There are more than 63,000 donor-funded development projects worldwide, each governed by countless demands, guidelines and procedures designed to protect the project and ensure that aid gets to the poor. Experience shows that capacity in developing countries can be improved and strengthened quickly when donors better coordinate their activities and harmonize their procedures.

The World Bank works with other international institutionsand donors, the private sector, civil society and professional and academic associations to improve the coordination of aid policies and practices in countries, at the regional level and at the global level.

Partnerships at Work

The adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 solidified an historic global partnership to focus on reaching seven specific targets to reduce poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy. The eighth goal, develop a global partnership for development, identifies the means to achieve the other seven.

These are examples of important global partnerships in which the World Bank participates:

Onchocerciasis Control Program (OCP) Successfully halted transmission of river blindness in 11 countries with a collective population of 35 million. Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Created and promoted crop improvements in developing countries over the last 30 years through a network of research centers. Global Environment Facility (GEF) Provides grants to developing countries to fund projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local communities. Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP) Expands access to microfinance by the poor in developing countries through a consortium of 28 public and private development agencies. Financial Sector Reform and Strengthening Initiative (FIRST) Provides flexible, practical assistance to developing countries to strengthen their financial systems and adopt international financial standards. Global Water Partnership (GWP) Supports countries in the sustainable management of their water resources.

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) Seeks to protect public health worldwide through the widespread use of vaccines. The Carbon Fund Works to develop viable, flexible market mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. Roll Back Malaria Coordinates the international fight against malaria, which kills more than 1 million people a year, most of them children in Africa. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Advocates for global action on the HIV/AIDS epidemic and works with civil society, the business community and the private sector. Education for All Focuses attention on education and strives to ensure an education for every citizen in every society.