Participation in CAS

The Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) is the World Bank's central framework for designing assistance programs for borrowers from the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). A CAS is developed for each country the Bank works with. It identifies the key areas where the Bank's assistance can have the biggest impact on poverty reduction. A CAS will take into account the priorities of the country's government and key stakeholders, the performance of its portfolio in the country and its creditworthiness

Many Country Assistance Strategies (CASs) are increasingly being prepared in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders and are closely aligned with the national development strategies. Consultations with civil society are key to identifying the internal and external challenges facing countries entering CAS preparation. Participatory CASs engage a wide range of CSOs directly in debates over the country's development strategy, while increasing their access to information and their capacity to engage in the ational development agenda.

Quality in participation is based on five factors:

• Level of intra governmental participation
  
  
• Extent and nature of civil society involvement, including direct consultations with poor and vulnerable groups
  
  
• Institutional mechanisms for donor coordination and collaboration
  
  
• Continuous feedback mechanisms for follow up (during and after formulation)
  
  
• Mechanisms for information disclosure
  
  
• Linkages with existing processes (CDF, PRSPs etc.)