This handbook updates and expands uponthe learning in IFC's 2000 community developmentresource guide entitled, Investing in People: SustainingCommunities through Improved Business Practice. It wasproduced in response to demand from companies for updatedhow-to guidance and current good practice approaches.Companies around the world engage in community investmentefforts as a way to promote local development and benefitstakeholders in their areas of operations. For the privatesector, effective community investment programs can helpcompanies gain a social license to operate, access land,reduce project and reputational risks, boost productivity,meet government requirements or global standards, and/orsuccessfully compete for the next venture. The aim of thishandbook is to help IFC client companies and the widerprivate sector operating in emerging markets to thinkstrategically about how they can support communityinvestment programs that are successful, sustainable, andconsistent with their business objectives. The handbook ismeant for use by anyone who is interested in developing acompany-supported community investment program or improvingthe performance of an existing one. The content of thehandbook is organized around seven key areas comprising acomprehensive strategic planning framework for communityinvestment. To help users with practical application, theHandbook is also supplemented by additional tools andinformation which are included in the tools section orlisted under useful references.