| Country Assistance Strategy
of the World Bank Group 2003-2006
The CAS is the World Bank Group’s ‘Business Plan’ and is directly
informed by, and drawn from, the Government’s Comprehensive Poverty
Reduction and Growth Strategy (CPRGS), which puts poverty reduction
and growth at the heart of the Government’s development plans.
The CPRGS, approved by the Prime Minister of Vietnam in May 2002,
was developed in broad consultation with ministries, agencies,
donors, and community groups, and serves both as an action plan
for Government and, through the new CAS, as a framework for future
World Bank assistance to Vietnam.
The Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (CPRGS)
sets out three broad objectives, which in turn are the organizing
principles of the CAS. The first of these objectives, to support
Vietnam’s transition to a market-economy, will continue to be
a central focus of the Bank Group’s activities, with a shift in
focus from “design” to supporting the Government on “implementation”
of the policy reform agenda. The planned work outlined in the
CAS focuses on financial sector development; state enterprise
reform; support for the emerging domestic private sector; corporate
governance; and private participation in infrastructure. IFC,
MPDF and MIGA will expand their work to improve the climate for
foreign and domestic investment.
The CPRGS lays out a six-fold agenda to address future challenges
in meeting the second broad objective of enhancing equitable,
inclusive and sustainable development, and this will be actively
supported by the Bank Group throughout the period of the CAS.
Priorities addressed under this theme include working with Government
on narrowing the development gap of disadvantaged and lagging
areas; raising the living standards of ethnic minorities; realizing
gender equality and the advancement of women; making basic social
services accessible and affordable for the poor; mitigating the
impact of natural disasters and other shocks; and enhancing environmental
sustainability. These concerns will be thrust throughout the Bank
Group’s work.
Within the third broad field of promoting good governance, the
Bank will focus its support on helping the Government improve
public financial management, information and transparency, and
to enhance legal development. Major technical assistance will
be provided in each of these areas, and projects will be developed
in Public Financial Management, e-Governance, and possibly legal
development. The CAS states that partnerships are key to making
progress in the area of governance. The Bank Group will continue
to expand its efforts to help address corruption in Vietnam, directly
within the Bank’s own portfolio, and through support to the Government
to address the issue systematically.
In support of these three major objectives, the CAS sets out
the planned program of assistance for the next three years, including
analytical and advisory activities, project support through the
World Bank’s lending program, activities to be carried out by
IFC, MPDF and MIGA in support of the private sector and investment,
a series of annual Poverty Reduction Support Credits (PRSCs) in
support of Vietnam’s transition, and partnerships and ODA coordination.
In each of the areas which the World Bank plans to support, agreements
have been reached with the Government and other donors to ensure
that ODA is used as effectively as possible. The CAS lays out
a suggested lending program of US$300-US$760 million per year,
directly in support of Vietnam’s Poverty Reduction objectives
as laid out in the CPRGS, with a primary focus in four sectors:
rural development; urban development; infrastructure; and human
development.
Country Assistance Strategy Papers
Vietnam
- Country assistance strategy 2003-2006
Viet
Nam - Country assistance strategy progress report 2001
Vietnam
Country Assistance Evaluation - 2001
Viet
Nam - Country assistance strategy progress report 2000
Vietnam
- Country Assistance Strategy 1999-2001
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