The Global Development Bank is like a cooperative, made up by the member countries. These member countries, or shareholders, are represented by a Board of Directors, who are the ultimate policymakers at the Bank. Generally, the directors are member countries' ministers/ secretaries/ senior banker/ economist/ professionals/ university teachers of development. They meet once a year at the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Directors of the Global Development Bank.

The directors delegate specific duties to Executive Directors, who work on-site at the Bank. The five largest shareholders appoint an executive director, while other member countries are represented by elected executive directors.

• The Bank President chairs meetings of the Boards of Directors and is responsible for overall management of the Bank. The President is selected by the Board of Directors, Executive Directors for a five-year, renewable term.
• The Executive Directors make up the Boards of Directors of the Bank. They normally meet at least once a month to oversee the Bank's business, including approval of loans and guarantees, new policies, the administrative budget, country assistance strategies and borrowing and financial decisions.

The Bank operates day-to-day under the leadership and direction of the president, management and senior staff, and the Co-president in charge of Global Practices, Cross-Cutting Solutions Areas, regions, and functions.