The difference between IDA and other sources of financing is that IDA has a component of grant and loan, and it targets the very poor - the women, the children, it targets to address the issue of efficiency and quality in socialization, it is timely, and in terms of releases.

Geoffrey Ekanya Deputy Member of Parliament and Chair of Uganda PN, April 2012

We pay a lot of attention to World Bank assistance, and especially IDA...because this is good, cheap, clean money, that is put to effective use....Unlike commercial loans given by many countries, IDA's specific objective is to eradicate poverty, to bring literacy and ensure hunger eradication.

Ravi Karunanayak Member of Parliament, Sri Lanka, April 2012

What I like specifically about IDA is that they base their intervention on the country assistance strategy. They look at your priorities. This is very important [because] when they look at our priorities they really address the real problems of the country. Our country likes this strategy of intervention - based on the priority of the country.

Marie-Josee Kankera Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rwanda, April 2012

IDA is very important for Ghana because a number of communities in Ghana are still deprived, and we need this type of support to be able to build schools, health centers, provide water, good sanitation for our people. IDA does so much in that area and we think that with the continuous support we will be able to improve the living conditions of our people.

Hon. Gershon K.B. Gbediame Member of Parliament, Ghana, April 2012

We reiterate our commitment to completing an ambitious replenishment for the concessional lending facilities of the MDBs [Multilateral Development Banks], especially the International Development Association, to help ensure that LICs [Low-Income Countries] have access to sufficient concessional resources.

Leaders of the Group of 20, Seoul Summit Document, November 2010

We are committed to meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and will reinforce our efforts to this end, including through the use of the Official Development Assistance. We reaffirm our commitment to an ambitious replenishment of the World Bank’s International Development Association.

Communiqué of the Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, October 2010

Health, education, agriculture, infrastructure and institutional development in 39 countries in Africa...are attributed to IDA. The World Bank responded quickly to the 2008 world food crisis and fast-tracked IDA funds to assist countries address their urgent needs.

African Civil Society Organizations, October 2010

Georgia has had quite difficult years from an economic point of view. In the past years, however, there was very important support from The World Bank, especially this IDA program, that have changed Georgian economy. Right now we are on the rise, right now economy is recovering and one of the main reasons for this recovery can be said to be IDA. It is the projects that we need to develop in future for this growth to be sustainable for long term sustainability. We definitely need IDA.

Nika Gilauri Prime Minister of Georgia, October 2010

Poor countries like Bhutan need a lot of resources. And of course there are other bilateral development partners who do help us. But the World Bank’s IDA has been also one of the instrumental ones and it has helped us to finance a lot of social, economic infrastructure. I hope that IDA will continue to help us small countries especially, poor countries, such that there is no gap in between, because when there are gaps then the developments that have taken place before lose momentum.

Wangdi Norbu Minister of Finance, Finance Minister Bhutan, October 2010

I think any study of developments in countries with IDA funds would reveal how every sector of the economy has been benefited by IDA. And what is it for, what is the aid for? For the benefit of the people. One thing is true is that if you accept the globe as one community, if people’s demand go up, that means they have higher income, that’s good for you, that’s good for everybody.

Abul Maal Abdul Muhith Finance Minister of Bangladesh, October 2010

IDA has funded many projects and results can be really noticed. In the health sector, education and mainly, for example, for HIV programs, we have good results with IDA funds. And of course, IDA has many benefits for our country, small country like Djibouti and very poor. We hope that really the fund for IDA can be increased because we see that the results are very important and very encouraging with IDA funds.

Simon Mibrathu Secretary General of Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Planning, Djibouti, October 2010

Bread for the World's support for IDA used to be conditioned on reforms, but we now fully support funding for IDA, because the World Bank has internalized the ongoing drive to make itself more effective in reducing poverty.  I have been especially impressed by the Bank's response to the world food crisis and increased IDA support for agriculture and nutrition.

David Beckmann President of Bread for the World and World Food Prize laureate, October 2010

I would like to emphasize our appreciation for the close partnership Moldova has enjoyed in past two decades with the World Bank and the International Development Association. We call on donor countries to generously support IDA in its current round of replenishment, so that IDA can continue to be a strong partner for developing countries like Moldova in their efforts to achieve the MDGs.

Victor Bodiu Moldovan Minister of State. MDG Summit, New York, September 2010

Most importantly, IDA support is built on our own development programs, reflecting our priorities when responding to our needs... It is the fund that works very well for Africa.

Hon. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania The Guardian, July 30, 2010

Fragile states like my own will need the help of the Bank to enable us to build a foundation that is already in place, a foundation based upon sound economic policies, efficiency in resource allocation, as well as capacity development... We would like to commend the Bank for all that they have done to put Liberia on the road to recovery, and all the partners who have supported the Bank in this endeavor.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia Panel Discussion, June 30, 2010, Bamako, Mali

It is recognized, however, that there are many development projects which, though economically sound, cannot be financed by existing international institutions. To meet this situation, the United States Governor of the Bank has proposed the creation of an International Development Association as an affiliate of the Bank.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1959 ANNUAL MEETINGS

…the establishment of the International Finance Corporation and the International Development Association, is manifest evidence of the fact that international financial cooperation has grown in substance and strength from year to year.

HAYATO IKEDA PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN 1964 ANNUAL MEETINGS

Ambitious concept and flexible in implementation, IDA at the outset seemed to those of us desperately short of development finance be the type of assistance necessary to meet the fundamental development needs of the poorer countries.

MINISTER FOR FINANCE OF KENYA 1967 ANNUAL MEETINGS

The World Bank and IDA are the primary international instruments of support to the developing countries, with an unrivaled level of expertise and record of performance…

JEAN CHRETIEN MINISTER FOR FINANCE OF CANADA 1978 ANNUAL MEETINGS

Over the years, the assistance provided by IDA has not only increased in volume but also improved in quality. IDA operations in recent years have been concentrated on projects that directly benefit the poorest people in our countries, which gladdens us.

MARCEL YONDO MINISTER FOR FINANCE OF CAMEROON 1978 ANNUAL MEETINGS

The United Kingdom has always been a strong supporter of IDA, which we regard as a highly efficient means of channeling resources to the poorest countries.

NIGEL LAWSON CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, UNITED KINGDOM 1983 ANNUAL MEETINGS

IDA provides critically needed finance for social infrastructure and human resource development as well as associated assistance in the design of development policies and programs in the poorest countries of the world. If the international community is serious about eradicating the blight of poverty from our planet, IDA must be supported and adequately funded.

MANMOHAN SINGH MINISTER OF FINANCE, INDIA 1994 ANNUAL MEETINGS

It is simple-the IDA is essential. Its loans provide a crucial tool for nations that seek to escape from poverty to sustain growth. It serves our fundamental values, as well as our economic interests, by lowering trade and investment barriers, supporting private sector growth, opening the markets of tomorrow and giving people a chance to succeed.

BILL CLINTON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1995 ANNUAL MEETINGS

One dollar of IDA assistance is worth four dollars of tied aid.

ASHRAF GHANI FINANCE MINISTER OF AFGHANISTAN JOINT ANNUAL DISCUSSION – 2004