Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP)

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) describe a country's macroeconomic, structural, and social policies and programs to promote growth and reduce poverty, as well as associated external financing needs. PRSPs are prepared by governments through a participatory process that involves civil society and development partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers provide the basis for World Bank and IMF assistance as well as debt relief under the HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) Initiative. PRSPs should be country-driven, comprehensive, partnership-oriented, and participatory. A country only needs to write a PRSP every three years; however, changes can be made to the content of a PRSP using an Annual Progress Report.  For more information, please refer to the World Bank Povertynet website.

Mali Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)

The Mali PRSP (PDF, 1.44 KB), finalized in May 2002, builds upon the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP) presented to the Boards of the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September 2000.

Despite the limited availability of quality data,  the PRSP presents an adequate diagnosis of poverty.  The strategy is the result of a wide-ranging participatory process at both the national and regional levels.  Eleven working groups, bringing together people from government, civil society, the private sector and external development partners, played key roles in the preparation of the PRSP. Regional consultations were also part of the development process.  

In the short- and medium-term, the strategy of the Mali PRSP identifies three priority areas:

	Institutional development and improved governance and participation
	Human development and strengthening the access to basic social services
	Development of infrastructure and support for key productive sectors

The main objective is to reduce poverty from 63.8% in 2001 to 47.4% in 2006. The overall objectives for growth and employment are average GDP growth of 6.7% a year and the creation of a minimum of 10,000 jobs a year in the non-agricultural formal sector.  A consensus-based vision of the country's future in the period up to 2025 was developed around the aspirations of individual people.

The PRSP also makes an adequate assessment of the risks associated with implementing the strategy, including Mali's vulnerability to exogenous shocks. The PRSP presents a clear set of indicators and targets for monitoring and evaluating implementation of the sectoral strategies in education, health, and infrastructure development, as well as, to some extent, in other sectors. Targets are set with reference to the Millennium Development Goals  (MDGs), as well as to goals under the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

For more information, please refer to the Mali PRSP (PDF, 1.44 MB).