A large percentage of workers and firms operate in the informal economy, outside the line of 
sight of governments in emerging markets and developing economies. This may hold back the recovery in these economies from the deep recessions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic—unless governments adopt a broad set of policies to address the challenges of widespread informality. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the extent of informality and its implications for a durable economic recovery and for long-term development. It finds that pervasive informality is associated with significantly weaker economic outcomes—including lower government resources to combat recessions, lower per capita incomes, greater poverty, less financial development, and weaker investment and productivity. Continue reading
Tag Archives: IFC
Defying Predictions, Remittance Flows Remain Strong During COVID-19 Crisis
A green reboot for cities: Strategies for post-COVID growth
Thousands of 
municipalities are facing increased pressures to provide essential services while simultaneously coping with dramatic revenue declines. The situation is particularly severe in emerging markets where resources are sparse.
eC2: Market study for third-party logistics and temperature-controlled logistics services in Latin and Central America
Deadline: 24-May-2021 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) 
This assignment comprises market studies on both the development of third-party logistics (3PL) infrastructure and services as well as temperature-controlled logistics (TCL) in Chile and Central America.
The main objectives of this assignment are to:
(i) identify existing suppliers of 3PL and TCL services and their growth plans;
(ii) identify key constraints and growth drivers for the sectors serviced by providers; and
(iii) outline potential private investment opportunities to develop 3PL and TCL solutions in these markets. These assessments should ultimately recommend strategies to invest in existing players to help them scale up their operations, including suggestions of services to be offered, potential partners, assets to be used, clients to be attracted, geographical area and type of goods to be serviced and a high-level roadmap for implementation in a phased manner.
ec2: Study on rural women farmers and agri-WSMEs insurance needs in Nigeria, Zambia and Sri Lanka
Deadline: 24-May-2021 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.)
IFC has been actively partnering with insurers in the emerging markets to increase womens access to insurance and boost their employment opportunities in the insurance sector. In order to develop and roll out suitable solutions in partnership with the local insurance industry and strengthen market capacity for sustainability in these three target markets, the Global Index Insurance Program (GIIF) and the IFC Womens Insurance Program, are jointly conducting a diagnostic study to identify the insurance needs of rural women, the existing barriers preventing access to insurance, and potential solutions that can be designed through an IFC advisory project. The study will be conducted in Nigeria, Zambia and Sri Lanka. The diagnostic will be done through surveys and in-depth interviews with i) Rural women farmers, ii) rural agribusiness WSMEs, iii)insurance companies (review and analysis of existing gender approaches and current agricultural/ health/ life schemes).
eC2: An assessment on preventing leakage of single-use and other forms of plastics into the marine environment in Pacific Island Countries.
Deadline: 31-May-2021 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) 
The objective is to generate knowledge to support PICs to better implement policies for reduction of single-use plastics and strategies for adoption of less environmentally damaging alternatives. To achieve this objective, the consultants will assess the economic, policy, and institutional needs for supporting reduction of plastics pollution through potential policies to limit the import, production, sale and use of single-use plastics and identification and assessment of environmentally sustainable and economically feasible alternatives. This will involve assessing the scale of single-use plastics waste; an analysis of economic, social, and environmental costs of single-use plastics and potential alternatives; and identification of policies, incentives and market-based instruments that can effectively incentivize greener choices and steer economic activity towards less environmentally damaging practices and products; and/or to provide disincentives to discourage the demand for plastics products that have adverse environmental impacts.
Report: Commodity Prices to Stabilize after Early 2021 Gains, Supported by Global Economic Recovery
Path of commodity prices depends on pace of recovery and containment of COVID-19
WASHINGTON, April 20, 2021 – Commodity prices continued their recovery in the first quarter of 2021 and are expected to remain close to current levels throughout the year, lifted by the global economic rebound and improved growth prospects, according to the World Bank’s semi-annual Commodity Markets Outlook.
eC2: Vietnam: Technical Support for Energy Sector
Deadline: 
16:00 hours GMT on 21st May, 2021
The Government of Ghana intends to initially select Applicants for Deferred and Routine Maintenance Dredgingof the Odaw Drainage Basin in Accra under a Performance Based Contract. The contract has a duration of four and ahalf years, split in one or two years of deferred maintenance dredging and three or four years of routine maintenancedredging. The geographical scope of the contract includes the Odaw river from Caprice to the sea (comprising linedand unlined sections), and the main Odaw River tributaries (the South Kaneshie, Cemetery and Mataheko drains, thefirst section of the Nima drain, the Agbogbloshie drain and the Odawna drain). The dredging works will be procuredunder a Performance Based Contract (PBC). Applicants must show proof of experience in urban dredging/dredgingof drainage channels/dredging of shallow channels/dredging in environmentally environmental sensitive areas to beinitially selected. Experience in PBC will be an added advantage. It is expected that the Request for Proposals will bemade in May 2021.
eC2: Vietnam: Technical Support for Energy Sector
Deadline: 03-May-2021 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) 
The assignment objective is to provide technical capacity support to the World Bank providing technical specifications for state-of-the-art SCADA system to be implemented in Vietnam, battery storage and HVDC lines to inform the World Bank due diligence in a new investment in Vietnam.
eC2: Baseline Study on Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management for Vientiane and Pakxan Cities, LAO PDR.
Deadline: 29-Apr-2021 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.)
The Government of Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (GoL), with financing from the World Banks International Development Association (IDA), is implementing the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR) Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Management (SEA DRM) Project with Additional Financing. The Project adopts a comprehensive approach to DRM through activities in target areas related to urban flood risk management, hydromet modernization and early warning systems, and financial preparedness.
