Poverty reduction and the World Bank : progress in fiscal 1999

This report on poverty reduction for fiscal 1999 aims to provide an overview of what the Bank is doing to help countries face the challenge of reducing poverty. The report covers three main topics: 1) The status of poverty around the world, based on both quantitative data and the voices of the poor themselves. 2) A retrospective look at the poverty focus of World Bank activities in fiscal 1999. 3) A forward look at the direction of the Bank's poverty work in the years ahead.