Tag: IFC

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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IFC and OTP Leasing Launch €50 Million Facility to Boost Ukraine’s Private Sector and Sustainable Energy Solutions

Stuart Mitchell

IFC and OTP Leasing, a leading leasing company in Ukraine, are launching a €50 million risk sharing facility (RSF) to expand financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and larger companies (midcaps). The initiative aims to fund sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, trade, energy, and logistics, focusing on sustainable energy solutions that enhance Ukraine’s energy resilience. Amid Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has suffered a significant loss of productive capacity due to supply chain disruptions, power outages, and labor shortages. The high-risk environment has also constrained lending to the private sector, with…

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IFC and Japan Partner to Launch Tokyo Business Hub to Support Global Development

Stuart Mitchell

To strengthen partnerships with Japanese businesses and mobilize private capital for global development, IFC and the Government of Japan have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish the Tokyo Business Development Hub (Tokyo Hub). In alignment with government efforts, the Tokyo Hub will create a robust pipeline of potential projects with Japanese partners, focusing on key areas such as food security, energy infrastructure, and African development. Welcoming this major milestone, IFC and the Japanese Ministry of Finance underscored the potential of the Tokyo Hub to mobilize…

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