International Finance Corporation’s Guidance Notes: Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability

1. IFC has prepared a set of Guidance Notes, corresponding to the Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability. These Guidance Notes offer helpful guidance on the requirements contained in the Performance Standards, including reference materials, and on good sustainability practices to improve project performance. These Guidance Notes are not intended to establish policy by themselves; instead, they explain the requirements in the Performance Standards. 

2. IFC expects that each client will employ methods best suited to its business to meet the requirements of the Performance Standards. In assisting the client to meet the Performance Standards, IFC will take into account variables such as host country context, the scale and complexity of project impacts, and the associated cost-benefit considerations, as well as those of project performance beyond the level required in the Performance Standards. The Guidance Notes provide helpful advice, but do not substitute for the sound judgment and discretion used by clients and IFC staff to make project decisions consistent with the Performance Standards. 

3. The Guidance Note text in bold italics indicates the text of the corresponding Performance Standard. All references contained in the text of the Guidance Notes are reproduced in full in the Annotated Bibliography at the end of the Guidance Notes. 

4. IFC will update the Guidance Notes periodically to reflect IFC’s lessons of experience with the implementation of the Performance Standards, as well as emerging private sector good practices, and updates in the referenced materials.