IFC partners with Egypt’s CIB in managing climate risk, boosting sustainability

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IFC announced its partnership with the Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt’s largest private sector bank, in developing and implementing a robust climate risk management framework—to ensure the bank’s stability, regulatory compliance, and ultimately address the financing needs of its clients.

In a Wednesday press statement, the IFC said that the advisory project will include an initial portfolio screening against climate risk and the development of scenario planning and stress testing methodology for CIB, a long-term IFC partner. The goal is to assist the bank in assessing its climate risk exposure, and ensuring any climate-related financial risks are disclosed in its portfolio.

The new initiative follows IFC’s investment in CIB’s landmark issuance of Egypt’s first private sector green bond in 2021. With support from IFC, CIB also developed the first credit line fully dedicated to certified green buildings in North Africa.

“Climate-related financial risks are increasingly becoming more relevant for financial institutions,” said CIB’s Chief Risk Officer, Talha Karim.

“Central banks, financial supervisors, investors, and other parties around the world are taking a keen interest in risks and opportunities deriving from climate strategies. IFC’s partnership with CIB will further enhance the Bank’s process of integrating climate-related risks into the existing risk management framework, as well as to support aligning with the evolving international standards and the best practices in this regard,” Karim added.

This latest project, supported by the Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), is part of IFC’s climate program, which aims to scale up private sector financing in the financial sector for climate mitigation and adaptation projects while helping to mitigate climate risks. Addressing climate change is a priority for the World Bank Group, which is committed to aligning 100% of all new financing operations with the goals of the Paris Agreement by the fiscal year 2025.

“Climate change is the defining issue of our time. Banks, like all institutions, must adapt to the risks it poses,” said Sérgio Pimenta, IFC’s Vice President for Africa. “We’re delighted CIB is once again leading the way in accelerating the green transition and laying the foundations for a stronger, more sustainable financial sector, which can manage climate risks and meet the needs of its stakeholders.”

“Focused on engaging all stakeholders in addressing climate action, the partnership agreement signed between the IFC and CIB will provide technical consulting services to CIB, supporting the development of a climate risk management framework, which includes training and capacity building. This is not the first cooperation between the CIB and IFC, as in 2021, $100m was dedicated to Egypt’s first private sector green bond to help unlock finance for climate-smart projects, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support the country’s transition to a greener economy,” said Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat.

Dalia Abdel Kader, CIB’s Chief Sustainability Officer said, “Now, building on the success of CIB’s collaboration with the IFC and the issuance of the Green Bond, which helped us further develop our Environmental, Social Risk Management experience, will help us further integrate climate risk management within our strategies and systems.”

Egypt is a priority for IFC in Africa. IFC’s current investment portfolio in the country stands at $1.5bn and its advisory portfolio amounts to $32.5m. IFC’s climate investments in Egypt have amounted to $1.8bn since 2016, including mobilization, with a focus on renewable energy, green financing for financial institutions, industrial and commercial energy efficiency, and green buildings.