World Bank

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2007 - The Executive Directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the “Bank”) met today to select a new President of the Bank. In doing so, the Executive Directors expressed appreciation to Mr. Paul Wolfowitz as departing President of the World Bank Group.    » read more »

As World Bank Board Approves Landmark Assistance Strategy and Two New Projects

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2007 – The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank today discussed its new Country Program for Ghana, representing US$1.3 billion for new operations based on the Ghana Joint Assistance Strategy (G-JAS) signed by 16 partners.

The Bank’s country program will support Ghana in implementing its Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II) to achieve a middle-income status and ensure that the benefits of the growth are shared.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2007 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit* of US$100 million to help increase agricultural productivity, accelerate growth and reduce rural poverty in Ethiopia.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2007 — The World Bank today approved a US$100 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to support the Government of Bangladesh’s efforts to deepen and sustain reforms in the education sector.

The Third Programmatic Education Sector Development Support Credit is designed to address systemic governance issues in order to make the best use of the resources in improving quality and enhancing access to secondary education.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2007 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today discussed the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) to support, for the next four years, Senegal’s quest for poverty reduction and accelerated economic growth. This 2007-2010 CAS will rely on a governance filter and focus on three strategic pillars to help achieve an annual rate gross domestic product growth of 7 percent, better shared growth and stronger rural and urban synergies.    » read more »

WASHINGTON DC - 19 June 2007—For the first time ever, Heads of Government from fifteen Caribbean nations, policy makers, members from International Institutions, the academic community, the private sector, and people of the Caribbean and of the United States met today in Washington to examine the growth and development of the Caribbean Community and deepen US-CARICOM relations.

The agenda for three day summit includes such core issues such as trade, investment, tourism, crime and violence, and human development.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 20, 2007—The World Bank today approved a US$12 million grant to support the Royal Government of Bhutan’s (RGoB) ongoing medium-term policy and institutional reform program. The Second Development Policy Grant is designed to support the government’s development strategy in enhancing economic growth, achieving better socioeconomic outcomes, and reducing poverty.    » read more »

Only Urgent Reforms Can Help Mitigate Long-Term Fiscal Problems

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2007— By 2025, many countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union will have populations that are among the oldest in the world, posing a threat to the region’s recent economic success if pension and health care reforms are not adequately tackled and policies are not put in place to promote productivity growth.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, 19 June 2007 - The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$ 6 million IDA grant to Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Education and Culture to finance education policy development, resource management skills enhancement, learning materials and vocational skills innovation.    » read more »

Kigali, Rwanda, June 16, 2007 – The 2007 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting opens today in Kigali, and is expected to draw over 1,500 delegates from around the world. Rwanda was chosen to host the meeting in recognition of the country’s leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the impressive results it has achieved.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2007 – On the occasion of the United Nations’ Desertification Day, and with over 250 million people directly affected by desertification and drought and one billion people in over 100 countries at risk, the World Bank today urged partner countries to integrate comprehensive climate risk management into development planning, programs, and projects – thus providing an opportunity to reduce land degradation – and called on rich countries to provide more financial support to reverse the present trend.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2007 – The World Bank today approved a credit of US$63 million equivalent from the International Development Association (IDA) to the Indian state of Bihar, designed to enhance social and economic empowerment of rural poor people in the state.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC, June 14, 2007 – The World Bank today approved additional financing of US$40 million to strengthen the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts to bring electricity to remote rural communities and promote private sector investments in power generation from renewable energy sources in urban areas.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2007 – The World Bank Board of Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) grant of US$5 million to support the basic emergency needs of the population and help stabilize the social and political situation in Liberia.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2007 — The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors discussed today the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Chile, which projects financial assistance of up to US$250 million between 2007 and 2010 to support the country’s development agenda. In addition, the Board of Directors approved two loans for a total of US$41.7 million to support the strengthening of the Ministry of Public Works.    » read more »