The World Bank is comprised of two institutions — the IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and the IDA (International Development Association) — and collectively has the common goal of providing technical and financial assistance to developing countries around the world.

Basically, the World Bank gives money – in the form of low-interest loans and grants – to developing countries for many different developmental purposes: education, health, public administration, infrastructure, financial and private sector development, agriculture, and environmental and natural resource management.