Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Blended concessional finance is the combination of concessional funds from development partners with commercial finance from development finance institutions (DFIs) and private sources. These resources can be used strategically to help mitigate risk in challenging emerging markets and attract private investment where it otherwise would not go. It can be an important source of finance to help reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address the economic challenges brought on by Coronavirus (COVID-19). This report examines IFC's two decades of experience supporting pioneering projects with blended concessional finance. The report addresses issues such as why and when concessional finance is appropriate to support private sector projects; the key transparency, access, and governance processes required to implement projects efficiently and effectively; the principles for selecting and structuring projects; how to use blended concessional finance to invest in lower-income countries; and the different ways of structuring concessional finance facilities used by DFIs.

Finance and Development --- Finance and Financial Sector Development --- Non Bank Financial Institutions --- Private Investment --- Transparency

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Solving the liquidity management challenge is one of the next big issues facing mobile money providers around the world. In Kenya, 20 percent of m-pesa customers report that they cannot withdraw money from an m-pesa agent. In 70 percent of those cases, the retail agent did not have sufficient funds. Nonetheless, more than 98 percent of m-pesa customers are happy with the solution. This suggests that even though there are liquidity problems, the customers are willing to look past that - at least for the time being - because of the overall value they perceive from the mobile money solution. Liquidity management takes two forms: management of electronic value in the mobile wallet and cash management. It is becoming more common for electronic liquidity to be handled not only by the retail agents, but also by the master agents. Technology is also being developed to help the master agents and the mobile financial services provider (MFSP) manage liquidity.

Access to Finance --- E-Finance and E-Security --- Finance and Financial Sector Development --- Mobile Money --- Non Bank Financial Institutions

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Good governance is now accepted as vital to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and as a pre-condition for sustainable economic growth. Ensuring better governance of corporations, financial institutions and markets is increasingly recognised for developing countries despite the limited number of firms there with widely traded shares (Oman and Blume 2005). For developing countries, significant benefits can be linked to higher corporate governance standards in the private sector. These include better access to external finance, lower costs of capital and better firm performance (Claessens 2003). The corporate governance agenda has also been broadened by the recognition of the reach of corporate models characterised by different forms and structures to the Anglo-American model of an investor owned firm. However until now little attention has been paid to the governance needs of other institutional forms of business such as co-operatives despite their considerable presence in many developing countries. The co-operative sector as a whole remains poorly understood and its specific governance challenges remain as yet largely unexplored. This aim of this paper is to begin to remedy this absence. Taking as a starting point the distinct nature of co-operatives, relevant trends and issues within corporate governance are explored within the framework of the co-operative sector.

Civic Participation and Corporate Governance --- Corporate Governance --- Finance and Financial Sector Development --- Governance --- Non Bank Financial Institutions --- Private Sector Development

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

As innovation in retail payments continues and the systems evolve, effective governance of them becomes more complicated and increases in importance. Retail payment systems are essential for the economy to function efficiently, and more and more, they are something on which all individuals rely on in order to participate in economic life. Effective governance arrangements of retail payment systems are critical not just for the stability, reliability, and efficiency of the financial system but also for its capacity to manage and respond to the changing policy and market environment. Governance calls for focused attention, and retail payment systems deserve and require distinct and specific guidance regarding governance. This is because issues related to retail payment system governance go beyond the typical corporate issues, precisely because of the underlying public interest and the broader public policy objectives of safety and efficiency. This paper provides context and considerations regarding the governance of retail payment systems within this changing environment. It provides examples of approaches specific to the governance of retail payment systems and the different factors that influence and guide them. It refers to related legal frameworks, principles, and reference materials that may be useful in conducting reviews. And it draws on and shares examples of the challenges, frameworks, and arrangements of specific countries and systems. The paper provides specific guidance for practical matters, such as the regular assessment and revision of governance arrangements, the importance of acknowledging public interest, maintaining access rules that are in line with market needs and developments, achieving and maintaining a high degree of transparency regarding governance, and in ensuring that the board and management have the right skills and knowledge. The paper concludes with several themes for consideration that will help authorities and other relevant stakeholders navigate the topic of governance for retail payment systems.

Accountability --- Corporate Governance --- Finance and Financial Sector Development --- Financial Regulation and Supervision --- Non Bank Financial Institutions --- Private Sector Development --- Transparency

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

In recent years, as more and more regulators have begun to assume the role of supervision and oversight over credit bureau(s), the World Bank Group has supported supervisors in understanding and carrying out their duties as it relates to this role. The WBG has supported the development of the credit bureau supervisory framework and the capacity to supervise these systems in several countries, including Morocco, the West African Monetary Union, Jordan, Bhutan, and the Bahamas. In addition, the WBG has provided light touch assistance on the supervision of credit bureaus in several Caribbean countries including Jamaica, Belize, the OECS, Guyana and Suriname. The WBG has facilitated study tours for regulators to markets where credit bureau supervision processes are established, thereby enabling the exchange of experiences and information between regulators. Such study tours include mock audits of the credit bureau in the host country, where possible. The mock audits provide the visiting regulators with an opportunity to mimic the processes that would be followed in case of an audit. This primer draws upon the WBG's experience across various markets and intended to provide regulators, policymakers, practitioners and financial sector specialists with a general overview of what the licensing and supervision of a credit bureau entails.

Bank Supervision --- Consumer Protection --- Finance and Financial Sector Development --- Financial Regulation --- Financial Regulation and Supervision --- Non Bank Financial Institutions