The World Bank is an international organization that provides financial assistance and advice to developing countries. It was established in 1944 to help rebuild Europe after World War II and promote economic development. The World Bank aims to reduce poverty through loans, technical assistance, and research. It works on issues like education, health, infrastructure, and private sector development. While the World Bank has helped many countries, some criticize that it pushes a neoliberal agenda and Western interests over local needs.
The World Bank was created at Bretton Woods in 1944 to lend to European countries to help them rebuild after World War II. It was the world's first multilateral development bank, and was funded through the sale of World Bonds. Its first loans were to France and other European countries, but soon lent money to Chile, Mexico and India to build power plants and railways. 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 (1–22 July 1944). It also provided the foundation of the Osiander-Committee in 1951, responsible for the preparation and evaluation of the World Development Report. Commencing operations on 25 June 1946, it approved its first loan on 9 May 1947 (US$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 Development Association (IDA)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
The World Bank's activities are focused on developing countries, in fields such as human development (e.g. education, health), 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 the implementation of new regulations to limit pollution. The World Bank Institute is the capacity development branch of the World Bank, providing learning and other capacity-building programs to member countries. Two countries, Venezuela and Ecuador, have recently withdrawn from the World Bank. It is stated that it is also an observer on the United Nations Development Group.
World Bank-Working for a World free of PovertyAshok Taradale
World bank is one of the most influential institution in current era. Here I covered briefly about its origin, functions, objectives,criticism, projects and many other things.
The World Bank was created at Bretton Woods in 1944 to lend to European countries to help them rebuild after World War II. It was the world's first multilateral development bank, and was funded through the sale of World Bonds. Its first loans were to France and other European countries, but soon lent money to Chile, Mexico and India to build power plants and railways. 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 (1–22 July 1944). It also provided the foundation of the Osiander-Committee in 1951, responsible for the preparation and evaluation of the World Development Report. Commencing operations on 25 June 1946, it approved its first loan on 9 May 1947 (US$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 Development Association (IDA)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
The World Bank's activities are focused on developing countries, in fields such as human development (e.g. education, health), 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 the implementation of new regulations to limit pollution. The World Bank Institute is the capacity development branch of the World Bank, providing learning and other capacity-building programs to member countries. Two countries, Venezuela and Ecuador, have recently withdrawn from the World Bank. It is stated that it is also an observer on the United Nations Development Group.
World Bank-Working for a World free of PovertyAshok Taradale
World bank is one of the most influential institution in current era. Here I covered briefly about its origin, functions, objectives,criticism, projects and many other things.
2. Outline
World Bank Introduction
History Behind The World Bank
World bank Group
Special Features of The World Bank
Objectives
Need of World bank
Membership of World Bank
Operations of World Bank
The Millennium development Goals
World Bank Contributions in Bangladesh
Criticism
Conclusion
3. World Bank Introduction
The World Bank is an internationally supported bank that provides financial and
technical assistance to aid countries in their process of economic development
with loans, advice, and research. (Heakal, 2010)
President: Jim Yong Kim
Established: July 1, 1944.
Headquarters: Washington, D. C., United States.
Membership: 188 countries (IBRD), 172 countries (IDA).
Affiliates: IFC, MIGA, ICSID.
Moto: Working for A World Free Poverty.
Official Language: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish.
Country Office: More than 100 offices in member countries and about 10000 all
over the world.
(WB, 2015)
4. History Behind The World Bank
The World Bank was created at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference which
mission was to help rebuild Europe and to promote the economic growth of the
countries in the South , many of which were still under colonial rule. Lord
Keynes and Harry Dexter White are the founding father of world Bank.
Since inception in 1944 , the world bank has expanded from a single institution to
a closely associated group of five development institutions. (WB, 2015)
Lord Keynes Harry Dexter White
Founding Father of World Bank
5. World bank Group
Five development institutions have turned into the World Bank Group.
World
Bank
Multilateral
Investment
Guarantee Agency
Est.:1988,
Members:179
countries
International Development
Association, Est.: 1960, Members:
172 Countries
International
Center for
Settlement of
Investment
Disputes
Est.: 1966
Members: 168
countries
Five Agencies – One Group
6. Special Features of The World Bank
Special
Features of
The World
Bank
It is one of the world’s largest sources
of funding for the developing world.
Its primary focus on helping the
poorest people and poorest countries.
Bridge the economic divide between
poor and rich countries to turn rich
country resources into poor country
growth and to achieve sustainable
poverty reduction.
(WB, 2015)
7. Objectives:
The following objectives are assigned by the world Bank:
To provide long run capital to member countries for economic reconstruction
and development.
To ensure the implementation of development projects so as to bring about a
smooth transference from a wartime to peace economy.
To promote capital investment in member countries.
Reduce Corruption.
(Hegstad et al., 1987)
8. Need of World Bank
Need of World
Bank
Build capacity: Strengthen their governments and
educate their government officials.
Create Infrastructure: Implement legal and
judicial systems that encourage business,
protect individual and property rights, and
honor contracts
Develop Financial System: Robust enough to support
endeavors from micro credit to financing larger corporate
ventures.
Combat Corruption: There is not much that can be done that
is effective.
(Hegstad et al., 1987)
9. Membership of World Bank
Member countries govern the World Bank Group through the Boards of
Governor and The Boards of Executive Directors. These bodies make all
major decisions for the organizations.
To become a member of the world bank ,under the IBRD articles of
agreement, a country must first join the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
(WB, 2015)
10. Operations of World Bank
Agriculture and Rural Development
Economic Policy
Education
Energy Environment
Financial Sector
Health, Nutrition and Population Industry
Information, Computing and Telecommunication
Law, Justice and Social Protection
Water resources, supply and sanitation
(WB, 2015)
11. The Millennium development Goals (MDGs)
The eight MDGs listed below guide the efforts of virtually all organizations
working in development and have been commonly accepted as a framework for
measuring development progress:
Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger: For achieving this goal, they have
pointed out some key points such food security, investing in agriculture, creating
jobs, expanding nutrition program that target children under 2 years of age.
MDG one is fruitful in Nepal, Kenya, Senegal.
Achieve Universal Primary Education: Between 2000 and 2012, the total
number of out of school children worldwide declined from 100 million to 58
million. MDG two is fruitful in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Chad.
Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women: Through Investing in girls’
education, they have succeeded in Afghanistan and Benin.
Reduce Child Mortality: Between 2003 and 2013, more than 117 million
people gained access to essential health services through IDA’s help. MDG four
is fruitful in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso (100%), Ghana.
12. The Millennium development Goals (MDGs)
Improve Maternal Health: Between 2003 and 2013, more than 117 million
people in the poorest countries gained access to essential health services.
MDG five is fruitful in Burundi (25%) and Guinea (95%).
Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Other Diseases: IDA is helping to
achieve MDG six by providing prevention, care, and mitigation services.
MDG six is fruitful in Benin (64%), India, Republic of Congo (77%).
Ensure Environmental Sustainability: The World Bank is the largest
external source of financing for water projects. In the last three years, the
World Bank’s commitment for water projects totaled $17 billion, with 56% for
water supply and sanitation. MDG seven is fruitful in Bangladesh, Brazil,
Egypt, Ethiopia and Haiti.
Develop a Global Partnership for Development: MDG eight is fruitful in
Afghanistan and Cameroon. Following strategy reduce, improve and connect.
(WB, 2015)
13. World Bank eLibrary
Subscribers in 113 countries
Top traffic comes from US, India, UK and
Australia
Nearly 9000 World Bank publications.
66% increase in visitors from FY11 vs. FY12
85% increase FY12 vs. FY13.
(WB, 2015)
14. World Bank Contributions in Bangladesh
The World Bank has helped make Dhaka’s air more breathable.
The World Bank is the largest external funder of micro credit in
Bangladesh.
The World Bank is Bangladesh’s largest external funder of education and
has assisted Bangladesh in achieving gender parity in education.
The World Bank leads the donor consortium for health programs.
The World Bank works in partnership and the civil society plays an ever
larger role in the Bank’s work.
The World Bank helped Bangladesh modernize its agricultural sector.
The World Bank is deeply involved in building and improving roads and
infrastructure in Bangladesh.
The World Bank helps Bangladesh create a better investment climate.
(WB, 2015)
15. Criticism
It was stated to reduce poverty but it is being blamed for supporting United
States’ business interests.
It is deeply implicated in contemporary modes of donor and NGO driven
imperialism.
The president of this bank has always been a citizen of the United States
without present president.
Lacks transparency of public.
The decision making process is undemocratic.
(HPA, 2015)
16. Conclusion
World bank has consistently pushed a neoliberal agenda imposing policies on
developing countries which have been damaging, destructive and anti
developmental. It is also considered as an instrument for promotion of western
interests in certain regions of the world. Despite of some flaws, helping various
nations by the world bank can never be undermined.
17. Reference (S)
Heakal, R. 2010. What is World Bank. Investopedia, Sweden. Accessed on 25th
February, 2015. Retrieved from [http://www.investopedia.com.asp.html]
WB. 2015. The World Bank. Washington, D. C., United States. Accessed on 25th
February, 2015. Retrieved from [http://www.worldbank.org]
WB. 2015. History. The World Bank. Washington, D. C., United States.
Accessed on 28th February, 2015. Retrieved from
[http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/history]
WB. 2015. Course features that help participants learn : experience at the
World. Washington, D. C., United States. Accessed on 24th February, 2015.
Retrieved from [http://worldbank.org/all?qterm=features+of+world+bank]
Hegstad., Olaf, S. and Ian, N. 1987. Management contracts : main features and
design issues (English). World Bank. Washington, D. C., United States
WB. 2015. Member Countries. The World Bank. Washington, D. C., United
States. Accessed on 28th February, 2015. Retrieved from
[http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/leadership/members]
18. Reference (S)
WB. 2015. Bank Operations. The World Bank, Washington, D. C., United
States. Accessed on 25th February, 2015. Retrieved from
[http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/decentralization/operations.htm]
WB. 2015. Millennium Development Goals. The World Bank, Washington,
D. C., United States. Accessed on 25th February, 2015. Retrieved from
[http://data.worldbank.org/about/millennium-development-goals]
WB. 2015. eLibrary. The World Bank, Washington, D. C., United States.
Accessed on 25th February, 2015. Retrieved from
[http://elibrary.worldbank.org. html]
WB. 2015. Bangladesh Overview. The World Bank, Washington, D. C.,
United States. Accessed on 25th February, 2015. Retrieved from
[http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/bangladesh/overview]
HPA. 2015. World Bank: Critique. Health Poverty Action, London. Accessed
on 25th February, 2015. Retrieved from
[https://www.healthpovertyaction.org.html]