Contacts: In Washington: Herbert Boh +1 (202) 473-3548 hboh@worldbank.org In Bamako: Moussa Diarra (223) 222 22 83 mdiarra@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, February 5, 2008 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today endorsed Mali’s Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the period 2008-2011. “The CAS outlines the World Bank’s contribution for the period 2008-2011 to the development effort that Mali undertake in the context of its Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP), throughsupport to key growth areas and more efficient and enhanced delivery of social services. The World Bank’s strategy is consistent with the shared commitment of Mali’s technical and financial partners to provide more effective development assistance,” said the World Bank’s Resident Representative in Mali, Alassane Diawara. The CAS is aligned with the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP), which is largely aimed at selectively helping the Government achieve the key objectives of the GPRSP. It focuses on the following strategic objectives: promoting rapid and broad-based growth and strengthening public sector management. The first strategic objective will focus on the link between Mali and the rest of the world, greater availability of production factors, and support for the local private sector. The second objective will ensure that public finance management leads to better service delivery by improving the link between the budget and sectoral strategies. In an effort to assist the Government, the World Bank will promote selectiveness, aid effectiveness and donor coordination, regional integration, World Bank Group coordination with an expanded role for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the country, and a stronger program of analytical work and support and advisory services, in collaboration with other donors, in order to strengthen the advocacy role of the World Bank. Analytical and advisory services will focus on activities that will help to eliminate the obstacles to growth and strengthen reform-related dialogue. In light of the importance of improved governance and capacity building, the Bank will selectively support key sectors that will help tackle growth and development challenges. Activities supporting good governance will focus on the strengthening and deepening the Government’s entire governance reform program and will adopt a sector-wide approach, with a view to improving public sector governance in the areas identified. With the support of the World Bank Institute, the Bank, which has begun a series of capacity building needs assessments, has selectively concentrated its interventions in five key areas. Mali’s second Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP), has two objectives: promoting rapid and broad-based growth; and strengthening public sector management. Its programs are supported by three pillars: infrastructure development; structural reform, which includes the investment climate; and improvement in the delivery of social services. It also includes an action plan for governance. ### For more information on the World Bank's activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, please visit: www.worldbank.org/africa For more information on the World Bank's activities in Mali, please visit: www.worldbank.org/mali |
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