5.1.3 Development and strucure of the process
Preparation Process
A PRSP is not a static document. It is intended to be a record of an ongoing process, which is reviewed, modified and reformulated at regular intervals. The first version of the PRSP often takes the form of an Interim PRSP (I-PRSP), largely because an I-PRSP takes less time to prepare than a normal PRSP. This option allows countries to access debt relief faster. However, it is expected that the full PRSP will follow the I-PRSP, theoretically within a year, although in practice this may take anywhere between nine and 24 months. The full PRSP is valid for three to five years, and at a certain point the government must present a Progress Report (PR) to show what progress has been made in implementing the strategy. All I-PRSPs, PRSPs and PRs are assessed in the Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) prepared by World Bank and IMF staff. The purpose is to provide the Executive Boards of the World Bank and the IMF with an assessment of the quality and relevance of the strategy described in the PRSP.
- The stages of the PRS process.
As the figure shows, there are three different phases: formulation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. The different stakeholders are supposed to participate in each of these phases (see Chapter 3: Entry Points).
Content
According to Klugman’s Sourcebook (2002, p. 4), PRSPs should contain:
- A poverty analysis, including an analysis of trends and their relationship to government policies.
- Prioritisation of programmes needed to achieve the national development objectives.
- Targets and indicators.
- A plan for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the programmes and the progress achieved in reaching the targets.
- A description of the participatory process in preparing the strategy.
Klugman states that there are four key areas for policy actions:
- Macroeconomic and structural policies to support sustainable growth and the increased participation of the poor in the development process.
- Improvements in governance, including public sector financial management
- Appropriate sectoral policies and programmes
- Realistic costing and appropriate levels of funding for the major programmes (ibid., p. 4).
In summary, PRSPs should include all relevant policies, from macroeconomic issues to health and human development. Governance, gender and the environment are considered cross-cutting issues. PRSPs should also estimate the cost and expenditure of the envisaged programmes.
More information
Klugman, Jeni (ed.) (2002): A Sourcebook for Poverty Reduction Strategies, Volume 1: Core Techniques and Cross-cutting Issues.
This is the World Bank's PRS Sourcebook. Individual chapters are also available on the World Bank’s website. The Preface and the Overview provide information on the principles.
Independent guides:
Bretton Woods Project (2003): Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs): A Rough Guide, April.
This paper is structured by questions and is easy to read.
Driscoll, Ruth and Karin Christiansen, (ODI) (2004): The PRSP Approach: A Basic Guide for CARE International, March.
The first ten pages are about the origins, structure and principles of PRSP.
Oxfam: Influencing Poverty Reduction Strategies: A Guide.
The Introduction and the first section summarise the basic facts of PRSP.
