Finland became a member of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development—the World Bank—on January 14, 1948. It was among the first countries to get a loan to help rebuild the economy after the war. Today, Finland is a member of the five institutions that form the World Bank Group. Finland and the World Bank work together with other member governments to finance projects, design policies, and deliver programs to eradicate poverty in the developing world.
Overview
The Nordic Baltic Desk at the World Bank Paris office works to promote consensus around the international development agenda and build a platform for collaboration between the World Bank Group and Finland. It does this by promoting better understanding of the World Bank Group’s mission and activities and by building relationships with key stakeholders such as government, legislators, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, and the media.
It also supports outreach activities, often in collaboration with Finnish partners, such as organizing and supporting conferences, seminars, and other events on development-related topics. The desk serves as an entry point for groups in Finland wishing to contact World Bank staff across the world or access the plethora of information the Bank publishes, and it responds to media queries. It also seeks to increase opportunities for collaboration between Finland and the World Bank Group through co-financing, trust funds, and joint analytical work in sectors and regions of mutual interest.
World Bank Governor
The World Bank Board of Governors is the Bank’s senior decision-making body. The governors, usually Ministers of Finance or Development, meet twice a year. They have the power to admit and suspend members of the World Bank Group, increase or decrease the authorized capital stock, determine the distribution of the net income of the Bank, and decide on the World Bank Group’s overall strategic direction.
To connect with the current governors and alternate governors offices, please refer to this document.
World Bank Executive Director
The Governor Delegates responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day business of Finland’s interests at the Bank to the Executive Director (ED) for Finland. EDs reside in Washington and normally meet twice a week to decide on borrowing and financial questions, projects, and policies that impact World Bank Group general operations. Finland’s ED also represents Denmark, Estonia, Norway, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania
Shares and Voting Power
The World Bank Group has a weighted system of voting. All members of the Bank receive votes consisting of share votes (one vote for each share of the Bank's capital stock held by the member) plus basic votes (calculated so that the sum of all basic votes is equal to 5.55% of the sum of basic votes and share votes for all members). The voting power distribution differs from agency to agency within the World Bank Group.
For the latest voting status, please visit the Voting Powers page.
