International Finance Corporation’s
Policy on Social & Environmental Sustainability

April 30, 2006

Policy and Performance Standards on Socialand Environmental Sustainability
April 30, 2006

Section 1: Purpose of this Policy
1. International Finance Corporation (IFC) strives for positive development outcomes in the private
sector projects it finances in emerging markets. An important component of positive development
outcomes is the social and environmental sustainability of projects, which IFC expects to achieve byapplying a comprehensive set of social and environmental performance standards.
2. Through its Policy on Social and Environmental Sustainability (the Sustainability Policy), IFC
puts into practice its commitment to social and environmental sustainability. This commitment isbased on IFC’s mission and mandate, as explained in Section 2 of this Policy. Translating thiscommitment into successful outcomes depends on the efforts of IFC and its clients. Consistent withthis commitment, IFC carries out the actions described in Section 3 of this Policy, including its
responsibility to review projects proposed for direct financing against the Performance Standards.
3.

The Performance Standards consist of the following:

Performance Standard 1: Social and Environmental Assessment and Management System
Performance Standard 2: Labor and Working Conditions
Performance Standard 3: Pollution Prevention and Abatement
Performance Standard 4: Community Health, Safety and Security
Performance Standard 5: Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement
Performance Standard 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management
Performance Standard 7: Indigenous Peoples
Performance Standard 8: Cultural Heritage
4. These Performance Standards are essential documents to help IFC and its clients manage andimprove their social and environment performance through an outcomes-based approach. The
desired outcomes are described in the objectives of each Performance Standard, followed by specificrequirements to help clients achieve these outcomes through means that are appropriate to thenature and scale of the project and commensurate with the level of social and environmental risks(likelihood of harm) and impacts. Central to these requirements is a consistent approach to avoid
adverse impacts on workers, communities, and the environment, or if avoidance is not possible, toreduce, mitigate, or compensate for the impacts, as appropriate. The Performance Standards also
provide a solid base from which clients may increase the sustainability of their business operations.
5. While managing social and environmental risks and impacts in a manner consistent with the
Performance Standards is the responsibility of the client, IFC seeks to ensure that the projects it
finances are operated in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Performance Standards.
As a result, IFC’s social and environmental review of a proposed project is an important factor in its
decision to finance the project or not, and will determine the scope of the social and environmental
conditions of IFC financing. By adhering to this Policy, IFC enhances the predictability, transparency,
and accountability of its actions and decision-making, helps clients manage social and environmental
risks and improve performance, and enhances positive development outcomes on the ground.

Section 2: IFC’s Commitment
6. IFC’s mission is to promote sustainable private sector development in developing countries,
helping to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives. IFC believes that sound economic growth,
grounded in sustainable private investment, is crucial to poverty reduction.

1 of 9

Policy and Performance Standards on Socialand Environmental Sustainability
April 30, 2006

7. In order to accomplish its mission, IFC seeks to base partnerships with clients on theunderstanding that the pursuit of social and environmental opportunities is an integral part of goodbusiness. Socially and environmentally responsible businesses can enhance clients’ competitive
advantage and create value for all parties involved. IFC believes that this approach also helps topromote the long-term profitability of investments in emerging markets and to enable IFC to fulfill its
development mandate and strengthen the public’s trust in IFC.
8. Central to IFC’s development mission are its efforts to carry out its investment operations andadvisory services in a manner that “do no harm” to people or the environment. Negative impacts
should be avoided where possible, and if these impacts are unavoidable, they should be reduced,
mitigated or compensated for appropriately. In particular, IFC is committed to ensuring that the costsof economic development do not fall disproportionately on those who are poor or vulnerable, that theenvironment is not degraded in the process, and that natural resources are managed efficiently andsustainably. IFC believes the client’s regular engagement with local communities about matters that
directly affect them plays an important role in avoiding or reducing harm to people and theenvironment. IFC also recognizes that the roles and responsibilities of the private sector in
respecting human rights are emerging as an important aspect of corporate social responsibility. The
Performance Standards, developed by IFC to help private sector clients address environmental andsocial risks and opportunities, are consistent with these emerging roles and responsibilities.
9. Accordingly, IFC endeavors to invest in sustainable projects that identify and address economic,
social and environmental risks with a view to continually improving their sustainability performancewithin their resources and consistent with their strategies. IFC seeks business partners who share its
vision and commitment to sustainable development, who wish to raise their capacity to manage theirsocial and environmental risks, and who seek to improve their performance in this area.

Section 3: IFC Roles and Responsibilities
10. In its operations, IFC expects clients to manage the social and environmental risks and impactsof their projects. This entails the client’s assessment of these risks and impacts, and implementationof measures to meet the requirements of the Performance Standards. An important component of
the client’s management of its social and environmental performance is the client’s engagement withthe affected communities through disclosure of relevant project information, consultation, andinformed participation, as stated in Performance Standard 1.
11. IFC’s role is to review the client’s assessment; to assist the client in developing measures toavoid, minimize, mitigate or compensate for social and environmental impacts consistent with the
Performance Standards; to categorize the project in order to specify IFC’s institutional requirements
to disclose to the public project-specific information; to help identify opportunities to improve socialand environmental outcomes; and to monitor the client’s social and environmental performancethroughout the life of IFC’s investment. IFC also discloses information relating to its own institutional
and investment activities in accordance with its Policy on Disclosure of Information. IFC implements
these process requirements through its Environmental and Social Review Procedure.
12. The foregoing general approach applies to IFC’s direct investments at both the corporate andproject levels, including equity investments. Investments through financial intermediaries andadvisory work have separate procedures for applying the Performance Standards (see paragraphs
27 through 30 below). IFC’s internal procedure for the application of these Performance Standards

2 of 9

Policy and Performance Standards on Socialand Environmental Sustainability
April 30, 2006

through its different types of investments and operations are set out in the Environmental and Social
Review Procedure.

Social and Environmental Review
Overall Approach
13. When a project is proposed for financing, IFC conducts a social and environmental review of the
project as part of its overall due diligence. This review is appropriate to the nature and scale of the
project, and commensurate with the level of social and environmental risks and impacts. IFC reviews
any new business activity that is being considered for IFC financing, whether in the pre-construction,
construction, or operational stage. The scope of the review may be expanded to other businessactivities of the client as part of IFC’s risk management considerations. Where there are significant
historical social or environmental impacts associated with the project, including those caused byothers, IFC works with its client to determine possible remediation measures.
14. The effectiveness and efficiency of the social and environmental review depend partly on thetiming of IFC’s involvement. When this involvement occurs in the early stages of project design, IFC
is able to support the client more effectively in anticipating and addressing specific risks, impacts andopportunities, and help build its capacity to manage these throughout the life of the project.
15. The social and environmental review includes three key components: (i) the social andenvironmental risks and impacts of the project as assessed by the client; (ii) the commitment andcapacity of the client to manage these expected impacts, including the client’s social andenvironmental management system; and (iii) the role of third parties in the project’s compliance with
the Performance Standards. Each of these components helps IFC to ascertain whether the project
can be expected to meet the Performance Standards. In the case of projects with significant adverse
impacts on affected communities, IFC also assures itself that there is broad community support forthe project within the affected communities (see paragraphs 19 and 20 below). IFC bases its review
on the client’s Social and Environmental Assessment. In cases where such Assessment does notmeet the requirements of Performance Standard 1, IFC requires the client to undertake additional
Assessment or, where appropriate, to commission Assessment by external experts.
16. IFC’s social and environmental review is integrated into IFC’s overall assessment of the project,including the assessment of financial and reputational risks. IFC also considers whether its
investment can be expected to contribute to the development of the host country and to broadly
benefit its relevant constituencies in economic, social, or environmental terms. Through weighingthese costs and benefits, IFC articulates its rationale and project-specific conditions for the proposed
investment. These are provided to IFC’s Board of Directors when the project is presented forapproval.
17. IFC does not finance new business activity that cannot be expected to meet the PerformanceStandards over a reasonable period of time. In addition, there are several types of activities that IFC
does not finance. A list of these activities can be found in the Exclusion List in the Environmental
and Social Review Procedure.

Categorization of Projects
18. As part of its review of a project’s expected social and environmental impacts, IFC uses a
system of social and environmental categorization to: (i) reflect the magnitude of impacts understoodas a result of the client’s Social and Environmental Assessment; and (ii) specify IFC’s institutional

3 of 9

Policy and Performance Standards on Socialand Environmental Sustainability
April 30, 2006

requirements to disclose to the public project specific information prior to presenting projects to its
Board of Directors for approval in accordance with Section 12 of the Disclosure Policy. These
categories are:







Category A Projects: Projects with potential significant adverse social orenvironmental impacts that are diverse, irreversible or unprecedented
Category B Projects: Projects with potential limited adverse social orenvironmental impacts that are few in number, generally site-specific, largely
reversible and readily addressed through mitigation measures
Category C Projects: Projects with minimal or no adverse social or environmental
impacts, including certain financial intermediary (FI) projects with minimal or noadverse risks
Category FI Projects: All FI projects excluding those that are Category C projects(see paragraphs 27 through 29 below)

Community Engagement and Broad Community Support
19. Effective community engagement is central to the successful management of risks and impacts
to the affected communities. Through the Performance Standards, IFC requires clients to engage
with affected communities through disclosure of information, consultation, and informed participation,
in a manner commensurate with the risks to and impacts on the affected communities.
20. IFC is committed to working with the private sector to put into practice processes of community
engagement that ensure the free, prior, and informed consultation of the affected communities.
Building on this commitment, when clients are required to engage in a process of free, prior, andinformed consultation, IFC reviews the client’s documentation of the engagement process. In
addition, through its own investigation, IFC assures itself that the client’s community engagement is
one that involves free, prior, and informed consultation and enables the informed participation of theaffected communities, leading to broad community support for the project within the affected
communities, before presenting the project for approval by IFC’s Board of Directors. Broadcommunity support is a collection of expressions by the affected communities, through individuals or
their recognized representatives, in support of the project. There may be broad community support
even if some individuals or groups object to the project. After the Board approval of the project, IFC
continues to monitor the client’s community engagement process as part of its portfolio supervision.

Sector-Specific Initiatives on Governance and Disclosure
21. In the extractive industries and infrastructure sectors in particular, where a project can havepotentially broader implications for the public at large, IFC recognizes the importance of assessmentof governance risks and disclosure of information as a means to manage governance risks.
Accordingly, subject to applicable legal restrictions, IFC has the following sector-specific initiatives on
disclosure of project-related information, in addition to the disclosure requirements specified in
Performance Standard 1.

Extractive Industry Projects
22. When IFC invests in extractive industry projects (oil, gas and mining projects), IFC assesses thegovernance risks to expected benefits from these projects. In the case of significant projects (those
expected to account for ten percent or more of government revenues), risks are appropriately
mitigated, and for smaller projects, the expected net benefits of projects and the risks to these fromweak governance are reviewed. Where the balance of benefits and risks is not acceptable, IFC does
not support such projects. IFC also promotes transparency of revenue payments from extractive
industry projects to host governments. Accordingly, IFC requires that: (i) for significant new
4 of 9

Policy and Performance Standards on Socialand Environmental Sustainability
April 30, 2006

extractive industries projects, clients publicly disclose their material project payments to the hostgovernment (such as royalties, taxes, and profit sharing), and the relevant terms of key agreementsthat are of public concern, such as host government agreements (HGAs) and intergovernmental
agreements (IGAs); and (ii) in addition, from January 1, 2007, clients of all IFC-financed extractive
industry projects publicly disclose their material payments from those projects to the hostgovernment(s).

Infrastructure Projects
23. When IFC invests in projects involving the final delivery of essential services, such as the retail
distribution of water, electricity, piped gas, and telecommunications, to the general public undermonopoly conditions, IFC encourages the public disclosure of information relating to household tariffs
and tariff adjustment mechanisms, service standards, investment obligations, and the form andextent of any ongoing government support. If IFC is financing the privatization of such distribution
services, IFC also encourages the public disclosure of concession fees or privatization proceeds.
Such disclosures may be made by the responsible government entity (such as the relevant
regulatory authority) or by the client.

Managing Third Party Performance
24. At times, the client’s ability to achieve social or environmental outcomes consistent with the
Performance Standards will be dependent on third party activities. A third party may be agovernment agency as a regulator or contract party, a principal contractor or supplier with whom the
project has a substantial involvement, or an operator of an associated facility (as defined in
Performance Standard 1).
25. IFC seeks to ensure that the projects it finances achieve outcomes consistent with the
Performance Standards, even if the outcomes are dependent upon the performance of third parties.
When the third party risk is high, and when the client has control or influence over the actions andbehavior of the third party, IFC requires the client to collaborate with the third party to achieve theoutcomes consistent with the Performance Standards. Specific requirements and options will varyfrom case to case.

Project Monitoring
26. After IFC financing is committed in legal documents and disbursed, IFC carries out the following
actions to monitor its investments as part of its portfolio supervision:







Require the project to submit periodic Monitoring Reports on its social andenvironmental performance as agreed with IFC
Conduct site visits of certain projects with social and environmental risks andimpacts
Review project performance on the basis of the client’s commitments in the Action
Plan, as reported by the client’s Monitoring Reports, and, where relevant, review
with the client any performance improvement opportunities
If changed project circumstances would result in adverse social or environmental
impacts, work with the client to address them
If the client fails to comply with its social and environmental commitments, as
expressed in the Action Plan or legal agreement with IFC, work with the client to

5 of 9

Policy and Performance Standards on Socialand Environmental Sustainability
April 30, 2006bring it back into compliance to the extent feasible, and if the client fails toreestablish compliance, exercise remedies when appropriate
Encourage the client to report publicly on its social, environmental and other nonfinancial aspects of performance, in addition to reporting on the Action Plan as
required by Performance Standard 1
Encourage the client to continue to meet the Performance Standards after IFC’s
exit from the project

Investments through Financial Intermediaries
27. IFC is committed to supporting sustainable capital market development and has a significant
program of investment that is implemented through financial intermediaries (FIs). Through thisprogram, IFC helps strengthen domestic capital markets that support economic development at ascale of enterprise that is smaller than would be possible through direct IFC investments. IFC’s FI
clients are engaged in a diverse range of activities, including project finance, lending to large,
medium and small businesses, microfinance, trade finance, housing finance, and private equity, eachwith its own social and environmental risk profile.
28. Through its Environmental and Social Review Procedure, IFC reviews the business of its FI
clients to identify activities where the FI could be exposed to social and environmental risk as a resultof its investments. IFC’s requirements for the FI client will be proportional to the level of potential risk:

FIs with business activities that have minimal or no adverse social orenvironmental risks will be considered Category C projects and need not apply any
specific requirements
All other FIs will apply the Exclusion List
In addition to the Exclusion List, FIs providing long-term corporate finance or
project finance will require the recipient of such finance to:(i)follow national laws where the activity financed presents limited social orenvironmental risks; and(ii) apply the Performance Standards where the activity financed presents
significant social or environmental risks

29. The FI will be required to establish and maintain a Social and Environmental Management
System to ensure that its investments meet IFC’s requirements, and IFC will monitor the FI’s
performance on the basis of the Management System.

Advisory Services
30. IFC provides advisory services that range from advice in connection with large-scale industry
privatizations to grass-roots support for small enterprises. IFC funds some of these services directly,
and in other cases leverages funds from donor-funded facilities. These donor-funded facilities havetheir own operating procedures, including how they manage social and environmental issues. When
IFC is providing advice for large-scale investment projects, the Performance Standards are used as areference in addition to national laws. IFC does not provide advice to support activities that aredescribed in IFC’s Exclusion List, and encourages recipients of IFC’s advisory services to enhance
opportunities to promote good social and environmental practices.

6 of 9

Policy and Performance Standards on Socialand Environmental Sustainability
April 30, 2006

Section 4: Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman
31. IFC supports its clients in addressing social and environmental issues arising from their projects
by requiring clients to set up and administer appropriate mechanisms or procedures to address
project-related grievances or complaints from people in the affected communities. In addition tothese project-level mechanisms and procedures, the role of administrative or legal procedures
available in the host country should be considered. Nonetheless, there may be cases where
grievances and complaints from those affected by an IFC-financed project are not fully resolved at
the project level or through other established mechanisms.
32. Recognizing the importance of accountability and that the concerns and complaints of projectaffected people should be addressed in a manner that is fair, objective, and constructive, amechanism has been established through the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO) to enable
individuals and communities affected by IFC projects to raise their concerns to an independent
oversight authority.
33. The CAO is independent of IFC management and reports directly to the President of the WorldBank Group. The CAO responds to complaints from those affected by IFC-financed projects andattempts to resolve them through a flexible problem-solving approach, and to enhance the social andenvironmental outcomes of projects. In addition, the CAO oversees audits of IFC’s social andenvironmental performance, particularly in relation to sensitive projects, to ascertain compliance with
policies, guidelines, procedures, and systems.
34. Complaints may relate to any aspect of an IFC-financed project that is within the mandate of the
CAO. They can be made by any individual, group, community, entity, or other party affected or likely
to be affected by the social or environmental impacts of an IFC-financed project. Complaints should
be submitted to the CAO in writing to the address below:
Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman
International Finance Corporation
2121 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Room F11K-232
Washington, DC 20433 USA
Tel: 1 202 458 1973
Fax: 1 202 522 7400
E-mail: cao-compliance@ifc.org
35. The CAO receives and addresses complaints in line with the criteria set out in the Operational
Guidelines for the CAO. The CAO’s Operational Guidelines are available at the CAO’s web site:www.cao-ombudsman.org

Section 5: Resources for Policy Implementation
IFC Client Support and Funding Programs forSocial and Environmental Sustainability

7 of 9

Policy and Performance Standards on Socialand Environmental Sustainability
April 30, 2006

36. In conjunction with its financing of projects, IFC can mobilize in-house capacity to provide handson support to clients that seek to improve their social and environmental performance, particularly
those with limited capacity and resources, including small and medium enterprises. Where needed,
IFC is also prepared to work closely with international financial institutions and the private sector on
project and policy issues related to sustainability. In addition, IFC may make funding available tosupport its clients’ social and environmental initiatives and programs.

Client Support Services
37. IFC provides client support, capacity building, and value-adding services in the social andenvironmental area, subject to its assessment of the client’s capacity and available resources.
These services include assistance with Social and Environmental Assessment for small and mediumsize clients; assistance with identifying opportunities to enhance social and environmental outcomes;
discussion with national environmental protection agencies or other relevant regional, national or
local agencies on project -specific issues at the request of the client; mobilization of IFC’s network of
external consultants and experts; and advice on good practice to improve project performance.
38. IFC provides support for training of FI clients to facilitate the adoption and consistent applicationof a Social and Environmental Management System, and to enhance their social and environmental
performance. The training includes programs to: (i) raise awareness of social and environment risks
that the client may face; (ii) establish a Social and Environmental Management System appropriate
to the client’s business; and (iii) help clients identify business opportunities, for example, throughmarket identification and new financial products.

Funding for Social and Environmental Initiatives
39. IFC may make financial assistance available to support its clients’ social and environmental
initiatives and programs. This may include helping clients improve their social and environmental
performance beyond the requirements of the Performance Standard; financing innovative projects
that promote local environmental benefits; supporting innovative projects with global environmental
benefits, including conservation of biodiversity; and purchasing carbon credits from projects inemerging markets that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Liaison with Public and Private Sector Institutions
40. IFC’s position as an arm of the World Bank Group focusing on the private sector, together with
its extensive network among private sector and international financial institutions, enables IFC toliaise with public and private sector stakeholders to promote a broader dialogue on sustainableprivate sector financing in emerging markets. The following are examples of IFC’s liaison role:








Identification and dissemination of private sector best practices in the social andenvironmental area
Promotion of sustainable financial markets in developing countries through the
Equator Principles, and through engaging private equity managers and financial
analysts, and using other financial market mechanisms
Playing the role of the lead bank on social and environmental matters in syndicatedloans and joint projects with other international financial institutions, promoting
close coordination and harmonization among the participating institutions
Liaison and coordination with the World Bank on country systems, or the social orenvironmental aspects of national policy or enforcement or monitoring issues
Liaison with relevant international financial institutions or national agencies on
strategic, regional, or sectoral environmental assessment where appropriate forprivate sector projects with significant social or environmental issues
8 of 9

Policy and Performance Standards on Socialand Environmental Sustainability
April 30, 2006



Liaison and coordination with external partners and initiatives, such as the UN
Global Compact, to enhance the social and environmental sustainability of private
sector projects
Formal notification to countries potentially affected by the transboundary effects ofproposed project activities, to help those countries determine whether the
proposed project has the potential for causing adverse effects through air pollution
or deprivation of water from or pollution of international waterways

Additional Supporting Documents for Policy Implementation
41. In addition to the Performance Standards, IFC uses other policy, procedure, guidelines, andguidance materials to assist its staff and clients in achieving social and environmental sustainability
in projects in emerging markets. For example:









IFC’s institutional disclosure of information will be carried out pursuant to IFC’s
Policy on Disclosure of Information
IFC’s internal procedure to address social and environmental issues throughdifferent types of investment and advisory services can be found in theEnvironmental and Social Review Procedure
The Guidance Notes, corresponding to the Performance Standards, offer helpful
guidance on the requirements contained in the Performance Standards, includingreference materials, and on good sustainability practices to improve project
performance
The guidelines on sector and industry practices and performance levels consistent
with Performance Standard 3 can be found in IFC’s Environmental, Health and
Safety Guidelines
Good practice notes and handbooks disseminate examples of good practice andreference information about these practices

These documents are available at:www.ifc.org/enviro
Resources on IFC’s approach to sustainability are available at:www.ifc.org/sustainability

9 of 9