Introduction
Companies around the world engage in community investment efforts as a way to promote development and benefit local stakeholders in their areas of operation. Done well, community investment can help establish mutually beneficial relationships between a company and its local stakeholders, contribute toward long-term improvements in the quality of life for local communities, and help create an environment conducive to private investment.
For IFC, strategic community investment (CI) involves voluntary contributions or actions by companies to help communities in their areas of operation address their development priorities, and take advantage of opportunities created by private investment, in ways that are sustainable and support business objectives.