Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 10/2011

World Bank (ABCs of the IFIs Brief)

Jenny Ottenhoff

September 2011

Center for Global Development

Abstract

This brief provides an overview of the World Bank's structure, membership, governance, and lending operations.The World Bank is a multilateral financial institution that provides financial and technical assistance for development in low- and middle-income countries. Finance is allocated through low-interest loans and grants for a range of development sectors such as health and education, infrastructure, public administration, financial and private-sector development, agriculture, and environmental and natural resource management.