"1.4 billion people in the developing world – that’s one in four people – are still living on less than US $1.25 a day," said Marwan Muasher, Senior Vice President for External Affairs of the World Bank Group. "This research confirms that there is a firm global commitment to helping the world’s most vulnerable peoples, and it provides clear guidance for how the World Bank Group can better serve developing countries and help keep the world moving toward the goal of overcoming poverty. As the world grapples with the ‘triple hit’ of the financial, food and fuel crises, we must focus attention on a human rescue for those suffering from the crippling effects of poverty."
According to the poll, which surveyed World Bank Group stakeholders in more than 42 developed and developing countries, a majority of respondents rated poverty reduction as the major development challenge of 2008. Growing and strengthening domestic economies ranked second, and improving governance third. Overcoming poverty ranked first, even in regions where there has been strong growth over the past few years.
Poll respondents want scaled up efforts to reduce poverty particularly in an environment where, as the poll demonstrates, there is considerable pessimism regarding whether the Millennium Development Goal related to poverty will be achieved.
On other global issues, a number of interesting findings emerged. The poll indicates that a majority of stakeholders across the globe believe that the gap between the rich and poor has increased, though this view is not shared in all regions. In addition, a range of views emerged on the effect of globalization. Stakeholders are more positive about the effect in East Asia/Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean regions than in other areas.
In terms of development assistance as a whole the poll findings show that there is uncertainty, particularly marked in donor countries, about how effectively foreign assistance is used in stakeholders’ countries.
For the World Bank Group, the findings demonstrate that large majorities in nearly all regions consider the Bank Group as relevant. The Bank group is also considered important to countries in terms of their future development, and effective within the development arena.
Results suggest widespread support for the strategic directions that President Zoellick outlined for the World Bank Group last year, with strong support for a leadership role for the WBG in reducing corruption and improving governance. Majorities in every region, except Europe/Central Asia, also agree that climate change is a serious problem in their country, and must be taken into account when considering sustainable economic growth.
"Global leaders say the World Bank Group is an important resource for the future of social and economic development," said Warren Wright, Managing Partner for Gallup’s Government Division.
The poll also highlights areas for the WBG to improve. Specifically, the WBG needs to review whether its current sectoral focus in regions is aligned with the needs of borrowing countries, and explore how to increase country “ownership.” The WBG also needs to find more effective ways of making its knowledge and research more accessible to stakeholders globally.
“Listening well means performing well,” said Muasher. “A key message from this survey is that development resources can be delivered more effectively with enhanced country ownership.”
Globally the data showed that a majority of opinion leaders believe it is important for the WBG’s credibility that its presidential leadership selection process changes.
The poll, commissioned by the World Bank and conducted by the Gallup Organization, was conducted between March and June 2008. 2,611 respondents were selected at random, with interviewing occurring in over 42 developed and developing countries, and 22 languages.
