Catalog

Blueprint for Development
ADB Review [ December 2005 ]

Country strategy and programs guide ADB’s work in all its developing member countries

FOCUS CSPs guide ADB’s development activities that can help families like this one in Mazar-e-Sharif

The Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s activities are guided by a country strategy and program (CSP) in each developing member country (DMC). The document defines ADB’s medium-term strategy in the country, as agreed with government, and identifies ADB’s distinctive role in relation to poverty reduction, as well as the country’s stated development priorities. CSPs are designed to contribute to a country’s national development strategy or other development plan and are anchored on strong poverty, economic, social, and sector analyses.

In preparing a CSP, ADB consults closely with the DMC government and encourages the active participation of other stakeholders, including civil society, nongovernment organizations, private sector, and other donor partners. Increasingly, ADB joins with key or like-minded partner agencies to undertake shared or joint analysis of a country’s development context, and to develop shared or complementary country strategies. The March 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness specifically calls for increased donor alignment and harmonization to intensify the impact of aid in reducing poverty and inequality, accelerating growth, building capacity, and achieving of the Millennium Development Goals.

A new CSP is prepared every 3–5 years and is normally linked with a country’s own development planning cycle. Each CSP includes a 3-year rolling pipeline of proposed loan, grant, and technical assistance projects. A CSP update (CSPU) is then prepared every year taking into account progress or other changes in the country’s development context as well as experience gained in implementing ADB’s existing portfolio of projects. The CSPU also includes concept papers for the succeeding year’s loan, grant, and technical assistance projects.

The “pipeline” of ADB-supported activities is formally reviewed with the DMC government each year through a country program confirmation mission. This ongoing process of planning and review allows for changes in ADB’s program of assistance so it can respond to new development priorities or address specific implementation or other issues.

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