 What is the World Bank Institute?
What is the history of WBI?
What does WBI do?
Who does WBI serve?
Who finances WBI?
What are WBI's accomplishments?
How do I contact WBI?What is the World Bank Institute?
The World Bank Institute (WBI) is one of the World Bank's training and capacity development instruments working closely with the Bank’s country teams to integrate capacity development activities into country assistance strategies. WBI helps increase its clients’ capacities to access knowledge from multiple sources, both local and global, and to use that knowledge to develop strategies, and to formulate and implement policies. WBI offers courses, seminars, and other knowledge-sharing activities on issues central to development, including: economic management and poverty reduction; environmentally and socially sustainable development; financial and private sector development; human development; infrastructure; governance; and knowledge for development. WBI supports professional knowledge networks and communities of learning; and administers the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program and the Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program The Institute’s learning activities are designed for parliamentarians, policymakers in various sectors, technical specialists, journalists, teachers, students, and civil society leaders, as well as World Bank staff. Learning delivery modes include print materials, instructional video, TV, two-way video-conferencing, CD-ROM, interactive multimedia and e-learning, and an increasing use of the Internet to sustain knowledge networks and communities of practice. 
What is the history of WBI?
The World Bank founded the Economic Development Institute (EDI) in 1955 to train government officials from developing countries in general development, as well as economic analysis and implementation of development projects and programs. Over the years EDI increased the number of subjects offered, and the type and number of clients who took part in its programs. In 2000, the Institute was renamed the World Bank Institute.
What does WBI do?
WBI helps World Bank client countries assess the areas in which their development capacities need to be strengthened, and designs and delivers multi-year programs of activities, using face-to-face and distance learning, aimed at building individual skills and strengthening institutions. The Institute develops learning networks of like-minded practitioners, and publishes books, working papers, and case studies as well as CD-ROMs and Web-based knowledge products. The Institute builds the capacity of leaders, decisionmakers, and other development stakeholders to design and implement policies on poverty reduction, trade, environment, AIDS, governance and corruption, education, health, and more. WBI's professional networks connect decision makers around the globe, allowing them to share information and compare experiences. Under the Joint-Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP), WBI also awards scholarships and fellowships to developing country nationals thereby fostering policymaking expertise.
Who does WBI serve?
WBI programs reach clients that include government officials and policymakers, staff from nongovernmental organizations, journalists, academics, and other development specialists, as well as secondary school teachers and students, other youth groups, and World Bank staff.
Who finances WBI?
WBI is funded by the World Bank. Donors provide nearly half of WBI's total working capital. They include bilateral aid agencies, foundations, the private sector, and other organizations. For more information see Partnerships.
What are WBI's accomplishments?
WBI delivered more than 700 learning activities to some 75,000 clients, and awarded more than 200 scholarships in fiscal year 2007. WBI fosters and utilizes the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), launched in 2000. The network links 120 distance learning affiliates with high-speed communications technologies, interactive videoconferencing and e-learning facilities.
How do I contact WBI?
The Institute's head office is in Washington, DC Contact: Mr. Christopher Neal
Email: Cneal1@worldbank.org
Address: The World Bank Institute Office of the Vice President
1818 H Street, N.W., MSN J4-403
Washington, D.C. 20433
Tel: (202) 473-2049
Fax: (202) 676-0858 WBI has representation in the field in Burkina Faso, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France (Marseilles, Paris), Ghana, India, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania. Click here for more details.
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