Foreward
The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 2008-2010 has expired after three (3) years of implementation.
The aim of this first PRSP was to arrive at an independent assessment dealing, essentially, with the way it would be formulated, the institutional devices needed for its implementation and follow-up implementation, as well as the implementation itself, in terms of relevance, efficiency and outcomes. The assessment report, including the strengths and weaknesses of the PRSP followed by recommendations was returned both to Bangui and in the seven (7) regions of the Central African Republic. The lessons learned from this assessment have been used to establish the general approaches to be adopted by a second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP 2).
These approaches are aimed at accelerated pro-poor growth focused on rural development, together with the struggle against foods insecurity, the reinforcement of the basic infrastructures supporting growth, the development of human capital and the population's access to basic social services with a view to accelerating progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
PRSP 2 includes some innovations covering: (i) the involvement of a large number of concerned parties; and (ii) the incorporation of new subject areas such as the environment, tourism and the private sector which were not really taken into account in the first PRSP as well as emerging and overarching sectors including Information and Telecommunications Technologies and Youth. It also has provided an opportunity for our major development partners who have spared no efforts to provide support in a wide range of different ways in the various tasks involved in formulating the national strategy.
In additional to national and international expert consultancy, this work has involved a number of studies and surveys which have been undertaken over the last few years. PRSP 2, which is based on the MDG, is the base document for the great Round Table planned for the first half of 2011. In this respect it will be recalled that during the 65th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations held between September 20 and 22, 2010 in New York on the theme "World Governance based on the MDG", particular emphasis was placed on the MDG Acceleration Framework. This Acceleration Framework is focused on countries which, like the CAR, are finding it difficult to achieve their MDG by the 2015 deadline. On the same occasion, a number of partners who had taken part in the special session devoted to the CAR made a commitment to support the country in the efforts agreed to by the Government. Emphasis should also be placed on the important part played by the partners who decided to support the CAR in the preparation and organisation of this Round Table.
The drafting and development of this document called for the very widest participation of the parties involved, at both national and international levels, and the outcome is very much a joint effort.
