Mid-term review of the sustainable business assistance programme

Client:International Finance Corporation
Country:
Global
Year: 2005

The main purpose of the project facilities, defined collectively as the Sustainable Business Assistance Programme (SBAP) was to further enhance the environmental and social services that  can be  provided to IFC investors and the wider private sector.  Three project facilities : Corporate Citizenship Facility(CCF);  Environmental Opportunities Facility( EOF), and Sustainable Financial Markets Facility(SFMF) were approved in July 2002 for a disbursement period of 5 years and a total budget of US$55 million.   All three Facilities aimed to improve the competitiveness of the IFC as an international financial institution to promote the business case for sustainability as well as improve the environmental and social performance of IFC’s clients.

Services provided

The Mid Term Review consisted of: document review; interviews with key IFC staff and a questionnaire/ telephone interviews with 70 project sponsors/beneficiaries; key stakeholder consultation on the performance of the facilities and recommendations on design and improvement in operations.  Support was provided to the facility managers to refine and redefine the objectives of each Facility.

Achievements

The Mid-Term review recommended the streamlining of the separate project facilities with greater focus in the selection of projects with fewer,  larger, and more strategic projects being selected.

Triple Line recommended greater emphasis on knowledge capture and on the potential for replication. Recommendations on  monitoring and evaluation systems were presented and the management role of regional offices including  engagement by the wider IFC with the Facilities moving to a more  global oversight and central knowledge resource role.

Further information