World Bank Group's Engagement in ICT

The World Bank Group is the largest multi-lateral financier and provider of policy advice in the field of ICT in developing countries. Over the past five years, the World Bank Group has provided more than US$3 billion of funding in over 80 countries through its three financing arms; the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD or World Bank), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA):
World Bank has supported reforms in over 80 client governments and provided approximately US$750 million in loans for ICT related projects. This support is in addition to lending projects in other sectors—such as health, education, trade, and finance— which have ICT components. It is estimated that US$1 billion to 1.5 billion in lending is provided to these projects annually. Trust funds administered by the IBRD have contributed an additional US$50 million to the ICT sector in the past five years.
IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group provided approximately US$1.5 billion in financing to ICT companies in developing countries. Additionally, through its syndicated loan program, the IFC offers commercial banks and other financial institutions the chance to lend to IFC-financed projects that they might not otherwise consider. These loans have contributed another US$1 billion toward the sector.
MIGA, as an agency that provides political risk insurance to foreign investments in developing countries, has supplied an additional US$700 million to the ICT sector through private investment guarantees.
ICT is one of the best performing sectors in the World Bank Group’s portfolio, both in terms of returns and development impact.