The World Bank is helping to fight poverty and improve the living standards for the people in Lesotho. As of April 2008, cumulative International Development Association (IDA) commitments to Lesotho stand at US$361.2 million for 35 credits, and cumulative International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) commitments stand at$155 million for two loans. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has provided technical assistance to private sector development in tourism and export promotion, as well as in health reform. IFC has been acting in an advisory role to the government on plans for public-private partnership to develop a new hospital in Maseru. The work is a pioneering joint initiative by the World Bank and IFC in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency’s (MIGA) outstanding portfolio consists of two contracts of guarantee with $10.0 million in gross and net exposure in the services sector.

Eight active operations address the following areas:

• Agriculture, fishing, and forestry
• Education
• Finance
• Health and other social services
• Industry and trade
• Law and justice and public
• Mining
• Water, sanitation, and flood

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