Articles

IFC’s joint investment and advisory services program helped South Africa’s Lonmin Platinum train and develop SMEs in the local supply chain and improve its relationship with local communities.

IFC recently assembled over 200 representatives from the private sector to discuss ways that companies can maximize the positive impacts of their community investments and contribute to long-term economic growth in developing countries.

IFC advisory services and investment staff in Africa and Washington have spent the last two years working with Lonmin to create an environment that will increase women’s role in the mining company's operations.

Please see below for recent publications launched by IFC.  Please send your comments or suggesstions to abhalla@ifc.org.

Given half a chance, oil executives like to publicise their social and environmental credentials. BP calls itself Beyond Petroleum; ExxonMobil advertises the environmentally friendly aspects of natural gas. Some people may react with cynicism, yet companies have made progress. But where has progress been made? And where have they fallen short? Are some companies better than others?

This paper examines the impact of the downturn on "good business" - a commercial approach to investing or operating that includes the poor and boosts development. It looks at the affect of the downturn on the capacity of companies to invest in this kind of business, and the returns reaped from such investment.

A joint IFC-Lonmin supplier development program that supports sustainable growth in mining communities in South Africa has taken top prize in the socio-economic category at the Nedbank Green Mining Awards, which celebrates responsible mining.

Companies, local communities, and governments must work together to ensure that people benefit from oil, gas, and mining projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, if the industry is to continue expanding in the region, experts agreed at a recent workshop held in Ghana. The workshop was led by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group.