T HE W ORLD B ANK G ROUP Rohini Sengupta & Sreya Vaidyanathan

HISTORY Established in1944 at the Bretton Woods Summit in New Hampshire Conceived for the reconstruction Europe International Bank of Reconstruction and Development First loan to $250 million to France Offices setup in Paris, Prague, and Copenhagen

T RANSITION Transitioned and expanded responsibilities in the 1980s Macroeconomics and debt rescheduling Social and environmental issues Criticisms prompted: Waphens Report Inspection Panel 1994 Annual Meeting in Madrid Larger role in global policy Expanded to 5 financial & banking agencies – each with its own Articles of Agreement

P URPOSE Mandate has evolved: worldwide poverty alleviation Source of technical and financial assistance for developing countries Low interest loans, interest free credits, grants Supports investment Trust fund partnerships Policy advice, research & analysis, technical assistance Still focuses on post-war reconstruction

S IX S TRATEGIC T HEMES Focus on… Poorest countries Fragile/conflict affected states The Arab world Middle income countries Global public goods issues Education

M EMBERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP Current President: Rober B. Zoellick 187 Members US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan are largest shareholders Ultimate decision making power with member countries: Board of Governors (senior decision-making body) Board of Executives (25 members) Each member has one Governor and one Alternate 5 Largest shareholders appoint Directors, other 20 are elected

A DVANTAGES /B ENEFITS OF M EMBERSHIP Loans to developing countries for capital projects Benefits economic prosperity in the long run Free trade with foreign investment & capital investment Foreign investment Access to capital markets Opens new markets Falling extreme poverty rates Increase in general education rates

D ISADVANTAGES / C RITICISMS Structural adjustment “worsens life for the poor” Only effective in countries with stable institutional frameworks (Sub-Saharan Africa worse) Global inequity Shock therapy Detrimental to health, environment & cultural diversity Brazilian Kayapo People Run by a small number of economically prosperous countries American leaders “Sovereign immunity”

W ORLD B ANK & AP6: MEXICO Worldbank.org

W ORLD B ANK & AP6 MEXICO: 18 active projects Oportunidades Program 5.8 million of the poorest “ provides cash on condition health, education and nutrition targets are met, including regular medical check-ups and school attendance” (WB Press Release 2010) Extreme poverty 10.4%  10.2% NIGERIA: 130 loans Fadama II project (agriculture), microfinance projects, HIV/AIDS, education, water projects

W ORLD B ANK & AP6: IRAN Active project: Alborz Integrated Land & Water Management Increases agricultural productivity US $120 mil May October 2012 CHINA: 107 active projects, 315 completed projects US $1, mil loaned in 2011 Railroad programs, health programs, urban development programs, agricultural programs

W ORLD B ANK & AP6: UK: 3.75% voting power Represented on Board of Governors 2007/2008: 1.4 billion pounds loaned RUSSIA: 10 investment projects in Russia totaling US$ 987 million (2012) More than 70 projects Public administration and fiscal policy, human and infrastructure development, energy efficiency and environmental and forestry protection

W ORKS C ITED "Amazon Indians Attack Official Over Dam Project." National Geographic. National Geographic Society. Web. 26 Mar "EDITORIAL - Criticism of World Trade Organization, World Bank and International Monetary Fund - Editorial." CBS Interactive. CBS Interactive Business Network, 01 Sept Web. 26 Mar "Mexico." Overview. World Bank. Web. 26 Mar "Russian Federation." Russia Projects & Programs. Web. 26 Mar “UK.” Overview. World Bank. Web. 26 Mar < “China.” Overview. World Bank. Web. 26 Mar < "Leadership." About Us. 19 Jan Web. 26 Mar "Site Tools." About Us. The World Bank Group, 31 Jan Web. 26 Mar "What We Do." About Us. The World Bank Group, 8 Mar Web. 26 Mar