The World Bank Treasury provides capacity building and investment management services to official sector investment managers such as central banks, sovereign wealth funds and national pension funds to help countries efficiently manage foreign currency reserves and other investment portfolios. The focus is on building governance and risk management frameworks that balance return objectives with prudent risk management and controls. Engagements typically last three years and target broad institution-building of investment management operations.

World Bank bonds are the primary funding source for IBRD's sustainable development lending to member countries. The World Bank Treasury currently borrows around US$50 billion annually in the international capital markets through more than 300 transactions in over 20 currencies. Through its activities in the capital markets, the World Bank is able to fund projects in member countries that achieve a positive impact in areas such as health, education, and essential infrastructure. It also works with countries on important cross cutting priorities such as job creation, gender equality, environmental protection and climate change activities.

The World Bank Treasury designs, customizes and implements financial solutions to support client countries’ efforts to mobilize financial resources for development projects and manage different types of risks stemming from currency and interest rates to disasters and other global issues that affect member countries. Treasury draws on its market access and partnerships with the public and private sectors and leverages the balance sheets of World Bank Group institutions to provide the most suitable financial solution, whether it be from IDA, IBRD, IFC or MIGA.

The World Bank Treasury has been supporting member countries and other official institutions with advisory services, training, and tailored capacity building in public debt management since 2000. The focus is on strengthening capacity to develop a debt and risk management strategy and implement that strategy efficiently to reduce risk and improve resilience to shocks. Services encompass five thematic areas including governance, debt management strategy design and implementation, internal operations, policy coordination, and access to the capital and derivatives markets. Engagements range from needs assessment and reform plan design to implementation.