IFC is the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. IFC fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing capital in the international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments.

IFC believes that good standards that support its private sector development, sustainability, and poverty reduction mandate in developing countries can create a broad “reach”, and this reach can potentially be far greater than financing projects one at a time. This is why standard-setting is now at the core of IFC’s mission.

In addition to applying IFC’s Performance Standards for Social and Environmental Sustainability in its investment and advisory services due diligence, IFC supports a number of standard-setting initiatives and Roundtables (e.g. RSPO , RTRS); establishes partnerships and global programs (e.g. Better Work, BACP); and implements a number of targeted interventions with its clients designed to help improve the environment for standards uptake.

IFC ’s Policy and Performance Standards for Social and Environmental Sustainability

IFC has a long history with environmental and social standards. The institution adopted its Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies and its Disclosure Policy in 1998. Since 2006, IFC has applied the Policy and Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability to all investment projects to minimize their impact on the environment and on affected communities. Please visit IFC Sustainability website to get more information about the standards, good practice guidance, and the progress of updating the current Performance Standards framework. http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/sustainability.nsf/Content/EnvSocStandards