The very nature of the World Bank‘s mission is to positively impact communities, through investments in education, health, public administration, infrastructure, financial and private sector development, agriculture, and environmental and natural resource management.

The World Bank is not a bank in the common sense; it is made up of two unique development institutions owned by 188 member countries: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). In fiscal 2012 (July 2011–June 2012), IBRD committed $20.6 billion for 93 new operations—significantly higher than the historical average ($13.5 billion in fiscal 2005–08), but less than the record $44.2 billion in fiscal 2010 when the crisis peaked, and less than the $26.7 billion in fiscal 2011. IDA commitments amounted to $14.8 billion in fiscal 2012, including $12.1 billion in credits, $2.2 billion in grants, and $0.4 billion in guarantees. The largest share of IDA resources was committed to Africa, which received $7.4 billion.

Of the total $35.3 billion committed by the two agencies in fiscal 2012, rural development–related projects accounted for 15 percent of total IDA and IBRD lending; human development, 14 percent; financial and private sector development, 13 percent; and urban development projects, 12 percent (see World Bank Annual Report 2012, page 19). The World Bank portfolio can also be sliced by sector or by region. A review of the Bank’s work in fiscal 2012 is detailed in the World Bank Annual Report 2012.

This section provides an overview of the Bank’s governance system, building on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators related to governance (indicators 4.1-4.17), public agencies (indicator 1), and financial services sector supplement (indicator 5) inquiring about interactions with clients/investees/business partners regarding environmental and social risks and opportunities.