Washington, D.C./Dubai, February 23, 2012
—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is bringing together leading educators, policymakers, and service providers to help private educational institutions in developing countries expand access to services, improve standards of quality and efficiency, and facilitate the international exchange of best practices.
IFC is the world’s largest multilateral investor in private education in emerging markets. It will hold its fifth international private education conference,
Making Global Connections
, in Dubai from March 6 through 8. Using its deep experience in private education—unique among multilateral institutions—IFC has established itself as a center for networking and information among investors worldwide.
Attendees will include IFC clients who are leaders of private education institutions, policymakers with local and national governments, and service providers. Key topics will include the global skills agenda, managing quality through growth, understanding markets, the need for standards, the role of equity finance, and challenges to education in the 21
st
century. Experts and commentators will lead discussions that reflect the concerns of both private and public providers while focusing on private sector solutions.
“The IFC conference is taking place at a time when the education sector is experiencing considerable change and expansion,” said Atul Mehta, IFC Director, Global Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services. “Private education is making a significant contribution to development in emerging market countries, especially by increasing access to services for lower- and middle-income people.”
Investment in private education is a strategic priority for IFC. IFC’s education portfolio stands at more than $400 million, encompassing 69 projects in 33 countries—including several of the poorest countries. The total value of these projects exceeds $1.5 billion. IFC’s private education projects have helped benefit 1.5 million students while providing employment for 16,000 people.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, providing advisory services to businesses and governments, and mobilizing capital in the international financial markets. In fiscal 2011, amid economic uncertainty across the globe, we helped our clients create jobs, strengthen environmental performance, and contribute to their local communities—all while driving our investments to an all-time high of nearly $19 billion. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
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