The International Development Association (IDA) is the concessional arm of the World Bank, lending to the world's poorest countries. Donors meet at 3-yearly intervals to agree the replenishment of IDA resources. Negotiations on the fourteenth replenishment (IDA 14) began in February in Paris, and are expected to be concluded by the end of 2004.

2. The last replenishment (IDA 13) was completed in July 2002, when agreement was reached on a total replenishment of US$23 billion, of which US$12.7 billion was new resources from donors. The initial negotiated UK contribution was US$1286 million (£900 million), based on a 10.14% share - an increase on our 7.8% share in IDA 12. Parliamentary approval for the UK's contribution to IDA 13 was secured on 3 December 2002.

3. Donors met in November 2003 for a Mid-Term Review to consider the Bank's progress against the actions recommended in the IDA 13 Donors' Report which accompanied agreement to the replenishment. Progress was considered to be broadly on track, with particular successes including a growing emphasis on pro-poor economic growth and trade; the growth in the centrality of the PRS process; and an increased focus on results. 

4. The main purpose of the first IDA 14 meeting in Paris was to agree the key themes to be discussed during the replenishment negotiations. These are: effectiveness, architecture and results at the country level (including issues of ownership and partnership); IDA's financing terms and the link to debt sustainability; and growth (including the role of the private sector and trade). Additional discussions will also take place on the size of the IDA 14 replenishment, and IDA's Performance-Based Allocation (PBA) system.

To see the IDA objectives, go here.

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