Since 1996, the World Bank has reached more than 6 million poor in Bangladesh through microfinance projects totaling US$260 million. 90% of micro-credit borrowers are women.

The World Bank Board of Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) grant for US$50 million to assist the Government of Rwanda with the implementation of key policy actions outlined in its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).This is the third in a series of Rwanda's 2002 Poverty Reduction Strategy Operations.

Vietnam's new Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) represents a credible and financially-sustainable strategy to promote growth and poverty reduction over the next five years, the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors said at its meeting today.