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World Bank
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The World Bank Group (WBG) is a
family of five international organizations responsible for providing
finance and advice to countries for the purposes of economic development
and eliminating poverty. The Bank came into formal existence on 27
December 1945 following international ratification of the Bretton Woods
agreements, which emerged from the United Nations Monetary and Financial
Conference (1 July - 22 July 1944). Commencing operations on 25 June
1946, it approved its first loan on 9 May 1947 ($250m to France for
postwar reconstruction, in real terms the largest loan issued by the
Bank to date). Its five agencies are:
* International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
* International Finance Corporation (IFC)
* International Development Association (IDA)
* Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
* International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
The term "World Bank" generally refers to the IBRD and IDA[1], whereas
the World Bank Group is used to refer to the institutions collectively.
The World Bank's (i.e. the IBRD and IDA's) activities are focused on
developing countries, in fields such as human development (e.g.
education, health care), agriculture and rural development (e.g.
irrigation, rural services), environmental protection (e.g. pollution
reduction, establishing and enforcing regulations), infrastructure (e.g.
roads, urban regeneration, electricity), and governance (e.g.
anti-corruption, legal institutions development). The IBRD and IDA
provide loans at preferential rates to member countries, as well as
grants to the poorest countries. Loans or grants for specific projects
are often linked to wider policy changes in the sector or the economy.
For example, a loan to improve coastal environmental management may be
linked to development of new environmental institutions at national and
local levels and to implementation of new regulations to limit
pollution.
The activities of the IFC and MIGA include investment in the private
sector and providing insurance respectively.
The World Bank Institute is the capacity development branch of the World
Bank, providing learning and other capacity-building programs to member
countries.
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A young World Bank protester takes
to the street in Jakarta, Indonesia.
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