Poor and developing countries seek the World Bank Group's expertise as much as they seek its financial assistance. The institution is part-Bank, part-Knowledge Trust and is well placed to provide both financial and intellectual solutions that address countries' particular needs. In-depth analysis of local challenges and practical experience gathered around the world lay the groundwork for the Bank's development projects.

Not all of the Bank's technical assistance is tied to lending. Some of it is purchased outright. The Bank is also a source of free development knowledge widely available to the public through thousands of reports, development indicators, newsletters, conferences and websites. In particular, the Bank's Development Economics (DEC) unit provides data and analytical tools that help countries make informed policy choices and shape assistance programs from ministry offices down to the village level. The World Bank Institute (WBI) helps countries share and apply knowledge to meet development challenges - especially at the local level. That process - capacity building - is at the heart of development and its effectiveness.

Increasingly, the Bank leverages its development knowledge by working with other donors through its Global Programs and Partnerships to build networks for attacking borderless challenges like HIV/AIDS or the adverse impacts of climate change. The Bank is also accelerating integration of knowledge and learning into its core work throughout the World Bank Group, including the International Finance Corporation, which produces an annual report ranking the ease of Doing Business in 178 countries.