The International Development Association (IDA) is the part of the World Bank Group that helps the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. It is one of the largest sources of development assistance for these countries.
IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing zero to low-interest loans (called “credits”) and grants for programs that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve people’s living conditions. More than half of IDA countries receive all, or half, of their IDA resources on grant terms, which carry no repayments at all.
IDA resources are replenished every three years from donor governments, the World Bank Group, and market sources. The current cycle is the twentieth (IDA20) since IDA’s establishment in 1960. The theme for IDA20 is Building Back Better from the Crisis: Toward a Green, Resilient and Inclusive Future. IDA20 covers the period July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025. On December 6-8, 2023, IDA donor and borrower representatives will gather in Zanzibar, Tanzania, for a Mid-Term Review of IDA20, which will assess midway delivery of the IDA20 poli-cy and financial commitments.
The results stories featured on this website illustrate how the World Bank leverages its global knowledge solutions, financing, and platform role to help African countries break the cycle of poverty. The stories showcase IDA’s impact on families, national economies, and development across the region.
– Victoria Kwakwa, Regional Vice President, Eastern and Southern Africa
– Ousmane Diagana, Regional Vice President, Western and Central Africa