IFC - Waste Management Investments (Circular Economy)

Enriched UN / Multilateral · Found: 2026-03-11 10:50

Over $1.9 billion committed and nearly $500 million mobilized for circular economy projects in emerging markets. Example: $30 million loan to Averda for waste management in Middle East and Africa. Focus on enabling value creation from waste and promoting circularity.

Source: https://ifc.org/en/pressroom/2022/ifc-averda-ink-landmark-deal-to-support-waste-management-in-the-middle-east-and-africa

Funding Details

Funder

International Finance Corporation (IFC) — World Bank Group

Funding Goal

Provide debt and equity financing to private sector companies in emerging markets to scale up integrated waste management and circular economy solutions, reducing landfill reliance and enabling resource recovery.

Funding Amount

Typical IFC loans range from ~$5M to $100M+; this example deal was $30 million. IFC has committed over $1.9 billion to circular economy projects globally. (5.000.000 € – 30.000.000 €)

How to Apply

Applications submitted via IFC's online financing portal at ifc.org/apply-for-financing. IFC conducts due diligence on financial, environmental, and social criteria. No fixed deadlines; rolling review basis.

Target Region

Africa, Middle East, South Asia, and other emerging markets globally

Contact

Sara Aggour (Cairo press contact): saggour@ifc.org, Phone: +201003351941. General inquiries: disclosures.ifc.org/inquiries

Last Checked

2026-03-11 16:18

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a private sector company (not an NGO, government, or public body)
• Project must be located in or expanding to IFC-eligible developing/emerging market countries
• Project must demonstrate commercial viability and a credible business plan

Project Scope

• Project must generate measurable development impact (jobs, environmental benefits, etc.)

Required Documents

• Submit application through IFC's financing portal with financial statements and project documentation

Constraints

• Financing request must typically be at least several million USD (minimum deal sizes apply)
• Environmental and social due diligence compliance with IFC Performance Standards required
• IFC does not provide grants — financing is structured as loans, equity, or quasi-equity

Summary

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, provides loans, equity, and advisory services to private sector companies operating in emerging markets. This press release highlights a landmark $30 million loan extended to Averda International, a large privately owned waste management company headquartered in the UAE, to expand circular economy operations in Oman, Morocco, and South Africa. The deal marks IFC's first investment in the private waste management sector in Africa and the Middle East. IFC's broader circular economy portfolio reportedly exceeds $1.9 billion in committed financing, with nearly $500 million additionally mobilized through co-investors. Investments target companies that divert waste from landfills through composting, recycling, and energy recovery, in alignment with the World Bank Group's Climate Change Action Plan 2021–2025. IFC does not operate open grant rounds; rather, it evaluates project-by-project financing applications from private sector entities seeking development-aligned capital. Eligible recipients must be operating in or expanding into developing/emerging market countries. Financing typically ranges from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars, making it suited for commercial-scale enterprises rather than small non-profits or NGOs. The Averda deal illustrates IFC's appetite for cross-border waste management projects in underserved markets. Organizations interested in IFC financing must apply through IFC's standard process, demonstrating private sector structure, commercial viability, and developmental impact.

Historical Context

This 2022 deal was IFC's first investment in the private waste management sector in Africa and the Middle East. IFC's cumulative cross-border investments with Gulf Cooperation Council-based companies total $5.1 billion (own account) and $3.4 billion mobilized, across 148 projects. IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies in FY2021.

Why it was added

Africa waste/plastic development funding

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