According to its official web portal, the World Bank is constituted by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). Latter are part of the World Bank Group, which overall includes five organizations:
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) lends to governments of middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries.
The International Development Association (IDA) provides interest-free loans and grants to governments of the poorest countries.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a global development institution that focuses exclusively on the private sector.
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) was created in 1988 to promote foreign direct investment in developing countries. It does so by offering political risk insurance (guarantees) to investors and lenders.
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) provides international facilities for conciliation and arbitration of investment disputes.
The World Bank group was created in 1944. It holds an observer status at the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The aim of the World Bank group is to support development and reduce poverty. In this vein, the World Bank provides low-interest loans, zero to low-interest credits, and grants to developing countries. Some of their projects are co-financed with governments, multilateral institutions, commercial banks, export credit agencies, private sector investors, and trust fund partnerships with bilateral and multilateral donors. Moreover, the World Bank also provides policy advice, research, analysis, and technical assistance to developing countries, as well as capacity development, forums, and conferences on key development issues.
What does the World Bank do for Security Sector Governance and Reform?
Historically, the World Bank’s involvement in Security Sector Governance was limited. Same as other development agencies, its approach to reducing poverty and fostering development did not include security issues until the 1990s. Additionally, the World Bank’s mandate prevented it from engaging in security-related issues. Peace-building and reconstruction efforts in conflict-affected countries later demonstrated the importance of democratic security sector governance, as a precondition for development. Consequently, the World Bank has become progressively involved in supporting SSR in developing and conflict-affected countries. Currently, the World Bank group is mainly working on the following thematic areas related to Security Sector Governance and Reform:
- Defence Spending and Procurement
- Anti-Corruption
- Justice Reform
- Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR)
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Oversight
- Emergency Response Policy
Key documents
The OECD DAC Handbook on Security System Reform (SSR) Supporting Security and Justice.
For more information on the World Bank’s projects and activities please refer to its official web portal here.
See WB’s Activities and Projects in Ukraine.
Sources:
The World Bank