The progress has not always been easy. The programme, named the Developement Dialogue on values and Ethics faced controversy from the start. Just as religious groups have struggled to work with the bank, many people inside doubted if the bank should be delving into the divine. Critics argued thaht religion could be divise and political. Some said religoin clashes with the secular goals of modernisation.

Altought the bank does not lend directly to religious groups, it works with them to provide health, educationnal and other benefits, and receive direct input from those on the groound in poor countires. Katherine Marshall, director of the bank’s faith unit, argues that such groups are in ideal position to educate people, move resources and keep an eye on corruption. They are organised distribution systems in otherwise chaotic places. The programme has had succes getting evangelicals groups to fight malaria in Mozambique, improve microcredit and water distribution in India and educate people about ADS in Africa. “We started from very different view points. The World Bank is looking at the survival of the country, we look at the survival of the patient”, says Leonardo Palombi, of the Community of sant’Egidio, an Italian chruch group that work in Africa.

Altought the work continues, those involved in Mr Wolfensohn’s former pet ptoject now fret over future. Some expect the faith unit to be transferred to an independent organisation also set up by Mr Wolfensohn, the Worlf Faith Developement Dialogue, which will still maintain a link with the bank. Religious groups are hoping their voices will still be heard. “If we are going to make progress, faith institutions need to be involved. We believe religion has the ability to bring stability. It will be important for the bank to follow trough” says Agnes Abuom, of the World Council of Churches for Africa, based in Kenya.