The World Bank Annual Report 2009

The World Bank group, among the
world's largest development institutions, is a major
source of financial and technical assistance to developing
countries around the world. In fiscal 2009, the World Bank
group sponsored 767 projects with a total commitment of
$58.8 billion, distributed in credits, loans, grants, and
guarantees. This fiscal year's funding marks a 54
percent increase over the previous fiscal year and a record
high for the Bank group. The Bank group's investment
projects are aimed largely at improving infrastructure
services associated with poverty reduction and enhanced
growth. In fiscal 2009, the Bank group committed $20.7
billion to infrastructure, a critical sector to provide the
foundation for rapid recovery from the crisis and to support
job creation. The sustainable infrastructure action plan,
launched in July 2008, will leverage up to $72 billion to
provide additional financing of up to $149 billion in public
and private investments over fiscal 2009-11. The Bank
group's investment projects are aimed largely at
improving infrastructure services associated with poverty
reduction and enhanced growth.