The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of the World Bank Group and is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. They are actively conducting Cooling and Climate Roadshows as part of its Sustainable Cooling Initiative, engaging governments, industry, and financial institutions across emerging markets – including recent activities in Egypt. These roadshows, often delivered in collaboration with the UNEP Cool Coalition, serve as an important platform to promote sustainable solutions, unlock investment opportunities, and showcase innovation from IFC’s TechEmerge Sustainable Cooling programme, which now includes more than 60 pilots demonstrating up to 85% cost savings and major emissions reductions.

As part of these efforts, an Executive Training was held in the beginning of February in Cairo, bringing together a mix of public‑sector leaders, investors, developers, consultants, and NGOs working to scale sustainability‑aligned finance for Egypt’s real estate sector. The participants, including Cool Up’s Project Manager, Eslam Mohamed Mahdy, engaged in practical exercises, exchanged market insights, and worked intensively throughout the day to chart actionable pathways for mainstreaming sustainable building finance.

The broader IFC Cooling & Climate Roadshow also provided actionable advice to policymakers and market actors on integrated strategies for buildings, cold chains, and transport, while highlighting the Global Cooling Pledge launched at COP28; through which countries commit to reducing cooling‑related emissions by 68% by 2050. The roadshow’s momentum underscores both the urgent need and the compelling economic case for advancing climate‑friendly cooling and sustainable building solutions across high‑risk regions such as the Middle East and North Africa.