Country Assistance Strategy (CAS)

Background on Country Assistance Strategy

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 World 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.

However, the CAS is not a negotiated document. Any differences between the country's own agenda and the Bank's strategy are highlighted in the CAS document. A progress report is issued in the intervening year. More information is available at the  World Bank CAS website.

Background on Interim Strategy Note

Interim Strategy Notes (ISN) are a lighter strategy document than the Transitional Support Strategy (TSS) or Country Assistance Strategy (CAS).

The ISN lays out a short-term strategy for fragile and conflict-affected countries where the World Bank is actively re-engaging beyond the scope of a Watching Brief, but has not yet completed the analytical work and dialogue necessary to formulate a full assistance strategy; or where the conditions are not conducive to a normal TSS or CAS approach. This includes situations where the Bank is re-engaging through non lending instruments, such as analytical and capacity-building work and small demonstration projects. Other situations include where short-term financing is needed—for example, to support arrears clearance—as an initial re-engagement prior to the development of a normal assistance strategy.

The ISN will normally be followed within one year by an update, a TSS, or a CAS. More information is available at the  World Bank ISN website.

Interim Country Assistance Strategy for Côte d'Ivoire , May 2002

Côte d'Ivoire's Interim CAS (I-CAS) from 2002 presented the Bank Group's program for a period of 12 to 18 months and supported the Government's Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy (I-PRSP) endorsed by the Board on March 28, 2002.

Starting 1999, Côte d'Ivoire experienced an unprecedented crisis which broke the momentum of trade and investment growth and shattered the image of Côte d'Ivoire as a preferred regional location for foreign direct investment. The objectives and strategic priorities of the 2002 Interim CAS tried reverse this development by focusing on a return to growth and improved service delivery

When open conflict erupted in September 2002, the implementation of the I-CAS was interrupted, in the ex-rebel held areas. Under these conditions, the Bank completed its first post-conflict public expenditure review in December 2003 that documented the early social, economic and governance impact of the conflict. When Côte d’Ivoire fell into arrears in June 2004, the Bank IDA program was suspended.

For more information, refer to the I-CAS, May 2002, for Côte d'Ivoire.

Interim Strategy Note for Côte d'Ivoire , April 2008

Following the Ouagadougou Peace Accord signed in March 2007 and gradual normalization of relations between Côte d'Ivoire and the Bank over the past year -- concluding in full arrears clearance on April 2, 2008, the ISN represents the new strategic framework for the resumption of the Bank’s country assistance over the period of FY08-09.

The Bank’s Interim Strategy in support of Côte d’Ivoire’s emergency recovery during this transition has three objectives:

• Support stabilization of the crisis and assist the government in addressing key conflict factors (through implementation of the Ouaga accord);
• Assist war-affected populations by way of community rehabilitation and support to the provision of basic social services;
• Assist economic recovery and reform by focusing on economic governance reforms, institutional building, fostering demand for governance and accountability and supporting sustained economic growth.

For more information, refer to the ISN, April 2008, for Côte d'Ivoire.