Multilateral Development Banks:
U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2011
Rebecca M. Nelson
Analyst in International Trade and Finance
March 11, 2011
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS20792
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2011
Summary
This report shows in tabular form how much the Administration has requested and how much
Congress has appropriated for U.S. payments to the multilateral development banks (MDBs)
since 2000. It also provides a brief description of the MDBs and the ways they fund their
operations. It will be updated periodically as annual appropriation figures are known. The title of
this report will also change annually, as new yearly appropriation figures are added.
As shown in the source note for Tables 2, 3, and 4, the final appropriation figures for FY2011
have not yet been determined. The Treasury Department made one payment to the African
Development Fund (AfDF), however, because the organization was facing serious financial
constraints and the Department had authority under the then-current continuing resolution to
make that payment.
For further information about the MDBs and the relevant U.S. policy process, see
• CRS Report R41170, Multilateral Development Banks: Overview and Issues for
Congress, by Rebecca M. Nelson;
• CRS Report R41672, Multilateral Development Banks: General Capital
Increases, by Martin A. Weiss; and
• CRS Report R41537, Multilateral Development Banks: How the United States
Makes and Implements Policy, by Jonathan E. Sanford.
Congressional Research Service
Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2011
Contents
U.S. Participation in the MDBs ................................................................................................... 1
The MDBs and Their Programs................................................................................................... 1
Funding MDB Assistance Programs ............................................................................................ 2
U.S. Appropriations for MDBs.................................................................................................... 4
Figures
Figure 1. Multilateral Development Banks: Budget Requests and Appropriated Funds,
FY2000–FY2012 ..................................................................................................................... 4
Tables
Table 1. U.S. Contribution and Voting Shares in the MDBs ......................................................... 3
Table 2. Multilateral Development Banks: Budget Requests and Appropriated Funds,
FY2000–FY2004 ..................................................................................................................... 5
Table 3. Multilateral Development Banks: Budget Requests and Appropriated Funds,
FY2005–FY2009 ..................................................................................................................... 6
Table 4. Multilateral Development Banks: Budget Requests and Appropriated Funds,
FY2010–FY2012 ..................................................................................................................... 7
Contacts
Author Contact Information ........................................................................................................ 9
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................... 9
Congressional Research Service
Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2011
U.S. Participation in the MDBs
The United States is a member of five multilateral development banks (MDBs): the World Bank,
African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank (AsDB), European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It also
belongs to two similar organizations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
and the North American Development Bank (NADBank).
The MDBs and Their Programs
The MDBs have similar programs, though they all differ somewhat in their institutional structure
and emphasis. Each has a president and executive board that manages or supervises all of its
programs and operations. Except for the EBRD, which makes only market-based loans, all the
MDBs make both market-based loans to middle-income developing countries and concessional
loans to the poorest countries. Their loans are made to governments or to organizations having
government repayment guarantees. In each MDB, the same staff prepares both the market-based
and the concessional loans, using the same standards and procedures for both.1 The main
differences between them are the repayment terms and the countries which qualify for them.2
The MDBs also have specialized facilities which have their own operating staff and management
but report to the bank’s president and executive board. The World Bank’s International Finance
Corporation (IFC) and the IDB’s Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) make loans to or
equity investments in private sector firms in developing countries (on commercial terms) without
government repayment guarantees. The AsDB makes similar loans from its market-rate loan
account. The World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) underwrites
private investments in developing countries (on commercial terms) to protect against non-
economic risk. At the IDB, the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) helps Latin American
countries institute policy reforms aimed at stimulating domestic and international investment. It
also funds worker retraining and programs for small- and micro-enterprises. The MIF originated
as part of President Bush’s 1990 Enterprise for the Americas Initiative (EAI).
The NADBank was created by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to fund
environmental infrastructure projects in the U.S.-Mexico border region. The International Fund
for Agricultural Development, created in 1977, focuses on reducing poverty and hunger in poor
countries through agricultural development.
Finally, the World Bank also serves as the trustee for several targeted multilateral development
funds, for which the Administration has requested and Congress has appropriated funds. These
multilateral funds include the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF),
the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program
(GAFSP).
1 The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank’s concessional loan affiliate. The Asian
Development Fund (AsDF), African Development Fund (AFDF), and Fund for Special Operations (FSO) are the
comparable programs at the AsDB, AfDB, and IDB, respectively.
2 MDB market-based loans cost a little more than the rate the banks pay to borrow funds commercially. IDA and AFDF
charge about 3/4 of 1% annually. The IDB charges 1% to 4% annually, depending on the project and the borrower.
Most borrowers from the concessional programs have per capita incomes of less (often much less) than $900 annually.
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Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2011
Funding MDB Assistance Programs
The MDBs’ concessional aid programs are funded with money donated by their wealthier
member country governments. Loans from the MDBs’ market-rate loan facilities are funded with
money borrowed in world capital markets. The IFC and IIC fund their loans and equity
investments partly with money contributed by their members and partly with funds borrowed
from commercial capital markets. The MDBs’ borrowings are backed by the subscription s of
their member countries. They provide a small part of their capital subscriptions (3% to 5% of the
total for most MDBs) in the form of paid-in capital. The rest they subscribe as callable capital.
Callable capital is a contingent liability, payable only if an MDB becomes bankrupt and lacks
sufficient funds to repay its own creditors. It cannot be called to provide the banks with additional
loan funds.
Countries’ voting shares are determined mainly by the size of their contributions. The United
States is the largest stockholder in most MDBs, and has maintained this position to preserve veto
power in some institutions over major policy decisions. Japan has provided more to the AsDF and
AfDF, while Nigeria and Egypt have subscribed larger shares in the AfDB. Periodically, as the
stock of uncommitted MDB funds begins to run low, the major donors negotiate a new funding
plan that specifies their new contribution shares.
Table 1 shows the U.S. contribution share and voting share for all MDB programs. In most
banks, countries get a few votes because they are members, regardless of the size of their capital
subscription. Thus, for banks with a large number of small members, the voting share of large
subscribers such as the United States may be a little smaller than their share in providing the
bank’s resources. Voting shares are the same for both market-based and concessional loans in the
AsDB and IDB.
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Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2011
Table 1. U.S. Contribution and Voting Shares in the MDBs
Contribution Share
Voting Share
World Bank Group
IBRD 16.8%
16.4%
IDA 21.5%
11.2%
IFC 24.1%
23.5%
MIGA 18.5%
14.9%
Asian Development Bank
AsDB 14.2%
11.7%
AsDF 10.6%
12.8%
African Development Bank
AfDB 6.4%
6.4%
AfDF 12.7%
6.1%
Inter-American Development Bank
IDB 28.9%
30.0%
FSO 49.6%
30.0%
IIC 24.9%
20.3%
MIF 37.8%
29.3%
EBRD
5.1% 10.2%
IFAD
14.3% 8.4%
NADBank
50.0% 50.0%
Source: MDB Annual Reports.
In IDA, by contrast, the donors have separated the issues of voting power and contributions. In
recent decades, they have chosen not to expand their voting share as they contribute new funds to
IDA. Thus, while the United States, Canada, Japan, the countries of the European Union, and the
wealthy Arab oil states have donated 99% of IDA’s resources, they have 65% of the vote. This is
more than enough to protect their interests, as decisions are reached by majority vote. The
arrangement diffuses possible tensions by giving the developing countries a sense that their
voices are heard.
Before 1976, the United States was the only significant contributor to the IDB’s Fund for Special
Operations. Nonregional countries have since joined the IDB and the FSO has become a much
smaller program and the U.S. share has declined substantially. The African Development Bank
controls 50% of the vote in the AFDF, though it has contributed only about 1% of the
concessional loan program’s resources. This maintains a semblance of African control. The
interests of the donors are protected by the fact that a three-quarters majority is required to
approve AFDF loans.
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Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2011
U.S. Appropriations for MDBs
Figure 1 and Table 2, Table 3, and Table 4 show the amounts the Administration has requested
and Congress has appropriated annually since FY2000 to the multilateral banks. Note that the
figure and table do not include callable capital. Since the early 1980s, Congress has authorized
but not appropriated callable capital.
As Figure 1 illustrates, the Administration’s budget request for U.S. contributions to the MDBs
has increased in recent years, from $1,499 million in 2008 to $3,144 million in 2012. The amount
appropriated has also increased, from $1,277 million in 2008 to $2,044 million in 2010. For
FY2011, the government is currently operating under a continuing resolution, and the final
appropriation figures for the year are not yet known. According to the Treasury Department, a
payment of $26.3 million was made to the African Development Fund (ADF), however, in light
of the organization’s current financial constrains and the interim spending authority which the
continuing resolution provides. The relevant FY2011 appropriations legislation is tracked in CRS
Report R41228, State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2011 Budget and
Appropriations, by Marian Leonardo Lawson, Susan B. Epstein, and Tamara J. Resler.
Figure 1. Multilateral Development Banks: Budget Requests and
Appropriated Funds, FY2000–FY2012
3,500
Requested
Appropriated
3,000
2,500
$ 2,000
n
illio 1,500
M
1,000
500
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
201
201
201
Source: Derived from annual appropriation legislation and Treasury Department budget presentation
documents.
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Table 2. Multilateral Development Banks: Budget Requests and Appropriated Funds, FY2000–FY2004
(Million $)
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Req. Approp. Req. Approp. Req. Approp. Req. Approp. Req. Approp.
World Bank Group
Int’l
Bank
for
Reconstruction
&
Development
(IBRD)
Int’l
Development
Association
(IDA)
803.4 771.3 835.6 773.3 803.4 792.4 874.3 844.5 976.8 907.8
Int’l
Finance
Corporation
(IFC)
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
10.0
4.0
16.0
10.0
10.0
5.0
3.6
1.6
4.0
1.1
Global Environmental Facility (GEF)a
143.3 35.8 175.6 107.8 107.5 100.5 177.8 146.9 185.0 138.4
Clean Technology Funda
Strategic Climate Funda
Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP)a
Regional/Targeted Development Banks
Asian
Development
Bank
(AsDB)
13.7
13.7
Asian
Development
Fund
(AsDF)
177.0 77.0
125.0 71.8
103.0 98.0
147.4 97.2
151.9 143.6
African
Development
Bank
(AfDB)
5.1 4.1 6.1 6.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1
African
Development
Fund
(AfDF)
127.0 127.0 100.0 99.8 100.0 100.0 118.1 107.4 118.1 112.1
Inter-American
Development
Bank
(IDB)
25.6
25.6
Fund for Special Operations (FSO)b
Inter-American Investment Corp (IIC)b
25.0 16.0 34.0 24.9 25.0 18.0 30.4 18.2 30.9
Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF)b
28.5
25.9 10.0
29.6 24.4 32.6 24.9
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD)
35.8 35.8 35.8 35.7 35.8 35.8 35.8 35.6 35.4 35.2
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
5.0
20.0
20.0
15.0
14.9
15.0
14.9
TOTAL MDB APPROPRIATION
1,394.4 1,110.3 1,353.9 1,144.4 1,209.8 1,174.8 1,437.1 1,295.8 1,554.9 1,383.0
CRS-5
Table 3. Multilateral Development Banks: Budget Requests and Appropriated Funds, FY2005–FY2009
(Million $)
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Request Approp. Request Approp. Request Approp. Request Approp. Request Approp.
World Bank Group
Int’l Bank for Reconstruction & Development
(IBRD)
Int’l
Development
Association
(IDA)
1,061.3 843.2 950.0 940.5 950.0 940.5
1,060.0 942.3
1,277.0
1,115.0
Int’l Finance Corporation (IFC)
Multilateral
Investment
Guarantee
Agency
(MIGA)
1.7
1.3
1.1
Global Environmental Facility (GEF)a
120.7 106.6 107.5 79.2 56.3 79.2 106.8 81.1 80.0 80.0
Clean Technology Funda
400.0
Strategic Climate Funda
Global Agriculture and Food Security Program
(GAFSP)a
Regional/Targeted Development Banks
Asian
Development
Bank
(AsDB)
23.8
Asian
Development
Fund
(AsDF)
112.2 99.2 115.3 99.0 115.3 99.0 133.9 74.5 115.3 105.0
African
Development
Bank
(AfDB)
5.1 4.1 5.6 3.6 5.0 3.6 2.0 2.0
0.8
African
Development
Fund
(AfDF)
118.0 105.2 135.7 134.3 135.7 134.3 140.6 134.6 156.1 150.0
Inter-American
Development
Bank
(IDB)
Fund for Special Operations (FSO)b
Inter-American Investment Corp (IIC)b
1.7
1.7
7.3
Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF)b
25.0 10.9 1.7 1.7 25.0 1.7 29.2 24.8 25.0 25.0
European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD)
35.4 35.2 1.0 1.0
0.01 0.01
International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD)
15.0 14.9 15.0 14.9 18.0 14.8 18.1 17.9 18.0 18.0
TOTAL
MDB
APPROPRIATION
1,492.7 1,219.2 1,335.3 1,277.2 1,329.0 1,273.2 1,499.0 1,277.3 2,071.3 1,493.8
CRS-6
Table 4. Multilateral Development Banks: Budget Requests and Appropriated Funds, FY2010–FY2012
(Million $)
2010
2011
2012
Request
Approp.
Request
Approp. c Request Approp.
World Bank Group
Int’l Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD)
117.4
Int’l Development Association (IDA)
1,320.0 1,262.5 1,285.0
1,358.5
Int’l Finance Corporation (IFC)
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
Global Environmental Facility (GEF)a
86.5 86.5 175.0
143.8
Clean Technology Funda
500.0 300.0 400.0
400.0
Strategic Climate Fund
100.0 75.0 235.0
190.0
Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP)a
408.4
308.0
Regional/Targeted Development Banks
Asian Development Bank (AsDB)
115.3
106.6
106.6
Asian Development Fund (AsDF)
105.0 115.3
115.3
African Development Bank (AfDB)
32.4
African Development Fund (AfDF)
159.9 155.0 155.9
26.3 195.0
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
102.0
Fund for Special Operations (FSO)b
Inter-American Investment Corp (IIC)b
4.7 4.7 21.0
20.4
Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) b
25.0 25.0 25.0
25.0
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
30.0 30.0 30.0
30.0
TOTAL MDB APPROPRIATION
2,341.4
2,043.7
2,957.2
3,144.4
CRS-7
Source (Tables 2, 3, and 4): Derived from annual appropriation legislation and Treasury Department budget presentation documents.
Notes (Tables 2, 3, and 4): Data includes rescissions. Data does not include “callable capital,” or funds that the United States has committed to provide to the MDBs if
they need it. Since the early 1980s, callable capital has been authorized, but not appropriated. To date, there has never been a call on callable capital. There has not been a
request or appropriations for NADBank during the time period covered by this table. Totals may not add due to rounding.
a. The World Bank serves as the trustee for these multilateral development funds.
b. Part of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group.
c. According to the Treasury Department, most funding for MDB programs during FY2011 has been held in abeyance. The government is currently operating under a
continuing resolution, and the final appropriation figures for the year are not yet known. A payment of $26.3 million was made to the African Development Fund, however,
in light of that organization’s current financial constraints and the interim spending authority which the continuing resolution provides.
CRS-8
Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2011
Author Contact Information
Rebecca M. Nelson
Analyst in International Trade and Finance
rnelson@crs.loc.gov, 7-6819
Acknowledgments
A previous version of this report was written by Jonathan E. Sanford, former CRS Specialist in
International Trade and Finance. Amber Wilhem, Graphics Specialist, prepared the figure.
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