Country Partnership Strategy (CPS)

Background on the Country Partnership Strategy

The Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 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 over a period of time.

The CPS preparation is a participatory process. 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.

Country Partnership Strategy for South Africa, 2008-2012

The World Bank worked closely with the South African Treasury throughout 2006 and 2007 to prepare the Country Partnership Strategy (PDF) presented to the World Bank's Board of Directors on January 15, 2008. The Board welcomed the continuing engagement with South Africa, after the last framework for engagement completed in 1998.

The World Bank issued a Country Partnership Strategy Progress Report in March 2010.

The CPS sets out a framework for engagement with South Africa for 2008-2012. It reflects, most importantly, South Africa's own development priorities as set out in the Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative-South Africa (ASGISA) and South Africa’s unique position in the region.

The CPS supports two pillars: (i) urban and rural development and (ii) regional integration and partnerships for Africa.

Priority areas for World Bank engagement include:

• Urban development
• Private sector development
• Building partnerships for Africa
• Social protection
• Land reform and agriculture and
• Public sector service delivery.

Knowledge sharing – facilitating dialogue and sharing experience within and outside of South Africa – is a key part of all the Bank's work in South Africa. In addition, the CPS proposes that the World Bank Group's engagement shifts from a largely pre-determined program of activities to a more flexible approach, in which specific activities are agreed on an yearly basis in a manner consistent with South Africa's planning and budgeting cycle.

Please read the 1999 Country Assistance Strategy (PDF, 5 mb) to see how the collaboration between South Africa and the World Bank has evolved.