What the World Bank Does

1. The World Bank and itsOffice of the PublisherPublishing Workshop, Beijing, September 4, 2007H. Dirk Koehler, Publisher, The World Bank, Washington, DC

2. What the World Bank Does • One of the world's largest sources of development assistance • In fiscal year 2006, it provided more than US$23 billion in loans to developing countries • Works in more than 100 developing economies • Primary focus: helping the poorest people and the poorest countries

3. The “Knowledge” Bank To support the quality of its operations and to promote economic development in client countries, the World Bank • Compiles indicators of social and economic development • Undertakes research on an array of public policy issues • Actively disseminates information worldwide

4. The Office of the Publisher (EXTOP) • Unit of the External Affairs Vice Presidency of the World Bank (http://www.worldbank.org/) based in Washington, DC • About 80 staff (regular, short-term, consultants) • Publishing in print and electronic form for the World Bank Group and affiliated organizations • Bookstore and Information Center InfoShop • Approx. $11 m budget, not including the production costs of publications which are borne out of other budgets

5. EXTOP: Publishing for Development Impact • Objective is development impact, not profit • Market is used where possible because it is efficient, leverages established channels • Where the market doesn’t work, it is complemented by subsidies/discounts and free distribution • Open access policy for PDF files • Pricing in industrial countries according to market, steep discounts for customers in poor countries (up to 75%) • Capacity building and support for book industry in developing countries

6. EXTOP: Some Numbers Approx. numbers per year: • 200 new publications, see catalog http://publications.worldbank.org/ • 150 licenses granted (approx. 100 translations) • $6m sales (50% print; 50% electronic) • 400,000 printed copies disseminated (WB only; in addition 300.000 copies license editions) • 12m authorized online users of World Bank Online Resources (growing fast) • 100 events (book launches, discussions) with 10,000 attendees in WB InfoShop

7. EXTOP: Some Publications • Statistical Publications incl. Atlases • World Development Indicators, Global Development Finance, Atlas of Global Development, Little Data Books • Other Annuals • World Development Report, Doing Business, Annual Report • Research Publications • Policy Research Reports, Regional and Topical Series (often co-published) • Outreach Publications • Guide to the World Bank, Mangas, Mini-Atlases • World Bank Online Resources with World Bank e-library

8. EXTOP: Distribution Policies • One or more local, commercial distributors in a country (non-exclusive) • Targeted free distribution • Depository and regional libraries • By WB country office (to government officials etc.) • Public information through local Public Information Centers/Development Information Centers and web

9. WB/GW Workshops • The George Washington University in Washington, DC (http://www.gwu.edu/index.cfm) has a masters program in publishing, see http://cps.gwu.edu/publishing.html • EXTOP collaborates with GW to organize workshops for publishers in developing countries in partnership with a local co-organizer (publishers association, or university, or…)

10. WB/GW Workshops • Topics are to be chosen by local co-organizer • Faculty from WB and/or GW; additional local speaker/faculty desirable • Venue, catering, and local organization up to local co-organizer • Fees for participants have to cover costs of GW faculty • Certificates for participants from GW

11. Internship Program • EXTOP offers 3 summer internships for publishing graduates (or last semesters) of participating universities • We’re open for additional universities to participate • Applications of students have to be approved and pre-selected by a participating university. • Duration of the stay in DC should be 3 months. • For details contact: Richard Crabbe (rcrabbe@worldbank.org)