Country Assistance Strategy (CAS)

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.

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. For more information, visit the World Bank CAS website.

Regional Integration Assistance Strategy for Central Africa, 2003-2008

Gabon does not currently have a Country Assistance Strategy; however it is part of the Regional Integration Assistance Strategy (PDF) for Central Africa. The 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 Gabon, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Chad, the Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.

While the ultimate goal of poverty reduction remains primarily a national responsibility, the Bank's strategy is based on the premise that regional integration can contribute to poverty reduction by:

	Strengthening the links between the poorer landlocked countries and their more prosperous coastal neighbors
	Helping to establish the basis for faster economic growth.

The strategy includes plans to build new roads and improve existing ones, modernize and integrate the financial sector, and speed up transaction time at the ports and customs. This will facilitate the movement of goods, people, and capital, and reduce transaction costs.

There are inherent risks to a regional assistance strategy. The greatest risk being the possibility of political tensions degenerating into internal civil strife or conflict between countries. Please refer to Regional Integration Assistance Strategy for Central Africa (PDF) for detailed information.