Background of Country Partnership Strategy (CPS)

The Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) is the most important World Bank document for each country. 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 to be provided by the group for a period of three years.

The CPS 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.

However, the CPS is not a negotiated document. Any differences between the country's own agenda and the Bank's strategy are highlighted in the CPS document. A progress report is issued in the intervening year.

Profile of Country Partnership Strategy for Cape Verde

The current Cape Verde Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) covers the four year period from FY09 to FY12. It sets out the proposed financial and technical support of the World Bank Group (WBG) in line with development priorities established by Cape Verde’s authorities. Since Cape Verde graduated to Middle Income Country (MIC) status in January 2008, this is its first CPS as an IBRD/IDA blended country.

The Bank’s objective for this CPS is to help the Government sustain high levels of growth and reduce unemployment, poverty and inequality. To achieve these major results, the Bank would provide technical and financial support to:

• Promote good governance and public sector capacity;
• Improve competitiveness and the investment climate for private sector-led growth, and
• Strengthen human capital and social inclusion.

A Country Partnership Strategy Progress Report (CPSPR) was disclosed in January 2011 reviewing the relevance of the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) and providing an update on the country context and the evolution of key risks, progress to date under the CPS and the adjustments that are proposed in the country program.