Finance

Background

Who pays for the Fund and the Bank?

5 April 2017 | FAQ

Money. Credit: 401kcalculator.org

Money. Credit: 401kcalculator.org

The IMF and the World Bank’s financial resource base is mainly made up of member states’ contributions. These resources allow them to make initial loans and draw income through two main streams. The first derives from their lending operations, while the latter comes from the income on investments in financial markets.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

As of October 2016, the IMF has approximately $964 billion of of capital, which it can make available to its 189 member countries. The principal purpose of IMF lending is to assist countries with balance of payment problems so that these do not threaten global financial stability. This crisis resolution role is at the heart of IMF lending. The IMF can also support countries to cope with adverse shocks, such as those that resulted from the 2008 financial crisis.

Approximately 46 per cent of IMF resources come from contributions of its member countries, through the payment of quotas. The current quota formula is a weighted average of GDP (weight of 50 per cent); openness (30 per cent); economic variability (15 per cent); and international reserves (5 per cent). The IMF’s resources are denominated in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), an international reserve asset created under the Bretton Woods fixed exchange system to supplement the member countries’ official reserves (see Observer  Winter 2016, Update 65).

Apart from determining the country’s contribution to the Fund, the quota system also defines the voting power and the maximum amount of resources a country can borrow in normal circumstances. The 2010 reform of the quota system, which was approved in 2016, resulted in a doubling of the Fund’s financial resources from $330 billion to $660 billion and a slight increase of the quota shares of emerging countries (with minor decrease of US shares). China was the major beneficiary of the quota revision, becoming the third largest member country in the Fund. As of October 2016, quota resources added up to $447 billion (see Observer Winter 2016). Two other credit lines exist to augment the financial position of the IMF in case of exceptional situations that pose a threat to the stability of the monetary system.

The New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB), which was proposed after the 1994 Mexican crisis, entered into force in 1998 and was expanded in 2010 in order to supplement the Fund’s quota resources. Following the increase in quotas resulting from the 14th quota review in February 2016, the NAB has been halved from about $500 billion in a move from NAB to quota resources. NAB amounted to $250 billion coming from 38 countries in October 2016. In November 2016 the IMF executive board approved the renewal of NAB for a five-year period beginning November 2017.

Following the 2008 financial crisis, in response to concerns about the IMF’s response capacity arising from a lack of quota increase during the past decade, a line of borrowing was created with bilateral borrowing arrangements established in 2012 to ensure the IMF could meet its lending requirements. These arrangements totalled up to $360 billion in October 2016.

In 2016, the IMF’s forward commitment capacity (FCC), the resources immediately available for new, non-concessional lending, amounted to $283.3 billion. The FCC is determined by the Fund’s usable resources, including NAB and loan repayments over the next twelve months, minus resources already committed and a prudential balance.

Concessional lending to low-income countries is not financed through quota subscriptions, but through contributions from member countries and the IMF itself. The Fund provides low-interest loans under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT). Debt relief is provided under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, the Catastrophe Containment and Relief (CCR) Trust and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI).

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

IBRD is owned by the governments of its 189 shareholder countries and lends to middle income countries. IBRD is the one of the largest Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) in the world and is one of the five institutions of the World Bank Group. IBRD’s main assets are its loans to member countries. As of December 2016, IBRD’s net loans outstanding amounted to $171.1 billion. Approximately 22 per cent of IBRD’s net loans are financed through equity, while the remaining portion is funded by proceeds of borrowings from capital markets. Thanks to its consistent triple-A rating since 1959, IBRD can borrow at low interest rates and offer access to capital to creditworthy middle and low income countries on favourable terms.

Funds raised through capital markets that are not deployed for lending are kept in the investment portfolio to ensure a prudential level of liquidity for its operations. As of December 2016, the liquid asset portfolio amounted to $57.1 billion, while the borrowing portfolio totalled $190.2 billion, made up of debt securities in a variety of currencies.

IBRD’s business model is not based on profit maximisation, but on prudent management in order to generate enough revenue for its operations; for balance sheet consolidation (through accumulation of reserves); and to provide income transfers to the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s low-income country arm.

International Development Association (IDA)

IDA complements the work of the IBRD by providing loans, called “credits”, and grants to the world’s poorest countries when they are not eligible to borrow from IBRD. Eligibility for IDA support depends on the country’s relative poverty measured and updated annually in terms of Gross National Income per capita, with the threshold for fiscal 2016 set at $1,215, as well as its creditworthiness and ability to borrow on market terms. IDA also supports some countries that are above the threshold but lack the creditworthiness to borrow from the IBRD. Additionally, “blend countries”, such as Vietnam, are eligible for IDA support based on income levels but are also sufficiently creditworthy for some IBRD borrowing.

IDA lends money on highly concessional terms, with interest rates as of 1 January 2017 varying from 3.125 to 6.7 per cent on loans. Countries at high risk of debt distress (“red light” countries) receive 100 per cent of their support in grants. Together with the IMF and the African Development Fund (ADF), IDA also provides debt relief though the HIPC initiative and MDRI. In March 2016 the board of directors approved the establishment of an IDA Scale-up Facility (IDA17 SUF) to provide additional support to IDA countries for the remainder of the IDA 17 period. The SUF finances IDA operations approved before the end of FY17. The SUF credits are offered at non-concessional lending terms to eligible clients – those at low or medium risk of debt distress – to ensure consistency with the Non-Concessional Borrowing Policy (NCBP) and the IMF Debt Limits Policy.

Unlike the IBRD, IDA raises most of its funds through contributions by its 173 shareholder countries. Contributions to IDA are also used to calculate voting shares at both IBRD and IDA. Replenishment rounds take place every three years.

IDA 17 funding featured member state contributions of $31 billion, internal resources/carry-overs of $19 billion, member loans of $4 billion and WBG transfers of $3 billion. The last IDA replenishment round (IDA 18) was finalised in December 2016, and expects IDA to use its triple-A credit rating to raise a third of the committed $75 billion through capital markets. Another third will come from the Bank’s own resources, with transfers from IBRD’s net income and grants from the IFC.

Other forms of income include borrowers’ repayments of earlier IDA credits, service charges and investment income. IDA’s fixed service charge has been set at 0.75 per cent and covers administrative expenses. Additional revenues for administrative expenses derive from a commitment charge that ranges between 0 and 0.5 per cent. IDA 18 also includes a plan to create a new $2.5 billion Private Sector Window (PSW) managed together with the IFC and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA, the World Bank’s political risk insurance arm) (see Observer Winter 2017).

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

The IFC is one of the world’s largest development institutions primarily focused on the private sector and is owned by 184 member countries. Apart from the contributions from member states, the IFC relies for its resources on capital markets and retained earnings from previous operations. As the World Bank’s private sector lending arm, it raises virtually all its funds by issuing debt obligations in international capital markets. For this reason, maintaining a high credit rating is important in order to keep borrowing costs low. During FY 2016, the IFC borrowed in 18 currencies. In 2016, out of a total capital of $22,766 billion the IFC held $20,475 billion in undesignated retained earnings and $2.58 billion in authorised capital (contributions from member states). In addition, the IFC maintains a small borrowing window with IBRD, although it rarely uses this facility.

During the past 60 years, the IFC has used the capital from member states to generate about $245 billion in financing for its activities. In FY 2016, the IFC invested nearly $18.8 billion, including $7.7 billion in funds mobilised from other investors. The highest portion of long-term commitments, 45 per cent ($5 billion), comprised investments in financial markets and funds. Latin America and the Caribbean was the region with the highest level of IFC investment, amounting to $2.7 billion, or 24 per cent of long-term commitments. While in 2016 the IFC had income before grants to IDA of $296 million, it made grants to IDA totalling $330 million, leaving it with a net loss of $33 million.


This article has been adapted since publishing to reflect input by the IFC and the World Bank.

More background on this issue

Finance

Analysis

2 March 2022 | Annual report (BWP)

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IFI governance

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6 October 2021 | Minutes

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Finance

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9 December 2021 | Inside the institutions

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Finance

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18 April 2016 | Minutes

Global Infrastructure Forum: Perspectives from new development finance institutions

Notes from a side event at the inaugural Global Infrastructure Forum, during the World Bank/IMF 2016 spring meetings, discussing the role of the new development finance institutions, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank.

IFI governance

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4 October 2021 | Minutes

Making the Most of Special Drawing Rights: Approaches to maximise impact and create a sustainable and just recovery

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 4 October on the ways to maximise the impacts of the recent allocation of $650 billion Special Drawing Rights.

Finance

Background

5 April 2017 | FAQ

Who pays for the Fund and the Bank?

This Inside the Institutions looks at the funds available to the IMF and the World Bank, including the origins of IBRD and IFC resources and an overview of the most recent changes in the IMF and IDA’s funding streams and mechanisms.

Finance

Background

14 April 2016 | Minutes

Political economy of structural reforms

Notes from an official event at the IMF/World Bank 2016 spring meetings on the political economy of structural reforms.

Finance

Background

17 June 2015 | Minutes

DFID Financing for Development and infrastructure meeting

Minutes from a meeting with UK NGOs and DFID on Financing for Development and infrastructure.

IFI governance

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16 March 2015 | Minutes

UK civil society meeting with UK World Bank Executive Director Gwen Hines

Notes of a meeting with UK World Bank Executive Director Gwen Hines 25 February 2015.

IFI governance

Background

9 October 2014

Financing for development: What actions are needed on debt and illicit capital flows?

Notes of a meeting on financing for development at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2014

Finance

Background

30 May 2013 | Minutes

Notes of a meeting with World Bank Managing Director Caroline Anstey

Notes of a meeting with World Bank Managing Director Caroline Anstey

IFI governance

Background

30 May 2013 | Minutes

Civil society meeting with Steve Field, UK IMF Executive Director

Minutes of CSO meeting with Steve Field UK IMF Executive Director, 9 April 2013

IFI governance

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24 April 2013 | Minutes

IMF reform in developing country perspective

Notes from IMF 2013 Spring meetings civil society forum event

IFI governance

Background

22 April 2013 | Minutes

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Social services

Background

19 April 2013 | Minutes

Leveraging private finance with public money: Positive Innovation? Corporate Welfare?

This event explored how modalities to "leverage" the private sector are beginning to appear in different ways in the World Bank and donors' agenda, and the challenges they pose.

Environment

Background

18 April 2013 | Minutes

CSO meeting with Ms. Ksenia Yudaeva, G20 sherpa, Russian Federation

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IFI governance

Background

18 April 2013 | Minutes

After recent court decisions: how can sovereign debt workouts become fair, comprehensive and account

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Private Sector

Background

18 April 2013 | Minutes

Discussion on IMF jobs and growth policies

Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) sponsored discussion on macroeconomic policy in the Eurozone, and the challenges to restoring employment and growth.

Private Sector

Background

18 April 2013 | Minutes

What next for the eurozone? Macroeconomic policy and the recession

Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) sponsored discussion on macroeconomic policy in the Eurozone, and the challenges to restoring employment and growth.

Accountability

Background

18 February 2013 | Minutes

UK Civil Society Meeting with Minister of State Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP

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IFI governance

Background

13 October 2012 | Minutes

World Bank Inspection Panel at 19: Some Lessons for Safeguard Policy

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IFI governance

Background

12 October 2012 | Minutes

Citizen-Led Accountability at the World Bank Group: experiences of independent recourse mechanisms

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IFI governance

Background

12 October 2012 | Minutes

Facilitating international adjustment through timely debt resolution

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Rights

Background

12 October 2012 | Minutes

World Bank safeguard review and CSOs approaches in their engagement

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Accountability

Background

11 October 2012 | Minutes

Global financial regulations and their Impact on major campaigns

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IFI governance

Background

11 October 2012 | Minutes

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Environment

Background

9 October 2012 | Minutes

CSO Roundtable with World Bank executive directors

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Finance

Background

20 April 2012 | Minutes

Regulating Global Capital Flows for Development

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Accountability

Background

18 April 2012 | Minutes

UK civil society meeting UK IMF Executive Director Alex Gibbs

Notes of a meeting with UK executive director to the IMF Alex Gibbs in April 2012

Accountability

Background

12 October 2011 | Minutes

UK civil society meeting with HM Treasury and UK IMF Executive Director

Notes meeting Alex Gibbs September 2011

Infrastructure

Background

23 September 2011 | Minutes

Scaling up Climate Finance

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, September 22, 2011

IFI governance

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23 September 2011 | Minutes

Financial Transaction Tax implementation

Notes of a meeting, Washington DC, 22 September 2011

Finance

Background

13 June 2011 | Inside the institutions

The IFC's approach to international trade finance

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Accountability

Background

18 April 2011 | Minutes

IFC and Financial Intermediary Lending

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, April 15, 2011

Environment

Background

15 April 2011 | Minutes

The Green Climate Fund: discussion of principles and design

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, April 15, 2011

Infrastructure

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30 November 2010 | Minutes

Private sector investment in energy lending and climate finance

Meeting notes of 'Private sector investment in energy lending and climate finance'

IFI governance

Background

12 October 2010 | Minutes

Held in reserve: can a new approach to monetary policy transform the global economic outlook?

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Knowledge

Background

11 October 2010 | Minutes

Post MDG Summit

Notes of the seminar of annual meetings 2010

IFI governance

Background

11 October 2010 | Minutes

Future of the global financial and monetary system

Notes of the seminar of annual meetings 2010

IFI governance

Background

11 October 2010 | Minutes

Global economic governance

Notes of the seminar of annual meetings 2010

Accountability

Background

4 October 2010 | Minutes

Meeting on the World Bank between DFID and UK NGOs

Notes of a meeting between UK civil society and DFID staff.

Accountability

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6 April 2010 | Minutes

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Accountability

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30 March 2010 | Minutes

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Finance

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15 February 2010 | Inside the institutions

IDA replenishment

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IFI governance

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5 October 2009 | Minutes

Future of the Global Financial System

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IFI governance

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4 October 2009 | Minutes

The UN conference and the G20 summit

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IFI governance

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4 October 2009 | Minutes

Critical debate on the World Bank and IMF

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IFI governance

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4 October 2009 | Minutes

Global economic governance roundtable

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IFI governance

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23 April 2009 | Minutes

G20 Summit and impacts on developing countries

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IFI governance

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1 April 2009 | Inside the institutions

The IMF's special drawing rights (SDRs)

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Finance

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16 February 2009 | Inside the institutions

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Environment

Background

27 November 2008 | Inside the institutions

International financial architecture

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Conditionality

Background

10 November 2008 | Minutes

Minutes from Video conference of UK NGOs with UK Executive Director to the IMF

Meeting exploring the IMF

Conditionality

Background

11 October 2008 | Minutes

Combating tax flight: ending evasion and reducing avoidance

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IFI governance

Background

1 February 2008 | Inside the institutions

The IFIs and Islamic finance

The World Bank Group and the IMF have become more involved in assistance to and oversight of Islamic financial institutions.

Finance

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4 December 2007 | Inside the institutions

The IMF and financial sector reform

While the World Bank has done a lot of work on financial sector reform, the IMF is also a key actor. Since facing criticism over its lack of understanding of financial markets in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the IMF has significantly increased its capacity for analysis of the financial sector.

IFI governance

Background

27 April 2007 | Minutes

European CSO meeting with European IMF EDs

Incomplete minutes of European CSO meeting with European IMF EDs, 13 April 2007

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