The Financial Times and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, have today launched the eighth annual FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards, the leading global awards for financial institutions that have shown leadership and dedication in integrating environmental, social and corporate governance considerations into their business.

A new category for 2013 is Achievement in Inclusive Business, which will award ground-breaking initiatives by companies and financial partners that incorporate people at the Base of the Pyramid into their value chain as suppliers, distributors, retailers or customers.

Martin Dickson, US managing editor of the Financial Times and co-chair of the Sustainable Finance Awards judging panel, said: “The world faces not only persistent economic uncertainty but also unparalleled resource constraints that are putting pressure on social systems across both developed and emerging markets. This situation makes sustainable investment, and these awards, more relevant than ever.”

Nena Stoiljkovic, IFC Vice President Business Advisory Services, commented: “Strong environmental, social and governance performance benefits companies, shareholders and society. The awards recognise the importance of sustainable finance for tackling climate change, creating jobs, and opening up economic opportunities for poor people and others who have been excluded.”

The FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards will reward leadership on an institutional and transactional basis across five categories:

  • Sustainable Bank of the Year
  • Sustainable Investor of the Year
  • Sustainable Investment of the Year
  • Technology in Sustainable Finance
  • Achievement in Inclusive Business

The first category is open to banks; the remaining categories are open to all financial institutions. Non-financial companies that work in partnership with financial institutions to deliver sustainable products and services may apply for the Sustainable Investment, Technology, and Inclusive Business awards.

Within the Sustainable Bank of the Year category, Regional Awards will be offered for achievements in Africa/Middle East,Americas, Asia-Pacific andEurope. A prize for Global Sustainable Bank of the Year will be open to institutions with assets of more than US$500bn, substantial operations on at least two continents, and more than 20 per cent of revenue earned outside the country of incorporation.

This year’s distinguished judges are:

  • Martin Dickson, US Managing Editor, Financial Times (co-chair)
  • Nena Stoiljkovic, Vice President, Business Advisory Services, IFC (co-chair)
  • Fabio Barbosa, CEO, Grupo Abril
  • James Cameron, Non-Executive Chairman, Climate Change Capital
  • Dr James Gifford, Executive Director, UN PRI
  • David Harris, Head, Responsible Investment, FTSE Group
  • Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO, Women’s World Banking
  • Chris Locke, Managing Director, GSMA Development Fund

The 2012 awards attracted 161 entries from 145 financial institutions and 36 non-financial groups across 67 countries.

Entries will be accepted until March 15, 2013. Entry forms and criteria are available at www.ft-live.com/sustainablefinance.

Short-lists will be announced for each category in April 2013. The winners will be announced and the awards presented in June 2013 at a gala dinner in London attended by senior bankers and decision-makers in the area of sustainability.

The dinner will conclude the 2013 FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Conference, a major one-day summit that will gather some of the world’s most renowned visionaries, strategists and financial decision-makers. PwC is technical advisor for the awards.

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For further information, please contact:

Kristina Eriksson, Financial Times, London
+44 (0) 20 7873 4961
kristina.eriksson@ft.com

Ryann Gastwirth, Financial Times, New York,
+1 917 551 5094
ryann.gastwirth@ft.com

Emmanouela Markoglou, IFC, Washington
+1 (202) 473-9526
EMarkoglou@ifc.org

About the Financial Times

The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of more than 600,000 (Deloitte assured, Q3 2012) and a combined print and online average daily readership of 2.1 million people worldwide (PwC assured, May 2012). FT.com has more than 5 million registered users and over 312,000 paying digital subscribers. The newspaper has a global print circulation of 293,326 (ABCs, October 2012).

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, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. In FY12, our investments reached an all-time high of more than $20 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector to create jobs, spark innovation, and tackle the world’s most pressing development challenges. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

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