Tag: IFC

IFC Invests in Scotiabank Mexico to Expand Access to Housing Finance for Women

Stuart Mitchell

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced an investment of up to US$250 million in Scotiabank Mexico to expand access to housing finance for women—a key segment for the country’s economic and social development. The investment aims to address Mexico’s significant housing deficit and the gender gap in access to mortgages, while promoting growth and economic inclusion. Mexico faces a housing shortage of 9 million units, leaving millions of families—especially in rural and low-income communities—without adequate housing. Women are disproportionately affected: only 4.5% have…

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IFC Supports Côte d’Ivoire Electricity for All Program’s Second Social Bond to Bring Electricity to Millions More People

Stuart Mitchell

To boost access to electricity for low-income households and small businesses in Côte d’Ivoire, IFC recently announced its support for a bond issuance that will help finance up to 600,000 new electricity connections, benefiting nearly 2.8 million people in the country, an almost 10 percent increase in national electricity access. IFC’s guarantees, totaling up to XOF15.8 billion (US$28.3 million equivalent), will support the participation of Société Ivoirienne de Banque (SIB) and the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) as anchor investors in the bond, issued by a securitization vehicle…

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IFC and BMW Foundation Launch RESPOND Scaleup to Help European Clean-Tech Startups Scale Globally

Stuart Mitchell

Europe leads the world in clean technology innovation, but without the ability to scale industrial solutions, it risks falling behind. To close this critical “scale-up gap,” the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, today announced the launch of the RESPOND Scaleup program, a six-month pilot initiative designed to help CEOs of leading clean-tech startups to navigate the complexities of scaling to full commercialization. Building on the success of the RESPOND Accelerator, which has supported more than 65 impact-driven startups…

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IFC’s Alliance for Green Commercial Banks Welcomes 20 Banks to Support Sustainable Banking Transformation in Asia Pacific

Stuart Mitchell

Twenty commercial banks, collectively managing more than US$5.6 trillion in assets, have joined the Alliance for Green Commercial Banks (the Alliance), an initiative of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. This inaugural cohort marks an important step in accelerating the transformation of commercial banks towards excellence in green banking—integrating global best practices with innovative business models for sustainable finance across Asia-Pacific’s emerging markets and developing economies. The Alliance is a curated, by-invitation platform that convenes commercial banks committed to embedding sustainability into their core strategies while financing the transition to…

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IFC Launches Initiatives to Address Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in Workplaces

Stuart Mitchell

IFC has unveiled two key initiatives, the Gender-Based Violence Center of Expertise and the Respect@Work Program, to address gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in workplaces around the globe. These initiatives aim to create safer, more inclusive business environments, recognizing that eliminating GBVH is essential to advancing gender equality, improving business performance, and unlocking the full economic potential of women and other marginalized groups. The Gender-Based Violence Center of Expertise will serve as a global knowledge hub, supporting IFC clients and private sector actors with toolkits, training, and provide advisory support to better…

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