Financial crisis facility to deliver $2 billion.

The World Bank Group will speed funds to the world's poorest countries to help them cope with falling revenues, investment and trade in the wake of the global financial crisis. An initial $2 billion will be available to the hardest-hit countries to finance expenditures needed to maintain economic stability and sustain growth, address volatility and protect the poor.

The money is likely to support public spending on infrastructure, education, health and social safety-net projects, such as school and maternal feeding programmes. "We want to help countries manage this downturn with financing to help minimize its impacts and by assisting them in designing supportive policies," says World Bank Group President Robert...