Question 5 from UPSC CSE 2017 - Current
Affairs

Question

The Global Infrastructure Facility is a/an

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. World Bank collaboration that facilitates the preparation and structuring of complex infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to enable mobilization of private sector and institutional investor capital.

Strategy: ## Identification Strategy
- Identify the association between the 'Global Infrastructure Facility' and the World Bank.
- Focus on key terms such as 'World Bank', 'mobilization of private sector capital', and 'structuring of PPPs'.
- Eliminate options that mention unrelated organizations like ASEAN, ADB, OECD, or UNCTAD.
- The correct answer will highlight the World Bank's role in facilitating Public-Private Partnerships.

Key Info: The Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) is a multi-stakeholder partnership hosted by the World Bank Group, established to help close the global infrastructure investment gap.

## Key Functions and Characteristics
- **Establishment and Mandate:** Created in 2014, its core mission is to facilitate and accelerate the preparation of complex, high-impact infrastructure projects, particularly through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
- **Support Mechanism:** It provides technical assistance, advisory services, and knowledge sharing to help governments attract private sector and institutional investor capital for essential infrastructure in transport, energy, water, and urban sectors.
- **Collaborative Platform:** The GIF coordinates resources from donor governments, multilateral development banks, and private sector participants. Key partners include the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
- **Role in Project Lifecycle:** The facility focuses on the upstream project development phase to improve bankability and investor confidence; it does not directly finance construction.
- **Organizational Context:** The Asian Development Bank (ADB), OECD, and UNCTAD are not the hosts or primary initiators of the GIF.

Answer

Option A: ASEAN initiative to upgrade infrastructure in Asia and financed by credit from the Asian Development Bank.

Answer

Option C: Collaboration among the major banks of the world working with the OECD and infrastructure projects that have the potential to mobilize private investment.

Answer

Option D: UNCTAD funded initiative that seeks to finance and facilitate infrastructure development in the world.