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.

 

Central African Republic (CAR) Country Re-Engagement Note 
   

The Central African Republic does not currently have a Country Assistance Strategy, however, on July 1, 2004 the World Bank Board of Directors issued a Country Re-engagement Note (CRN) (pdf 3.91 mb) for CAR to support the country in addressing priorities for reform. Over the next 10-12 months, the expected life-span of this CRN, the Bank's assistance program will address key development challenges and will be founded on two building blocks:

 

	Support a smooth transition by addressing urgent governance and security issues
Â	Help improve the delivery of basic social services

 

 

                   
A key theme underlying the two building blocks of Bank assistance is better governance, a cross-cutting challenge-through improved transparency and accountability in the use of public resources and in basic service delivery mechanisms.

     

To address urgent governance and security issues and to support a smooth political transition, the Bank intends to focus on leadership capacity building, economic management, and support for the demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants. Moreover, the Bank will develop a forum for dialogue and exchange of experience between senior CAR leadership and reformers and experienced practitioners in countries that have undergone successful transitions.

       

Within the context of improving delivery of basic social services, the Bank will actively pursue its on-going support for HIV/AIDS prevention and control, in addition to supporting activities that will seek to improve delivery of basic social services, including assistance for an emergency social service recovery program.

          

For more information about the CRN and additional activities, please refer to the report on the CRN and the full text of the CRN (PDF, 3.91 mb).

         

Regional Integration Assistance Strategy for the Central African Republic, 2003-2008

The Central African Republic is also part of the Regional Integration Assistance Strategy (PDF) for Central Africa. This strategy includes IDA funding for various technical assistance and infrastructure investments from July 2003 through June 2008, designed to improve trade links and enhance the economic integration of six Central African countries. The geographical area, designated as the Communaute Economique et Monetaire de l'Afrique Centrale (CEMAC), is comprised of the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.  Please refer to Regional Integration Assistance Strategy for Central Africa (PDF) for detailed information.