proof of Concept Study

This report explores how conventional structured finance methods may improve the access long-term finance for natural tropical forests.

May 1, 2007

Stakeholder Engagement: A Good Practice Handbook for Companies Doing Business in Emerging Markets

This handbook endeavors to provide a comprehensive overview of good practice in stakeholder engagement, with a dedicated focus on stakeholder groups that are "external" to the core operation of the business, such as affected communities, local government authorities, non-governmental and other civil society organizations, local institutions and other interested or affected parties.

Sep 1, 2006

External Monitoring of the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline Projects

To highlight the practical challenges and value of the external monitoring mechanism, the publication draws illustrative examples from the experiences of IFC during the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project in 2001.

Mar 1, 2006

A Guide to Biodiversity for the Private Sector

This guide is designed to help companies operating in emerging markets better understand their relationship to biodiversity issues and how they can effectively manage those issues to improve business performance and benefit from biodiversity.

Online Only | © March 2006 IFC | Complimentary|

Jun 1, 2005

Case Study Excerpt - East Asia: Innovative Partnerships Address Environmental Challenges

The IFC’s technical assistance facilities in Indonesia are establishing relationships with civil society organizations to help private companies and entrepreneurs contribute more to sustainable development.

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

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 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

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

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

May 25, 2021

Artificial Intelligence Solutions to Support Environmental, Social, and Governance Integration in Emerging Markets

This paper describes the potential approaches for institutional investors and asset managers to align their investment strategies for emerging markets with the Sustainable Development Goals through environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-integrated investments.

30 pages | © May 2021 IFC, Amundi | Complimentary

Apr 30, 2021

Boosting Tourism: Environmental and Social Diagnostic of the Tourism Sector in Solomon Islands' Western Province

This study gives investors an overview of the potential environmental and social (E&S) risks, impacts, and opportunities, with a focus on a tourism corridor in the Western Province, Solomon Islands, and how to reduce potential risks and impacts to realize the tourism development opportunities.

232 pages | © April 2021 | Complimentary

Mar 25, 2021

Good Practice Note for the Private Sector: Addressing the Risks of Retaliation Against Project Stakeholders

IDB Invest and IFC have developed this guidance to provide our clients and other private sector companies and their consultants with practical advice for screening, preventing, and responding to reprisals.

58 pages | © March 2021 IFC, IDB Invest | Complimentary

Feb 26, 2021

Special Guidance: Disclosure and Transparency in Crisis - Increasing Resilience and Building Trust During and After COVID-19

This Special Guidance is designed to help both listed and privately-owned companies 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.

20 pages | © February 2021 | Complimentary

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Alcazar Energy, Egypt

Alcazar Energy recognizes that workplace bullying, and in particular any forms of sexual harassment, could impact business operations and the employee’s wellbeing.

8 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - TAQA Arabia, Energy, Egypt

TAQA Arabia recognized a need to consider specific risks for women as part of the project’s environmental, social, and health and safety requirements.

6 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Asyaport, Infrastructure, Turkiye

The case study explores how the company has taken action to promote equal opportunities and highlights the the implementation of the company’s Environmental and Social Action Plan.

7 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Gas Natural Açu (GNA), Energy, Brazil

The case study explores how the company has implemented key elements for prevention of gender-based violence and sexual harassment within the workplace.

9 pages | © December 2020 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