The World Bank in Switzerland

Switzerland joined the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in May 1992. Switzerland is also a member of the International Development Association (IDA, which it joined in 1992), the International Finance Corporation (IFC, 1992), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA, 1988), and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID, 1998). Together, these five institutions make up the World Bank Group. 

Switzerland is an active and engaged shareholder of the World Bank Group (WBG). It continues to demonstrate its development leadership and contributes with recommendations to improve the WBG’s delivery model and promote partnerships and development effectiveness. Switzerland’s commitment to IDA countries remains strong through its financial contribution and active participation in shaping IDA’s priorities. 

The Switzerland desk at the World Bank Geneva office manages the WBG’s corporate relations with Swiss constituencies. It works to promote consensus around the international development agenda and supports collaboration between the WBG and Switzerland. It does so by sharing knowledge and evidence on the development agenda, by promoting better understanding of the WBG’s mission and activities and by building relationships with key stakeholders such as government, legislators, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, think-tanks, and the media. The office also serves as an entry point for groups in Switzerland wishing to contact WBG staff across the world or access the WBG’s  knowledge and data, as well as for media queries. It also seeks to increase opportunities for collaboration between Switzerland and the WBG through co-financing, trust funds contributions, knowledge sharing 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 WBG, 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 Switzerland’s interests at the WBG to the Executive Director (ED) for Switzerland. EDs reside in Washington and normally meet twice a week to decide on borrowing and financial questions, projects, and policies that impact WBG general operations. Switzerland is part of the constituency also representing Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Poland, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.  Beatrice Maser (Switzerland) is currently the Executive Director and chair of the constituency. From 2026 to 2028, she will represent Switzerland as Alternate Executive Director, when Poland takes on the Chair of the constituency.  

Shares and Voting Power

The WBG 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 WBG.

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

For information on Switzerland’s aid flows as a donor, please visit the Aid Flows Switzerland donor page.