Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)  describe a country's macroeconomic, structural and social policies and programs to promote growth and reduce poverty, as well as associated external financing needs. PRSPs are prepared by governments through a participatory process that involves civil society and development partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

PRSPs provide the basis for World Bank and IMF assistance as well as debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative. PRSPs should be country-driven, comprehensive, partnership-oriented, and participatory. A country only needs to write a PRSP every three years; however, changes can be made to the content of a PRSP using an Annual Progress Report.

Benin’s Poverty Reduction Strategy

The PRSP prepared by the Government of Benin ( Growth Strategy for Poverty Reduction ) is the result of broad-based participatory consultations. To date, Benin has produced two such papers; the current one covers the period between 2007 and 2009. The document profiles the nature of poverty in Benin, and presents the government’s objectives for reducing poverty over three years.