Country Assistance Strategy

     Last updated August 2009

Background                                                                           

The Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) is the most important World Bank country document. It is tailored to the needs and circumstances of each country and lays down the Bank Group's development priorities, as well as the level and type of assistance the Bank will provide for a period of three years.

The CAS preparation is a participatory process. Before its adoption, key elements of the strategy are discussed with Government representatives; and to ensure the widest possible involvement, public dialogues are also held, with Internet-based discussions taking place in many countries.

While the CAS is not a negotiated document, any differences between the country's own agenda and the Bank's strategy are nonetheless highlighted in the document. A progress report is issued in the intervening year.

Status of the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Burundi

The Government completed a full PRSP in September 2006 and a Joint Staff Assessment was conducted in March 2007.

The World Bank Group’s Country Assistance Strategy (CAS), based on Burundi’s PRSP, was discussed by the Board in August, 2008 and will help reinforce a medium-term vision of sustainable development, assisting Burundi’s transition from a post-conflict economy to a developing country. It provides a framework for World Bank Group support for four years, from fiscal year (FY) 2009 through FY 2012. The CAS focuses on two strategic objectives: (i) promote sustainable and broad-based economic growth; and (ii) improve access to social services and consolidate social stability. Governance is a cross-cutting CAS objective. Core principles for engagement are: selectivity, international partnership, focus on results, governance, regional integration, and sensitivity to political economy dynamics.

The Bank AAA includes : the HIPC completion Point document, petroleum sector study, financial sector assessment program (jointly with the International Monetary Fund), country economic memorandum, public expenditure review updates, a poverty assessment, and analytical work and technical assistance to support EAC accession. AAA will emphasize government ownership and donor partnership to ensure that findings are translated into actions and results.

The World Bank will finance an estimated eight new projects-four investment operations and four development policy operations. The Bank will provide additional financing to scale up successful interventions. In addition, the Bank will finance two to three regional operations involving Burundi. Burundi’s total IDA-15 allocation is estimated at about $84 million per year, about 25 to 30 percent of which is expected to be provided as budget support. The CAS presents the first fully articulated World Bank-IFC (Internatioal Finance Corporation) strategy for Burundi. The IFC is increasing its involvement in Burundi, providing advisory services to government and businesses, and seeking investment opportunities. The World Bank Institute will also continue to be involved in Burundi in the areas of governance and leadership.

The government and development partners are taking steps to improve donor harmonization. The World Bank and the African Development Bank carried out joint stakeholder consultations in Burundi to prepare their respective country strategies. The Bank and the International Fund for Agriculttural Development are collaborating to ensure full complementarity of respective work programs in agriculture. Under the CAS, the Bank will seek to improve aid effectiveness by building the capacity of Burundi’s aid coordination unit and by helping the government move toward sector-wide approaches and monitor progress toward the partnership commitments of the Paris declaration.