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Given their objective of combating poverty throughout the world, France and the World Bank Group are working together to devise development policies that involve a broad range of problem areas, such as conflict prevention, food security, climate change, infrastructure, governance, health, or education, so as to enable millions of individuals in the poorest countries to be vaccinated, to move from place to place on serviceable and secure routes, to have sources of safe drinking water, and to have access to public services. The expertise of the World Bank Group, its knowledge of and capacity for working in all sectors and in all countries, contribute to achieving sustainable human, economic, and social development objectives throughout the world.

France became a member of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on Dec. 27, 1945. On May 9, 1947, it was the recipient of the first IBRD loan, in the amount of $250 million, for the reconstruction of infrastructure that had been devastated by the Second World War. It is now a member of all five institutions making up the World Bank Group.

The office for France (in Paris) is responsible for ongoing communications between the World Bank and the local development partners, thereby contributing to improved understanding of its mission and its activities: government representatives, legislators, researchers and academics, members of think tanks, NGO representatives, private sector representatives, international and bilateral institutions, and journalists.

The office promotes relations with French partners by organizing seminars and conferences on development-related issues, answering questions and requests from the media and members of parliament,  engaging in consultations with French civil society concerning the policies of the World Bank Group, serving as contact point for addressing queries from the French public and private sectors, providing support for partnerships (co-financing, research, etc.) with the French Development Agency, and for the relevant teams at the time of negotiations on Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ replenishments.

The office also endeavors to increase the opportunities for growing collaboration between France and the World Bank Group through co-financing operations, trust funds, and joint analytical work on sectors and regions of mutual interest. 

Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ Group at the Paris Office is also represented by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

World Bank Governor

Each member country is represented within the World Bank Group by a Governor, who is generally the Finance Minister or the Minister of Development of the country concerned, and whose powers extend in particular to authorizing capital increases, approving financial statements, accepting or electing to suspend new members at the annual meetings. 

To connect with the current governors and alternate governors offices, please refer to .

World Bank Executive Director

The Governors Delegate some of their functions to Executive Directors. France is part of the EDS04 office.These individuals meet as needed to decide on the proper response to proposals from the president of the World Bank Group with regard to extending loans and deciding upon policies to guide the general operations of the institution.  

Shares and Voting Power

The member countries of the World Bank Group have a given number of shares in the capital of the institution of which they are members; this number of shares determines their voting power when decisions are reached by the Board of Executive Directors.

For the latest voting status, please visit the Voting Powers page.