International Development Association (IDA) Secures Record $100 Billion in Funding
The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank's fund dedicated to 78 low-income countries, providing the largest source of multilateral financing for development. It offers concessional financing for projects that stimulate economic growth, strengthen resilience, and improve living conditions for populations, with over two-thirds of its resources allocated to low-income African countries. IDA's resources benefit 1.9 billion people worldwide.
Since its creation, IDA has mobilized $533 billion in funding for 115 countries. The 78 current beneficiary countries are distributed as follows: 40 in Sub-Saharan Africa, 14 in East Asia and the Pacific, 6 in South Asia, 4 in Europe and Central Asia, 8 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 3 in the Middle East and North Africa.
To operate, IDA requires resources. Last week, it secured a record $100 billion in funding. This envelope will be achieved through a leveraging effect based on promises of contributions to the 21st replenishment of IDA, amounting to $23.7 billion. 17 donor countries increased their contributions by more than 25% (in national currency), and 10 others reviewed them upwards by 40% or more. In total, 59 countries made financial commitments to IDA-21.
In parallel with this record funding, the World Bank has worked to simplify, accelerate, and flexibilize IDA's processes. It has reduced strategic engagements and required criteria by half, giving beneficiaries greater freedom to define their development priorities.
This funding will enable 78 countries to invest in health, education, infrastructure, and climate resilience, while stabilizing economies, creating jobs, and laying the foundations for sustainable prosperity. Tunisia is not among these countries, as it is not a low-income country. The last project financed by IDA in Tunisia dates back to 1979.
