IFC Africa

IFC - International Finance Corporation's training helped Cabo Verde restaurant and guest house owner Maurícia Vaz to better manage her finances & maximize profits. She now has the tools to help her business thrive & continue to act as important providers of jobs in the community. From climate resilience to financial inclusion, the AFRICA FINANCIAL SUMMIT - AFIS will bring together leaders and experts from across Africa to explore the critical role of financial services in driving social and economic progress. ➡️http://wrld.bg/7j7N50UjFj2 #AFIS2024

Addressing the complex and multifaceted challenges refugees and host communities face requires creative and comprehensive solutions—and strong partnerships. Last week, IFC and UNHCR hosted a workshop in Nairobi bringing together our teams from across Eastern Africa to explore areas where we can expand our shared work to foster long-term economic resilience. Thank you to my co-hosts Mamadou Dian Balde, Chansa kapaya and Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu. Over the last few years, IFC - International Finance Corporation and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have established a strong collaborative relationship in Eastern Africa, and I am keen to evolve and further strengthen this partnership. By combining the strengths of humanitarian organizations with private-sector solutions, our partnership can create opportunities for refugees and their host communities. In Kenya, for example, IFC and UNHCR have been working together in the Kakuma Refugee Hosting Area through the KKCF - Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF), IFC’s first refugee and host community focused program in sub-Saharan Africa. The program is also supported by the Turkana County Government. Through the program, 126 businesses have been supported, over 1,200 jobs created, and more than 200,000 people gained access to essential services like electricity and healthcare. During our meeting last week, I had a great chat with Mamadou on the sidelines about why this partnership is so important. Tune in ⬇️ IFC UNHCR Joint Initiative 

Access to finance is a critical driver of inclusive growth in West Africa. IFC is making a difference by: ✅ Supporting SMEs and young entrepreneurs ✅ Promoting affordable housing and energy solutions ✅ Engaging women entrepreneurs for a brighter tomorrow IFC - International Finance Corporation is engaging with public and private sector partners in #WestAfrica to improve the lives and livelihoods of many. Join us at the AFRICA FINANCIAL SUMMIT - AFIS to discuss the role of partnerships in driving development across Africa. Let’s shape the future together. 🎥 Watch our latest video ⤵️ 🗓️ 9-10 December 📍 Casablanca, Morocco ➡️http://wrld.bg/aFjN50UhU3o #IFCinAfrica #AFIS2024

  IFC partners with Bénin Terminal (BT), the largest container terminal in the country, to improve operations at the Port of Cotonou and boost trade in Benin and West Africa. IFC's €20 million financing will enable Bénin Terminal to increase its berthing and storage capacity, thereby stimulating trade in Benin and the region.   The Port of Cotonou, where BT is located, is crucial for the country's trade and customs revenue generation, handling the majority of Benin's international trade. It is also a key transit point in West Africa, allowing landlocked countries in the region to export and import goods.   The increase in Bénin Terminal's capacity will significantly promote regional trade integration by helping to increase commercial freight volumes and, consequently, improving the economic outcomes of supply chains such as agriculture, commerce, and transportation.   Promoting the industrialization of Benin's economy, particularly through the expansion of transport and logistics infrastructure that supports it, is a key aspect of IFC's strategy in Benin.   https://lnkd.in/djDwHfDc Sergio Pimenta, Olivier Buyoya, Sarvesh Suri, Josiane Kwenda, Fatoumata Sissoko-Sy, Vincent Floreani, Marina Diagou, Kpantcha OUATTARA

Did you know that every bottle produced at KIOO Glass in Tanzania is made with 40% recycled material? ♻️🌍 Thanks to a partnership with IFC, KIOO is scaling up its sustainability initiatives, aiming to recycle more than 35,000 tons of glass annually and reduce CO2 emissions by 4,080 tons each year! This means keeping millions of bottles out of landfills and reusing them to support East Africa's beverage industry. Choosing glass over plastic not only supports local businesses but also contributes to a sustainable future. Read more: http://wrld.bg/7ijh50UizTZ #greenfinance #decarbonization #acceleratingthetransition

From climate resilience to financial inclusion, the AFRICA FINANCIAL SUMMIT - AFIS will bring together leaders and experts from across Africa to explore the critical role of financial services in driving social and economic progress. With panels on sustainable finance, insurance for the informal sector, gender finance, and more, the summit will provide a platform to discuss how financial solutions can address Africa's most pressing challenges—and seize its opportunities for development. As a co-host, IFC - International Finance Corporation is excited to provide a space for local banks, fintechs, capital market leaders and more to showcase their innovative approaches and contributions to these critical discussions. 🗓️ 9-10 December 📍 Casablanca, Morocco ➡️ http://wrld.bg/aFjN50UhU3o #IFCinAfrica #AFIS2024

It is distressing to know that roughly one in three women worldwide have experienced either non-partner sexual violence or physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence. #GBV impacts employees, employers, communities, and economies, resulting in social, psychological, and financial setbacks. To tackle this grave issue, IFC has been working with private sector companies in emerging economies to address its prevalence and impact. Through research across several markets, IFC has been demonstrating the direct and indirect costs associated with #GBV, including reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, presenteeism, and obstacles to female workers’ retention and progression in the labor market. For example, in Papua New Guinea, an IFC and the Business Coalition for Women study found a positive correlation between the adoption of workplace measures to address #GBV and the lower tolerance of violent behaviors, increased diversity and reduced prevalence of family and sexual violence. This encouraging finding demonstrates the key role the private sector can play in affecting community-level change. I invite private sector companies to demonstrate their support to addressing workplace gender-based violence and harassment, engage with their workforce to understand its impact and take active measures to implement safe, inclusive and respectful workplaces. #RespectfulWorkplaces #16Days #EndGBV #PushForward #16DaysofActivism

oFor almost 50 years, IFC - International Finance Corporation has been a partner in #Egypt’s economic growth, supporting private sector-led development in the country. Today, IFC announced investments of more than $600 million in projects to advance Egypt’s #GreenTransition and support #SmallBusinesses:   ♻️ A $300 million investment in @Arab African International Bank for Egypt’s first #sustainability bond and the largest issued by a private bank in #Africa. In partnership with EBRD and British International Investment (BII), IFC is helping unlock the potential of sustainable finance and supporting Egypt’s climate commitments.   🍃 A $155 million loan for Orascom Development to boost Egypt’s #GreenTourism by improving energy and water efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions at several hotels in El Gouna, along the Red Sea.   💪 A $150 million loan for CIB Egypt to strengthen the bank’s capital position amid challenging macroeconomic conditions, and to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Egypt, including those owned by women. Learn more ⬇️ #IFCinEgypt

"This is an opportunity to engage, innovate, and tackle critical financial challenges." Gokhan Kont, IFC's Financial Institutions Group Manager for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, explains how #AFIS2024 in Casablanca, Morocco will be an opportunity to discuss how to strengthen Africa’s financial sector and address the challenges hindering the continent's development. AFIS will spark meaningful dialogue on MSME financing, climate solutions, and empowering women entrepreneurs, among other important topics. ⏱️Stay tuned for the full video to discover how IFC - International Finance Corporation is supporting the financial industry in North Africa and the Horn of Africa to mobilize private capital for critical development priorities. ➡️ http://wrld.bg/fGJx50UhXE2 #IFCinAfrica #AFIS2024 #Morocco 

This week IFC - International Finance Corporation hosted the inaugural Private Sector Day in Eswatini, marking a significant step in its commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth and inclusive prosperity. The event geared discussions toward unlocking opportunities for all segments of society. Through this partnership with Eswatini, IFC aims to support key sectors such as agribusiness, textiles and digital services, and create lasting change and drive job creation in this growing economy. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to the meaningful discussions! #PrivateSectorDay #IFCinAfrica Business Eswatini, Mehita Fanny, Nathan Were. PMP®, Defne Akarcali