The IOE has made a significant effort to develop a deeper partnership with the World Bank (International Finance Corporation IFC).  IFC participates in IOE/ILO SME Training workshops and frequently participates in IOE conferences or other events.

The IOE is working to enable IOE members in given countries to work more closely with IFC in identifying as accurately as possible the key obstacles to a better national business environment/investment climate and subsequently to advocate for the implementation of key policy recommendations with the government. IFC’s Doing Business project is a key pillar in which these efforts are centred.

In terms of development strategies the World Bank/IMF-sponsored Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) have been called ‘the only game in town’. Consequently, the IOE and the ILO's Employer Bureau are increasingly looking to strengthen support to member federations that are engaged (or intend to be engaged) in that process.

A number of pilot projects are underway, which aim to enable the participating federations to play a more effective role in the implementation of national poverty reduction strategies. These pilot projects are specifically focussed in the area of policy and regulatory environment for SMEs. The utilization of tools from the IOE-ILO SME development toolkit for employers’ organizations is an important component of this process.