CSR Press Release

March 13, 2007- The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced today the release of a new IFC publication, "ILO Convention 169 and the Private Sector: Questions and Answers for IFC Clients." The publication is intended as a practical guide for IFC clients and the broader private sector who operate in countries that have ratified Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.

This publication is the first guidance of its kind written for the private sector in relation to Convention 169 which is directed at governments. IFC prepared this publication, in close consultation with the International Labor Organization (ILO), in response to the experiences that IFC has had in recent years with private investments affecting indigenous peoples and their lands in Latin America.

By raising awareness about some of the key provisions of the Convention and their potential implications for the private sector, IFC hopes this publication will be a useful first step in beginning to clarify what has been, to date, a largely gray area for private companies. The publication contains answers to frequently asked questions and outlines a number of proactive measures companies can take to better anticipate and manage potential risks and opportunities related to projects affecting indigenous peoples. The publication is intended to be read in conjunction with IFC’s Performance Standard on Indigenous Peoples.

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