IFC (International Finance Corporation)

IFC (International Finance Corporation) is the private-sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, providing loans, equity, and advisory services to businesses and projects in developing countries. Unlike IBRD and IDA, which lend to governments, IFC finances private-sector clients directly, with FY2025 commitments of $71.7 billion including more than $47 billion in mobilised third-party capital.

What is IFC (International Finance Corporation)?

IFC's role in procurement is fundamentally different from the other World Bank entities. When IFC invests in a private-sector project, it is the investee company, not IFC, that manages any resulting procurement. The investee is expected to follow market-standard procurement practices appropriate to a commercial enterprise, and IFC's Environmental and Social Performance Standards govern the project, but the World Bank's government-facing Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers do not apply.

For its own institutional procurement, IFC uses the World Bank's RFx Now portal, which handles corporate purchasing of goods and services for IFC's own operations. Advisory services engagements, where IFC assists governments or companies on specific transactions, are procured through competitive selection of consulting firms, sometimes using processes similar to qcbs. IFC's top investment sectors are financial markets (48 percent of commitments), infrastructure (12 percent), and manufacturing (8 percent), and the geographic focus is on ida-international-development-association eligible countries, where private investment is hardest to attract.

Why IFC (International Finance Corporation) matters for bidders

Suppliers targeting IFC-related work need to understand that the commercial opportunity is primarily through the investee companies rather than through IFC procurement portals. A supplier that positions itself as a preferred vendor to IFC-backed power, infrastructure, or financial-sector companies can capture work that never appears in a public tender database. For advisory and consulting services, monitoring IFC advisory project announcements and registering on the World Bank RFx Now platform for institutional procurement are the two most direct entry points. Because IFC-financed projects carry the reputational backing of the World Bank Group, they often attract international equity partners and lenders that also generate consulting and service opportunities.

FAQ

Does IFC use the same procurement rules as IBRD and IDA?

No. IFC's investee companies manage their own procurement using commercial standards appropriate to the project. The World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers apply only to government borrowers under IBRD and IDA operations.

How do I find IFC institutional procurement opportunities?

IFC uses the World Bank's RFx Now portal for its own corporate procurement. Suppliers can register on RFx Now to receive notifications about IFC institutional tenders for goods and services.

What industries does IFC invest in most heavily?

Financial markets represent approximately 48 percent of IFC investment commitments, followed by infrastructure at around 12 percent and manufacturing, agribusiness, and services at around 8 percent each.