Air Quality Toolkit for Development Finance Institutions

Customer Challenge

Development finance institutions (DFIs), including multilateral development banks (MDBs) and bilateral donors (BDs), often lack practical tools and guidance to effectively integrate air quality considerations into their funding decisions for projects without a primary goal of air quality improvement. This gap can result in missed opportunities to address air pollution through development projects, and limited capacity to track air quality improvements over time.

Ricardo Solution

Ricardo, in partnership with Clean Air Asia and funded by CAF, developed an Air Quality Toolkit tailored for DFIs. The Toolkit was built using a combination of comprehensive desk-based research and extensive stakeholder engagement through surveys, interviews, and webinars with DFI representatives. It is designed to be used by project officers working across different  sectoral development projects and provides critical information on air pollution, practical guidance for incorporating air quality goals into project planning, and methodologies for monitoring improvements. Ricardo will also support CAF with promoting the Toolkit globally through targeted training sessions and representation at key international events.

Customer Benefit

The Toolkit empowers DFIs to make more informed, air quality-conscious investment decisions that align with sustainable development objectives. It enhances institutional capacity to plan, finance, and evaluate projects with measurable air quality impacts, ultimately supporting cleaner, healthier environments in low- and middle-income countries.