The World Bank views good governance and anti-corruption as important to its poverty alleviation mission. Many governance and anti-corruption initiatives are taking place throughout the World Bank Group. They focus on internal organizational integrity, minimizing corruption on World Bank-funded projects, and assisting countries in improving governance and controlling corruption.

Combining participatory action-oriented learning, capacity-building tools, and the power of data, the World Bank Institute (WBI), in collaboration with other units in the World Bank Group, supports countries in improving governance and controlling corruption. We also provide policy and institutional advice and support to countries in their formulation of action programs. Using a strategic and multidisciplinary approach, we apply action-learning methods to link empirical diagnostic surveys, their practical application, collective action, and prevention. Concrete results on the ground are emphasized in our learning programs and clinics as well as the periodic release of the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and country diagnostics. This integrated approach is supported by operational research and a comprehensive governance databank.

New Papers and Data on Governance

Governance Indicators: Where Are We, Where Should We Be Going?  by Daniel Kaufmann and Aart Kraay • World Bank Research Observer • January  2008 Governance Matters VI: Governance Indicators for 1996-2006 by Daniel Kaufmann, Aart Kraay, and Massimo Mastruzzi. This paper presents the latest of our estimates of six dimensions of governance covering 212 countries and territories between 1996 and 2006.