Country Assistance Strategy

The Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) is the most important World Bank document for each country. 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 to be provided by the group for a period of three years.

The CAS preparation is a participatory process. Before its adoption, key elements of the strategy are discussed with goverment 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.

Assistance in Sudan

Sudan is not eligible for lending assistance because of significant arrears on past debt-servicing obligations, however, The Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) met with the facilitation of the United States Government in Washington, DC from July 8-9, 2003 to start the work of the Joint Planning Mechanism (JPM).  The JPM was created during a meeting held in Nairobi from May 9-10, 2003 to assist both parties in assessing needs, developing priorities, and drawing up action plans for implementation during the pre-interim period. 

This meeting, hosted by the World Bank, was attended by members of the GoS and SPLM, the United States Agency for International Development, the United Nations (UN), and the International Monetary Fund.

The parties prepared a list of common priority areas that will guide quick start/impact programs and capacity building.  They called upon the international community, in particular the international financial institutions, the UN agencies, and bi-lateral donors, to assist in the urgent implementation of agreed programs. 

For more information, please refer to the press release.