Zoellick Optimistic About Future of Fund for Africa

World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick said yesterday that he is optimistic that a push to raise money for a fund that grants billions of dollars to Africa will be successful because of early feedback from donor countries.

The bank's International Development Association fund, which provides money to the world's poorest nations, will diminish without a fresh infusion of $20 billion by next year. Fundraising efforts for it began losing support this spring after a leadership crisis involving Zoellick's predecessor, Paul D. Wolfowitz.

Zoellick, who took office two weeks ago after Wolfowitz resigned, has placed the fundraising effort high on his priority list. A meeting of international finance ministers in Maputo, Mozambique, in June did not yield financial commitments from the United States and other donors, but Zoellick is to soon meet with congressional leaders and European officials to prod them to give. The nations have been contemplating directing more aid through other funds, which would decrease the stature of the World Bank.

"I am cautiously positive based on the report of the meeting . . . in Maputo, because coming out of that meeting, participating countries agreed on an ambitious result," Zoellick said in an interview yesterday. "What I need to do is to try to make sure that we gain some momentum on this commitment, particularly because of its importance to Africa and those that are poorest."

Zoellick has been criticized by developing countries over the publication of the Worldwide Governance Indicators, which was first reported by the Financial Times. In an e-mail to Zoellick this week, nine bank directors, including representatives from China and Argentina, complained that the publication is too harsh. It gave the countries low scores for lack of accountability and governance quality. The report was prepared before Zoellick took office.