The World Bank is dedicated to the promotion of sustainable economic development and to poverty reduction throughout the developing world. It faces new challenges as capital shortages are replaced by large but volatile capital flows. The contributors to this volume argue that the Bank's greatest asset is its accumulated knowledge and experience of the development process, and propose that it organise itself around the concept of a 'Knowledge Bank'. They propose a shift in priority, away from lending with conditionality imposed on borrowing governments, towards assistance to governments in devising good development strategies. Part I examines the existing structure of the Bank and considers the World Bank as an institution. In Part II the effectiveness of World Bank assistance is evaluated. This book provides essential reading for politicians, civil servants, workers in the non-official sector, and academics and students involved or interested in the development process.

"An excellent addition to any undergraduate and graduate collection on development assistance and international financial institutions." Choice

"Each chapter is written by a knowledge contributor, and the insights provided are impressive...An excellent addition to any undergraduate collection on development assistance and international financial institutions." Choice Apr 2001