Washington, D.C./ São Paulo, Brazil,
October 16, 2009—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today presented
its 2009 Client Leadership Award to Anhanguera Educacional Participações
S.A., Brazil’s leading private post-secondary institution, for its invaluable
and innovative contributions to education.
The award honors clients who reflect
IFC values and demonstrate leadership, innovation, operational excellence,
strong corporate governance, and a commitment to socially and environmentally
sustainable development.
Accepting the award, Professor Antonio
Carbonari, Anhanguera’s President and Founder, said, “We are delighted
to receive the 2009 IFC Client Leadership Award. It is important
to be acknowledged among our peers for our commitment to innovation, progress,
and social and environmental sustainability. Anhanguera’s story is now
making history.”
Anhanguera had more than 250,000 students
in 2008. Its business model for third-level education focuses on
low- and middle-income working adults who may not have access to public
universities. On average, its graduates have almost tripled their
income after completing their studies. The model offers high quality standards
and affordable prices to the students.
“Anhanguera illustrates in very human
terms the development impact that IFC is trying to achieve and the strategies
we are pursuing to do so,” said Guy Ellena, IFC Director for Health and
Education, who presented the award at a ceremony in São Paulo attended
by government, business leaders, academics, and media.
Andrew Gunther, IFC Country Manager
for Brazil, added, “Anhanguera is demonstrating that, reaching low- and
middle- income consumers in developing countries—some of them at the base
of the pyramid—makes business sense and creates opportunities for a better
quality of life.”
IFC’s relationship with Anhanguera
dates back to 2006, with a $12 million loan to the company through Fundo
de Educacão para o Brasil. In March 2007, Anhanguera became Latin
America’s first private education company to list its shares through an
initial public offering.
This year, the IFC Client Leadership Award was given to two recipients—Anhanguera
in the real sector category, and Africa’s Ecobank in the financial sector
category.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to
escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic
growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development,
mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation
services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5
billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries
during the financial crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About Anhanguera
Anhanguera Educacional Participações
S.A. is Brazil’s leading private post-secondary institution. Its innovative
business model is based on a structured curriculum, a decentralized network
of campuses, and standardized delivery through a campus network offering
more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs; vocational training centers
offering short-term information technology and business-related disciplines;
and distance learning centers, offering undergraduate, graduate, and extension
programs. For more information, visit www.unianhanguera.edu.br.