World Bank

The World Bank is a group of international organizations responsible for providing finance to countries for purposes of development and to alleviate [balance of payments problem]?s.

The World Bank comprises:

• [International Bank for Reconstruction and Development]? (IBRD), often called simply the "World Bank", responsible for providing finance for development
• International Monetary Fund (IMF), responsible for providing finance to alleviate balance of payments problems
• [International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes]? (ICSID), responsible for settling disputes between governments and foreign investors
• [International Development Association]? (IDA), responsible for providing long-term interest-free loans to the poorest of developing countries
• [International Finance Corporation]? (IFC), responsible for providing finance to support private ventures in developing countries
• [Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency]? (MIGA), responsible for providing political risk insurance to promote foreign direct investment into emerging economies

The World Bank is headquatred in Washington, D.C.. The World Bank organizations are sometimes called the Bretton-Woods institutions, after [Bretton Woods, MA]?, where the international conference that led to their establishment was held.

See also: [European Bank for Reconstruction and Development]?, [Bank for International Settlements]?