IFC Audio Stories

IFC Audio Stories feature voices from a wide range of experts and stories on investment opportunities in emerging markets, trends that are reshaping economies, and the private sector’s role in creating jobs and addressing development challenges.

Powering Africa: The Private Sector's Role in Africa’s Energy Transformation 04/19/2024

Powering Africa: The Private Sector's Role in Africa’s Energy Transformation At the 2024 Spring Meetings, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga announced an ambitious commitment to bring energy access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, in partnership with the African Development Bank. But what will it take to achieve this, and how will the International Finance Corporation and the private sector contribute to this goal? In this episode of IFC Audio Stories Sarvesh Suri, IFC's Director for Infrastructure and Natural Resources in Africa, shares some of the financial tools and innovative solutions that could help transform the continent's energy landscape. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/30900618

Designing for Women: Tailoring Financial Solutions to Close the Gender Gap 03/25/2024

Designing for Women: Tailoring Financial Solutions to Close the Gender Gap In this episode of IFC Audio Stories we discuss women's economic empowerment with Jessica Schnabel, the Global Head of Banking on Women at IFC. Designing for women is a game-changing approach, says Jessica, as she shares insights on gender-focused financial instruments, services and initiatives that are reshaping the landscape of women's economic inclusion. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/30527833

Private Sector Strategies for Water Sustainability 03/22/2024

Private Sector Strategies for Water Sustainability This World Water Day, IFC Audio Stories dives into the crucial topic of water. Host Lindy Mtongana is joined by IFC's Lalrin Sailo and George Butler to explore IFC's work in supporting emerging markets in meeting their sustainable development goals for water and sanitation. Learn about the role of the private sector in water management and the importance of valuing water properly in light of evolving climate change impacts. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/30495208

Her Fintech Edge: Closing the Gender Gap in Financial Services 03/13/2024

Her Fintech Edge: Closing the Gender Gap in Financial Services In this episode of IFC Audio Stories, host Lindy Mtongana is in conversation with the leads of a new report launched by IFC: Her Fintech Edge - Market Insights for Inclusive Growth. Anushe Khan and Jorge Godoy discuss the role of digital financial services in advancing women's financial inclusion and highlight the opportunities for fintech firms to strategically target and serve women. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/30356958

Private Sector Solutions at the Global Refugee Forum 12/11/2023

Private Sector Solutions at the Global Refugee Forum In this episode of IFC Audio Stories, host Lindy Mtongana explores the growing global displacement crisis with Michel Botzung, Head of the IFC-UNHCR Joint Initiative. With over 114 million forcibly displaced people globally, Michel discusses the upcoming 2023 Global Refugee Forum and the pivotal role of the private sector in addressing this crisis. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/29022163

Road to COP28: IFC's Agenda at COP28 11/29/2023

Road to COP28: IFC's Agenda at COP28 In the concluding episode of the Road to Cop28 Series on IFC Audio Stories, Jamie Fergusson IFC’s Global Director for Climate Business, provides an insightful preview of the upcoming summit. He outlines IFC’s agenda and commitment to achieving low-carbon resilient growth in emerging markets. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/28843863

Road to COP28: IFC's Wisdom on Water 11/29/2023

Road to COP28: IFC's Wisdom on Water In this episode, Lindy Mtongana sits down with Rogerio Pilotto, a Senior Investment Officer in IFC’s Global Water team to discuss the crucial role of water in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Rogerio emphasizes how private sector investment in commercially viable water projects can help secure access to clean water and sanitation for all. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/28842118

Road to COP28: Finance for a Changing Climate 11/13/2023

Road to COP28: Finance for a Changing Climate With COP28 just weeks away, Lindy Mtongana sits down with IFC’s Global Head of Climate Finance, William Beloe to discuss the intersection between climate and finance, and how IFC’s partnerships with financial institutions are crucial to climate action. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/28618668

Road to Cop28: IFC’s Green Hydrogen Vision 10/27/2023

Road to Cop28: IFC’s Green Hydrogen Vision IFC is embarking on the Road to COP28 with a mission to accelerate the transition to low-carbon, resilient markets. In this episode of IFC Audio Stories, Lindy Mtongana is joined by IFC’s Chief Investment Officer for Global Energy, Ignacio De Calonje to discuss the importance of green hydrogen and how IFC is de-risking the sector and attracting investors. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/28441565

Empowering Africa’s Creative Artisans through E-Commerce 09/19/2023

Empowering Africa’s Creative Artisans through E-Commerce As the world increasingly embraces e-commerce, IFC is partnering with an African startup to ensure the continent’s creative artisans don't get left behind. In its first foray into Africa’s creative sector IFC has invested $3.4 million in ANKA - an all-in-one e-commerce solution for African businesses aiming to export globally. In this episode of IFC Audio Stories, Lindy Mtongana meets the company’s visionary founder, Moulaye Tabouré. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/28025544

In Conversation with Ricardo Tafur and Peter Lolem 06/20/2023

In Conversation with Ricardo Tafur and Peter Lolem This episode of IFC Audio Stories delves into the importance of private sector solutions to the refugee crisis. IFC Senior Operations Officer Ricardo Tafur discusses a new partnership with UNHCR that aims to empower refugees and host communities through access to finance and entrepreneurship. Peter Lolem, an IFC Liaison Officer, shares the success of private sector interventions at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/27206688

Insights from the Africa CEO Forum 2023 06/13/2023

Insights from the Africa CEO Forum 2023 This year's Africa CEO Forum saw 2,200 participants gathering in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire for the largest private sector assembly in Africa. Co-hosted by IFC and Jeune Afrique, the event placed a strong emphasis on scaling up African businesses and fostering the growth of the next generation of African champions. This episode of IFC Audio Stories delves into the significance of the theme for IFC and sheds light on its implications for women entrepreneurs. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/27120306

Spotlighting gender at the Spring Meetings 04/17/2023

Spotlighting gender at the Spring Meetings In this episode of IFC Audio Stories we take a look back at the Spring Meetings, with highlights from an IFC-led event on women's leadership and economic empowerment. Listen as industry leaders, including Melinda French Gates and IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop, share their insights on the urgent need to prioritize gender in this new era of development. As countries around the world face crises that disproportionately affect women and threaten decades of progress towards gender equity, discover how IFC's innovative responses are reaping tangible results. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/26563224

She Powers Africa – Ep. 03: Being a Champion for African Girls to Explore STEM Careers 09/12/2022

She Powers Africa – Ep. 03: Being a Champion for African Girls to Explore STEM Careers In the third episode of She Powers Africa, IFC chats with Carol Koech, the Country President for Schneider East Africa. Koech shares her career journey and why she’s a champion for African girls to explore STEM careers. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/24311349

She Powers Africa - Ep 02: Olaedo Osoka, Leading as an African Woman in the Renewable Energy Sector 08/22/2022

She Powers Africa - Ep 02: Olaedo Osoka, Leading as an African Woman in the Renewable Energy Sector In the second episode of She Powers Africa, IFC chats with Olaedo Osoka, CEO of Daystar Power in West Africa. Osoka shares her experience as one of the youngest female CEOs in Africa’s renewable energy space and the importance of building a pipeline of future women leaders. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/23861550

She Powers Africa - Ep 01: Jennifer Boca, Head of ESG at Lekela Power, on Africa’s renewable energy sector 03/14/2022

She Powers Africa - Ep 01: Jennifer Boca, Head of ESG at Lekela Power, on Africa’s renewable energy sector In She Powers Africa, IFC chats with Jennifer Boca, Head of ESG at Lekela Power, on stepping forward into Africa’s renewable energy sector. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/22446182

Future Keepers - Ep 03: Governance and keeping an open door with Jay Bartlett 11/23/2021

Future Keepers - Ep 03: Governance and keeping an open door with Jay Bartlett For the final episode of this Pacific mini-series, IFC talks to Hatanga Managing Director Jay Bartlett about why it’s important to demonstrate high standards of governance, and, as the boss, keep an open door. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/21263222

Future Keepers - Ep 02: Leadership and the Pacific’s strong women with Dame Meg Taylor 11/08/2021

Future Keepers - Ep 02: Leadership and the Pacific’s strong women with Dame Meg Taylor In the second episode of this Pacific mini-series, IFC talks to Dame Meg Taylor, former Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum about what it means for women to be in leadership positions. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/21090626

Future Keepers Ep 01- Resilience and risk with Nikita Patel 10/25/2021

Future Keepers Ep 01- Resilience and risk with Nikita Patel For the first part of this Pacific mini-series, IFC talks to Vinod Patel & Company Chief Financial Officer Nikita Patel to discuss what organizational resilience looks like now. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/20929952

India’s COVID-19 crisis: ‘There is no normal’ 05/19/2021

India’s COVID-19 crisis: ‘There is no normal’ Since a highly transmissible second wave of COVID-19 infections began coursing through India, IFC communications officer Manuela de Souza has watched the virus wreak havoc across the country—including her home state of Goa, India. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/19134305

Racism at Home and Abroad: A Conversation Between Friends 08/13/2020

Racism at Home and Abroad: A Conversation Between Friends Two long-time friends, one African-American and the other a U.S.-based Ugandan national, share their experiences of institutional racism on two continents and exchange ideas about how to handle racial bias in international development. /episode/index/show/ifcaudiostories/id/15596162

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