Western and Central Africa implementation workshop Bamako, 8-11 March 2005

1. Western and Central Africa implementation workshopBamako, 8-11 March 2005 PRSP in WCA Recent Experiences And Proposed Strategy by Mohamed Ben-Senia

2. IFAD involvement in PRSP in WCA • status of HIPC & PRSP in WCA • Opportunities and constraints for IFAD involvement in PRSP • Proposed Strategy for IFAD involvement in PRSP in WCA • Strategic alliances and partnerships

3. Status of HIPC and PRSP in WCA • 16 of 24 WCA countries are HIPC countries • 13 past decision point • 5 past completion point • Total debt reduction US$ 14,5 billion (NPV) • IFAD share US$ 82 million (NPV)

4. Status of PRSP in WCA • 6 countries have interim PRSPs • 12 countries have full PRSPs • 5 countries have submitted progress reports • One country is preparing an assessment of 4-year implementation phase & updating its PSRP

5. Opportunities for IFAD involvement in PRSP in WCA • In all HIPC countries, PRSP is now the framework for governments and donors for pro poor policy and for resource mobilization and allocation • Most common weaknesses of current PRSPs are within IFAD mandate (rural dimensions, participation of grassroots organizations, empowerment)

6. Strategy for IFAD involvement in PRSP in WCA: Objectives • Goal: Help make PRSP a more effective framework for reducing rural poverty • Operational objectives: • Leverage capacity and resources to maximize impact on rural poor • Contribute to enhancing the PRSP process to make it more responsive to the rural poor

7. Strategy for IFAD involvement in PRSP in WCA: Components • An engagement in PRSP in all WCA countries • High level engagement and support in selected countries • A cross country regional support program focused on key cross cutting rural PRSP issues

8. IFAD involvement in PRSP in WCA: Engagement in all PRSP countries • Participate in key PRSP related events • Monitor PRSP process and evolving rural sector policies (PBAS) • Prepare/update COSOP on basis of PRSP • Participate, provide support to policy dialogue at critical stages of the IFAD program cycle (COSOP, CPE, etc.)

9. Strategy for IFAD involvement in PRSP in WCA: High level engagement and support in 5 countries • Help align/harmonize the agricultural/rural sector strategies /programs (RSS) on the PRSP and promote/participate in sector program approaches (SWAPs) • Formulate/update COSOPs within PRSP/RDS framework • Help formulate and/or implement key rural policy reforms • Design, fund, and implement replicable programs for rural poverty reduction • Promote participation of rural poor and of their organizations in PRSP/RSS, monitoring, evaluation, and/or reformulation processes • Help assess the specific impact of the PRSP on the rural poor and participate in PRSP updates

10. Strategy for IFAD involvement in PRSP in WCA:Cross country regional support program • An effective tracking – reporting system on PRSP processes in WCA with a focus on rural dimensions • Systems and processes for dissemination of know how, learning-by-doing, and exchange of experience targeting key actors in WCA PRSP countries • Collaborative action research on selected generic rural poverty issues

11. Strategy for IFAD involvement in PRSP in WCA:Strategic alliances and partnerships • Regional organizations / networks (BCEAO, REPA, ROPPA, HUB, FIDAfrique.) • Selected multi lateral and bilateral donors as partners in high level country support programs • Participation in donor alignment and harmonization processes