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Annual Report 2003 : Moving the Poverty Reduction Agenda Forward: Priorities and Outcomes : East and Central Asia

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Azerbaijan

Strategy and Policy Dialogue.
The interim operational strategy (IOS) approved in 2000 continued to direct ADB activities. The Country Strategy and Program Update (CSPU) (2004– 2006) was based on the IOS and provided justification for ADB assistance in four strategically selected areas and sectors: internally displaced persons, agriculture and rural development, water supply and sanitation, and roads. These sectors will continue to be the focus of ADB operations for 2004–2005, after which a new CSP will be formulated to cover 2006–2010.

Poverty reduction continued to be the main challenge for the Government. In February, the State Programme on Poverty Reduction and Economic Development 2003– 2005 was approved by a presidential decree. ADB’s policy dialogue has focused on helping to implement the Program. In particular, advice helped to improve the quality of the outputs of sector working groups on refugees and internally displaced persons, rural development, and fiscal policy. Discussions were also held with the Government, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and other funding agencies to find ways to assist refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan.

In March, the establishment of a resident mission was approved by the Board.

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