To address these concerns, Bank support for reform often includes funding for safety net programs to help protect the poor or to keep vulnerable people from slipping into poverty. The initiative represents a commitment by the international community, including all creditors, to act together in a coordinated and concerted fashion to reduce the debt of very poor countries to sustainable levels. To qualify for HIPC debt relief a country must be eligible for IDA credits, face an unsustainable debt burden, and demonstrate a commitment to economic reform. Debt relief granted under the initiative is based on a country's ability to service its debt in a context of economic growth and poverty reduction. For governments to be effective, they must have the trust and confidence of the people they serve.
Corruption has a devastating economic and social impact.
It undermines trust in government and diminishes the effectiveness of public policy. It impedes investor confidence and has a negative impact on foreign investment. Corruption also reduces the effectiveness of aid and threatens both political and grassroots support for donor assistance. While citizens and governments must themselves lead the fight against corruption, the Bank has been assisting a number of countries with their anti-corruption efforts. The Bank has conducted surveys to diagnose the extent and character of corruption in a given country.