US TREASURY secretary Lloyd Benen said his country favoured World Bank funding of programmes to help people affected by war, civil strife and economic mismanagement, and demanded specific targets be set for the purpose.

The Bank president, Lewis Preston, said poverty eradication "must be at the centre of our overall country assistance strategies" and outlined a four-point programme including more poverty assessment; participation of the poor in the design of projects; better cooperation with aid concerns, and constant measuring of results.