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    Stories of Impact : Agribusiness
    (Washington, DC, 2014-06-01) International Finance Corporation
    By 2050, it is estimated that the world s agricultural system will need to produce approximately 50 percent more food to feed an estimated 9 billion people. In emerging markets, agriculture is the most important economic sector and source of employment; more specifically, 75 percent of the world s poor live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their incomes. With volatility in food prices putting additional pressure on social and political systems, increasing global demand for scarce resources, widespread droughts, and rising concerns over food safety issues, sustainable agricultural development is an urgent priority. IFC also contributes to transforming agribusiness at the country level by working with groups of smallholders and industry associations. For instance, IFC has helped to upgrade the operations of Cambodian rice farmers and millers so that their national industry can compete on an international level. In the following pages, there will be numerous illustrations of the work that we do with our private sector clients, typically combining finance and advice. This powerful combination of money and knowledge helps our clients not only sustain but also grow their businesses, thereby paving the way for robust job creation, growth, and positive environmental and social benefits.
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    IFC Annual Report 2006 : Increasing Impact, Volume 2
    (Washington, DC, 2006) International Finance Corporation
    The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in its 50th year, is the largest provider of multilateral financing for private sector projects in the developing world. In fiscal 2006, it committed $6.7 billion in funds from its own account and mobilized an additional $1.6 billion through syndications and $1.3 billion through structured finance. Based on the total costs of the private sector projects it helped finance this year, each $1 in IFC commitments for its own account resulted in an additional $2.88 in funding from other sources. Altogether, IFC supported 284 investment projects in 66 countries. This year nearly a quarter of IFC commitments were in low-income or high-risk countries, demonstrating the viability of private enterprise even in difficult environments. IFC's investment commitments to firms operating in the Middle East and North Africa more than doubled in fiscal 2006, and commitments for private sector projects in Sub-Saharan Africa increased nearly 60 percent. IFC introduced a new development outcome tracking system for investment operations to measure and track results throughout the life of a project; a similar system was implemented to monitor the development impact of all active technical assistance and advisory projects.
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    IFC Annual Report 2006 : Increasing Impact, Volume 1
    (Washington, DC, 2006) International Finance Corporation
    The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in its 50th year, is the largest provider of multilateral financing for private sector projects in the developing world. In fiscal 2006, it committed $6.7 billion in funds from its own account and mobilized an additional $1.6 billion through syndications and $1.3 billion through structured finance. Based on the total costs of the private sector projects it helped finance this year, each $1 in IFC commitments for its own account resulted in an additional $2.88 in funding from other sources. Altogether, IFC supported 284 investment projects in 66 countries. This year nearly a quarter of IFC commitments were in low-income or high-risk countries, demonstrating the viability of private enterprise even in difficult environments. IFC's investment commitments to firms operating in the Middle East and North Africa more than doubled in fiscal 2006, and commitments for private sector projects in Sub-Saharan Africa increased nearly 60 percent. IFC introduced a new development outcome tracking system for investment operations to measure and track results throughout the life of a project; a similar system was implemented to monitor the development impact of all active technical assistance and advisory projects.
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    IFC Annual Report 2005 : Investing in Progress with Experience, Innovation, and Partnership, Volume 2. Financial Statements, Projects, Portfolio, and Organizational Information
    (Washington, DC, 2005) International Finance Corporation
    The International Finance Corporation is at the forefront of private sector development: it is redefining how poverty can be reduced and lives improved through a stronger private sector in emerging markets. Accomplishing this goal means reaching people, regions, and sectors that have not yet shared in the overall growth of emerging markets. It means innovation-forging new partnerships with governments and other multilateral institutions, identifying new roles for the private sector, creating products that develop financial markets, and making it easier for disadvantaged people to launch a business or own a home. It means building on significant strengths in many countries and industries-helping established enterprises become more competitive and sustainable as they expand their operations or extend their reach into new markets. It also means bringing to developing economies proven products and techniques, both from industrialized countries and, increasingly, from other developing countries. Above all, it means tailoring global expertise to local needs. This annual report outlines the strategic objectives of the institution in expanding access to finance, increasing private participation in key sectors, helping successful enterprises grow, focusing where needs are greatest, and ensuring sustainability.
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    IFC Annual Report 2005 : Investing in Progress with Experience, Innovation, and Partnership, Volume 1
    (Washington, D, 2005) International Finance Corporation
    The International Finance Corporation is at the forefront of private sector development: it is redefining how poverty can be reduced and lives improved through a stronger private sector in emerging markets. Accomplishing this goal means reaching people, regions, and sectors that have not yet shared in the overall growth of emerging markets. It means innovation-forging new partnerships with governments and other multilateral institutions, identifying new roles for the private sector, creating products that develop financial markets, and making it easier for disadvantaged people to launch a business or own a home. It means building on significant strengths in many countries and industries-helping established enterprises become more competitive and sustainable as they expand their operations or extend their reach into new markets. It also means bringing to developing economies proven products and techniques, both from industrialized countries and, increasingly, from other developing countries. Above all, it means tailoring global expertise to local needs. This annual report outlines the strategic objectives of the institution in expanding access to finance, increasing private participation in key sectors, helping successful enterprises grow, focusing where needs are greatest, and ensuring sustainability.
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    IFC 2004 Annual Report : Adding Value to Private Sector Investment, Volume 1
    (Washington, DC, 2004) International Finance Corporation
    For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) expanded its sustainable development impact through private sector project financing operations and advisory activities. This year the Board of Directors approved a number of investments and maintained close oversight of development and implementation of IFC strategy. The Board was heavily involved in discussion of IFC's strategic directions, which outline the overall framework for future IFC activities. The Board urged IFC to collaborate more closely with other World Bank Group institutions, especially in providing technical assistance on the business climate and private sector development. In this regard, Directors were pleased to note the increased cooperation between IFC and IDA in Africa. The Board also reviewed country-specific operations and discussed 15 joint World Bank-IFC-MIGA country assistance strategies and related products. Directors noted the challenges in both maintaining profitability and increasing development impact, and they reaffirmed their support of IFC's focus on frontier markets, with a particular emphasis on small and medium enterprises; innovative financing mechanisms; "south-to-south" investments; long-term partnerships; infrastructure; and health and education. Specific issues Directors discussed with IFC management include the update of the IFC's Safeguard Policies and associated guidelines, the review of IFC's Policy on Disclosure of Information, an assessment of IFC's strategy and procedures for donor funded operations, and, in conjunction with other units of the World Bank Group, the Extractive Industries Review. These discussions were ongoing into FY05, along with a proposal to establish a technical assistance and advisory fund to provide sustainable financial support for the Corporation's growing technical assistance activities.
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    IFC 2004 Annual Report : Adding Value to Private Sector Investment, Volume 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis, Financial Statements, and Investment Portfolio
    (Washington, DC, 2004) International Finance Corporation
    For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) expanded its sustainable development impact through private sector project financing operations and advisory activities. This year the Board of Directors approved a number of investments and maintained close oversight of development and implementation of IFC strategy. The Board was heavily involved in discussion of IFC's strategic directions, which outline the overall framework for future IFC activities. The Board urged IFC to collaborate more closely with other World Bank Group institutions, especially in providing technical assistance on the business climate and private sector development. In this regard, Directors were pleased to note the increased cooperation between IFC and IDA in Africa. The Board also reviewed country-specific operations and discussed 15 joint World Bank-IFC-MIGA country assistance strategies and related products. Directors noted the challenges in both maintaining profitability and increasing development impact, and they reaffirmed their support of IFC's focus on frontier markets, with a particular emphasis on small and medium enterprises; innovative financing mechanisms; "south-to-south" investments; long-term partnerships; infrastructure; and health and education. Specific issues Directors discussed with IFC management include the update of the IFC's Safeguard Policies and associated guidelines, the review of IFC's Policy on Disclosure of Information, an assessment of IFC's strategy and procedures for donor funded operations, and, in conjunction with other units of the World Bank Group, the Extractive Industries Review. These discussions were ongoing into FY05, along with a proposal to establish a technical assistance and advisory fund to provide sustainable financial support for the Corporation's growing technical assistance activities.
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    2003 Annual Report : Innovation, Impact, Sustainability--IFC's Commitment, Volume 2
    (Washington, DC, 2003-06) International Finance Corporation
    This annual report reviews the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) operations activity during FY03, a period that emphasized coordination, and mutually reinforcing efforts among World Bank Group units, particularly in pursuing private sector development in client countries. The report stresses the need for support of IFC's priorities, including emerging, and frontier markets, technical assistance, and advisory services to help improve investment climates, and small and medium enterprises. Also underscored, is the significance of IFC's presence in difficult, country environments as a central component of its development mandate, while IFC's counter-cyclical role in the face of heightened investor uncertainty, and volatility of capital flows to developing countries, is recognized, as is the Corporation's performance within the annual portfolio performance review, despite continued difficulty in the global economic environment. IFC's financial management is reviewed, and its leadership for protecting the Corporation's financial integrity, without compromising its development mandate, was commendable, though the need to maintain profitability, while increasing development impacts, is stressed. The report presents financial highlights, particularly outlining IFC's commitment to innovation, impact, and sustainability, and further identifies the period's operational, and regional outlook. The annual review also summarizes the financial and portfolio reviews, as well as technical assistance and advisory services during FY03.
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    2003 Sustainability Review : Innovation, Impact, Sustainability--IFC's Commitment
    (Washington, DC, 2003) International Finance Corporation
    This annual report reviews the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) operations activity during FY03, a period that emphasized coordination, and mutually reinforcing efforts among World Bank Group units, particularly in pursuing private sector development in client countries. The report stresses the need for support of IFC's priorities, including emerging, and frontier markets, technical assistance, and advisory services to help improve investment climates, and small and medium enterprises. Also underscored, is the significance of IFC's presence in difficult, country environments as a central component of its development mandate, while IFC's counter-cyclical role in the face of heightened investor uncertainty, and volatility of capital flows to developing countries, is recognized, as is the Corporation's performance within the annual portfolio performance review, despite continued difficulty in the global economic environment. IFC's financial management is reviewed, and its leadership for protecting the Corporation's financial integrity, without compromising its development mandate, was commendable, though the need to maintain profitability, while increasing development impacts, is stressed. The report presents financial highlights, particularly outlining IFC's commitment to innovation, impact, and sustainability, and further identifies the period's operational, and regional outlook. The annual review also summarizes the financial and portfolio reviews, as well as technical assistance and advisory services during FY03.
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    2003 Annual Report : Innovation, Impact, Sustainability--IFC's Commitment
    (Washington, DC, 2003) International Finance Corporation
    This annual report reviews the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) operations activity during FY03, a period that emphasized coordination, and mutually reinforcing efforts among World Bank Group units, particularly in pursuing private sector development in client countries. The report stresses the need for support of IFC's priorities, including emerging, and frontier markets, technical assistance, and advisory services to help improve investment climates, and small and medium enterprises. Also underscored, is the significance of IFC's presence in difficult, country environments as a central component of its development mandate, while IFC's counter-cyclical role in the face of heightened investor uncertainty, and volatility of capital flows to developing countries, is recognized, as is the Corporation's performance within the annual portfolio performance review, despite continued difficulty in the global economic environment. IFC's financial management is reviewed, and its leadership for protecting the Corporation's financial integrity, without compromising its development mandate, was commendable, though the need to maintain profitability, while increasing development impacts, is stressed. The report presents financial highlights, particularly outlining IFC's commitment to innovation, impact, and sustainability, and further identifies the period's operational, and regional outlook. The annual review also summarizes the financial and portfolio reviews, as well as technical assistance and advisory services during FY03.