World Bank to 'fast-track' financial aid
Under a new plan to get money to nations in need, the World Bank will try and make aid available within one month.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The World Bank announced its 'fast-track' economic assistance program Wednesday, which aims to make $2 billion in financial aid available quicker to countries in dire economic condition.
Under previous guidelines, it usually took as long as six months for a country to receive money from the World Bank and this new program aspires to make funds available within one month of a request, a spokesman for the World Bank told CNN.
"We want to help countries manage this downturn with financing to help minimize its impacts and by assisting them in designing supportive policies," World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick said in a press release.
The $2 billion will come from the larger $42 billion International Development Program (IDA) within the World Bank. The fast-track funds will be available to those 78 countries that are a part of IDA borrowers list, which consists of the most poverty-stricken nations worldwide.
The World Bank said they had not received any requests yet for funds through the fast-track program but that it expected to see application in the next few days. 
