How the World Bank Group Operates
䡲 Multilateral development banks and other multilateral financial institutions. These institutions provide financial support and professional advice for economic and social development activities in developing countries. The term “multilateral development bank” typically refers to the World Bank Group and four regional development banks: the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development Bank. The Bank Group also works with several other banks and funds—the “multilateral financial institutions”—that lend to developing countries but have a narrower membership and focus. These include, among others, the European Commission and the Islamic Development Bank. Subregional banks owned by groups of countries and established for development purposes also work with the Bank Group. Among these are the Caribbean Development Bank, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, the East African Development Bank, and the West African Development Bank.
Partnerships with Bilateral Development Agencies The World Bank Group works with the development agencies of individual countries to coordinate aid and achieve development goals, sometimes formally through trust funds, and often with such countries’ representatives in the field. Work is coordinated by various committees and through consultations that take place throughout the year.
Programmatic Partnerships The World Bank hosts the secretariats of several closely affiliated organizations at its headquarters, including the following: 䡲 Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. This is an association of 62 members that supports agricultural research and related activities carried out by 16 autonomous research centers. Priorities include increasing productivity, protecting the environment, saving biodiversity, improving policies, and strengthening research at the national level. Members of the Consultative Group on Agricultural Research include industrial and developing countries, foundations, and international and regional organizations. The group’s Web site is at http://www.cgiar.org. 䡲 Consultative Group to Assist the Poor. This is a consortium of 33 public and private development agencies that seeks to improve the capacity of microfinance institutions (specialized institutions that provide financial services to very poor people). The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor supports
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