World bank Updates-

Voting power

In 2010, voting powers at the World Bank were revised to increase the voice of developing countries, notably China. The countries with most voting power are now the United States (15.85%), Japan (6.84%), China (4.42%) 3rd, Germany (4.00%), the United Kingdom (3.75%), France (3.75%), India (2.91%) 7th, Russia (2.77%), Saudi Arabia (2.77%) and Italy (2.64%). Under the changes, known as

•  'Voice Reform – Phase 2', countries other than China that saw significant gains included South Korea, Turkey, Mexico, Singapore, Greece, Brazil, India, and Spain. Most developed countries' voting power was reduced, along with a few poor countries such as Nigeria. The voting powers of the United States, Russia and Saudi Arabia were unchanged.^[21][22]

The changes were brought about with the goal of making voting more universal in regards to standards, rule-based with objective indicators, and transparent among other things. Now, developing countries have an increased voice in the "Pool Model," backed especially by Europe. Additionally, voting power is based on economic size in addition to International Development Association contributions.^[23]

Clean Technology Fund management

The World Bank has been assigned temporary management responsibility of the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), focused on making renewable energy cost-competitive with coal-fired power as quickly as possible, but this may not continue after UN's Copenhagen climate change conference in December, 2009, because of the Bank's continued investment in coal-fired power plants

Protesters against in South Africa and abroad have criticized the 2010 decision of the World Bank's approval for a US$3.75 billion loan to build the world's 4th largest coal-fired power plant in South Africa. The plant will greatly increase the demand for coal mining and corresponding harmful environmental effects of coal.

• World Bank president candidates

There are three candidates for the next president of the World Bank.

They are Jim Yong Kim from the US,
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria and
Jose Antonio Ocampo from Colombia.
The US has always held the position since the World Bank was founded in 1944  (except once he was a naturalised citizen of australia Sir James Wolfensohn 1995-2005)and several names were rumoured to be under consideration by President Barack Obama.
But there has been increasing pressure for the next head of the Bank to be from a developing nation.
please follow link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17490997

plz note in view of the latest development
New Delhi: The BRICS group of nations Thursday urged the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to urgently review the their quota system to safeguard the interests of all nations and said it will support candidates from developing countries to head the multilateral lenders.

"BRICS demand that the heads of the IMF and the World Bank be selected through an open and merit-based process," said a joint declaration by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The statement adds to a growing voice from developing countries--buoyed by brisk economic growth--which are seeking a greater role in the global financial system to better represent their concerns.
History
The World Bank is one of five institutions created at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. The International Monetary Fund, a related institution, is the second. Delegates from many countries attended the Bretton Woods Conference. The most powerful countries in attendance were the United States and United Kingdom, which dominated negotiations.^[5]
Although both are based in Washington, D.C., the World Bank is, by custom, headed by an American, while the IMF is led by a European.

The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans^[2] to developing countries for capital programs.
The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty. According to the World Bank's Articles of Agreement (As amended effective 16 February 1989) all of its decisions must be guided by a commitment to promote foreign investment, international trade and facilitate capital investment.^[3]
The World Bank differs from the World Bank Group, in that the World Bank comprises only two institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), whereas the latter incorporates these two in addition to three more:^[4] International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Membership	187 countries (IBRD) 170 countries (IDA)
President	Robert B. Zoellick
Main organ	Board of Directors[1

Membership	187 countries (IBRD) 170 countries (IDA)
President	Robert B. Zoellick
Main organ	Board of Directors[1

Membership	187 countries (IBRD) 170 countries (IDA)
President	Robert B. Zoellick
Main organ	Board of Directors[1

Membership	187 countries (IBRD) 170 countries (IDA)
President	Robert B. Zoellick
Main organ	Board of Directors[1]

Membership	187 countries (IBRD) 170 countries (IDA)
President	Robert B. Zoellick
Main organ	Board of Directors[1]

Membership	187 countries (IBRD) 170 countries (IDA)
President	Robert B. Zoellick
Main organ	Board of Directors[1]