World Bank 

Founded in 1944, the main mission of the World Bank Group is to fight poverty in order to obtain lasting results and help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity, and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors.  

The World Bank is owned by 181 member countries, which are shareholders and carry the ultimate decision-making power in the Bank. The Bank has its headquarters in Washington DC and offices in 100 countries, with a total of approximately 10,600 employees.  The World Bank Group consists of five affiliated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD); the International Development Association (IDA); the International Financial Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).  

The World Bank Group is the largest source of development assistance and is now working in more than 100 developing economies, providing them with both financing and ideas to improve living standards and eliminate the worst forms of poverty. Its priorities include: investing in people, through health and education; focusing on social development, inclusion, governance, and institution-building as key elements of poverty reduction; strengthening the ability of the governments to deliver quality services; protecting the environment; lending support to the private sector; and promoting reforms to create a stable macroeconomic environment that is conducive to investment and long-term planning. 

For more information on World Bank activities, please visit its Web site: http://www.worldbank.org.

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