The World Bank and IFC, in partnership with the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA), have launched a Community of Practice to share knowledge and collaborate on issues around private equity and venture capital development. Collaborating on this agenda, from the World Bank Group, are FPD’s Capital Markets and ITE Practices and infoDev, and from IFC, the Private Equity Funds Group.

”This partnership between EMPEA and the World Bank Group will provide a seamless space for knowledge sharing and collaboration among all stakeholders in the PE/VC industry, and will contribute to our common goal of broadening access to equity finance for SMEs in emerging markets and developing countries from start-up to growth to pre-IPO.”

– Michel Noel, Manager, Non-Bank Financial Institutions, World Bank

There is an identified need for global knowledge sharing among the diverse community of private equity (“PE”) and venture capital (“VC”) industry stakeholders, which this community aims to meet. This need for knowledge-sharing includes, but is not limited to, the exchange of information on regulatory issues surrounding private equity and venture capital in developing countries; market impediments that impact the ability to make PE/VC investments; the impact of such investments on industries, firms and job creation; and best practices derived from developing country contexts.

“This is a great opportunity for both the WBG and EMPEA to promote the sharing of experiences and facilitate inter-regional deal flow. The platform could also help Limited Partners in PE funds to become familiar with emerging markets.”

– David Wilton, Manager, Private Equity Funds Group, IFC

This collaboration and knowledge sharing platform thus serves practitioners and development professional that approach private equity and venture capital from multiple angles. It provides access to a repository of information on PE/VC; information about events and webinars organized by the WBG and EMPEA; ability to share documents, write blogs, discuss relevant topics, as well as pose questions to other practitioners, academia and WBG/EMPEA affiliates. The World Bank Group and EMPEA’s shared vision for the platform is that it leads to content generation, promotes internal and external knowledge flow, accumulates insights from practitioners, improves connectivity and networking, and supports the overall development of the PE/VC industry in developing countries.Both partners hope to facilitate a better understanding of the emerging markets’ private equity investment landscape, as well as further private capital investment flows in these markets.

“A robust private equity industry depends on a diverse network of stakeholders to create an enabling environment in which private equity investment can thrive. Now, we have the advantages of online technology and this forum to enhance and accelerate these interactions. Combining the World Bank Group’s deep connections in emerging markets and EMPEA’s global network of practitioners, I believe the Community of Practice will help further fuel engagement of the industry, support a more favorable climate for long-term capital investment and help foster sustainable economic development. “

– Robert van Zwieten, President and CEO, EMPEA

The community is hosted on the World Bank Group’s Collaboration for Development (C4D) platform, which provides a virtual meeting space that serves as the main point of contact between members.

The partnership between the WB, IFC, and EMPEA on this platform seeks to utilize the competitive strengths of each organization. The World Bank’s sustained policy dialogue with client governments allows a unique entry point for long-term dialogue on regulatory and enabling environment issues. The IFC has been a leading private equity investor in emerging markets, seeding many first-time funds, and with a focus on frontier countries. EMPEA is an independent association which aims to catalyze the development of private equity and venture capital industries in emerging markets. EMPEA provides direct connections to its broad spectrum of global PE stakeholders, including fund managers, institutional investors and service providers, and the expertise that exists in its membership community.

“EMPEA can be a vital source of information to the WBG on how local capital markets can be improved to encourage greater private equity flows- critical inputs to help the WBG set priorities and move forward to build local markets.This platform will be an excellent vehicle for an on-going, dynamic exchange with PE practitioners on what needs to be done and how best to do it.”

– Alison Harwood, Manager, Capital Markets & Corporate Governance, World Bank

Membership of the community is managed by the World Bank’s Capital Markets Practice and is subject to approval.