1. 1 Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers PRSPs Paris21 Annual Consortium Meeting Paris, France October 3 – 4, 2001

2. 2 PRSPs F Principles F Progress Report F Review and Assessment F PRSPs and Statistics F Conclusion

3. 3 Principles of PRSPs F Country-driven F Comprehensive F Long-term Perspective F Partnership, inclusive of civil society F Results-oriented

4. 4 Purpose of PRSPs F Designed to help prioritize interventions at the country level F Structured according to the impact on poverty outcomes F Viewed as prelude in obtaining concrete beneficial outcomes in the lives of poor people

5. 5 Information Resources for PRSPs F Learning and outreach events F PRSP Sourcebook F World Bank and IMF Websites

6. 6 Progress Report on PRSPs F Five countries completed their full PRSP F 36 countries prepared their interim strategies (I- PRSP) F World Bank, IMF, EC, and Nordic countries presently use PRSPs as the basis for their concessional assistance F Expectation that others will follow suit in the period ahead

7. 7 Review of the PRSP Approach F Bank/Fund staff are presently carrying out a comprehensive review of the PRSP approach with contributions from low income countries, external partners, and domestic stakeholders. F Key inputs to the review include: –reviews and evaluations conducted by external parties; –views and contributions from governments, development partners and other stakeholders solicited through the Bank and Fund external web sites; –proceedings from PRSP regional country events and other country specific events; –analyses carried out by Bank/Fund staff; and –the proceedings of a Bank/Fund sponsored international conference to be held in January 2002

8. 8 Review of the PRGF F In conjunction with the Bank/Fund staff review of the PRSP approach, the Fund staff is carrying out a review of the PRGF. F Review will examine the extent to which the PRGF has met its objectives and consider possible improvements. F Will draw on staff work and contributions from countries, development partners, and stakeholders.

9. 9 PRSP Impact on statistics F PRSPs are to be grounded in poverty diagnostics, which require timely and accurate poverty data. F Recognition that national statistical systems have been severely neglected and that there is a need for capacity building and technical assistance as part o the PRSP process. F A good understanding of the statistical system is required to highlight its deficiencies. F Investment in capacity building needs to recognize the long term nature of the statistical process.

10. 10 Demand for data Poverty Reduction Strategy National Statistical System Supply of data Setting Priorities Poverty profile Public interventions Monitoring outcomes

11. 11 Conclusion F The PRSP process is still in its early stages of development. F Solid statistical systems and data are critical determinants of sound poverty reduction strategies. F Important to share and learn from the experience of all the partners involved.