World Bank-AfDB Joint Strategy Consultations Kick Off in Central African Republic
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The secretary general of the Organization of Central African women (OFCA), Mureille Gotchanga, was among civil society representatives who took part in the consultations.
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BANGUI, July 1, 2009—Members of government, economic operators, NGOs, members of the media, and civil society representatives met in Bangui on May 7, 2009 for consultations on the Joint Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) between the Central African Republic (CAR), the World Bank Group, and the African Development Bank.
The joint strategy covers the four-year period spanning from mid-2008 to mid-2012. Aligned with the countries’ priorities, its purpose is to help CAR recover and lay the foundations of sustained and shared economic growth.
To that end, these consultations will help ensure proper information sharing among all key stakeholders, facilitate the identification of a number of follow up mechanisms, provide a space to discuss concerns raised by various parties, as well as serve as the point of departure for joint monitoring of implementation of the strategy.
“It is the duty of the World Bank Group to conduct this participatory exercise so that all its partners may be provided with the same information related to this strategy,” said Jelena Pantelic, CAR’s country manager at the Bank. “Our greatest wish is to mobilize our internal resources but also to lean heavily on our partners to ensure that rapid implementation of this program allows us to find short-term solutions,” said Sylvain Maliko, the country’s minister of planning, economy, and international cooperation.
During work sessions, the core components of the CPS – the text of which is pending submission for approval by the Boards of Directors of both Banks – were presented. The true merit of the CPS lies in the fact that it seeks to address the Central African Republic’s development priorities set forth in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), by assuming responsibility for two of the four pillars of the PRSP, namely Pillars II and III, which are respectively aimed at promoting good governance and the rule of law and rebuilding and diversifying the economy.
Security Tops Agenda
At the conclusion of these work sessions, a number of salient points were raised and discussed by all the stakeholders present. These pertain to the security situation in the country, growth and economic recovery, inclusion of the impact of the economic and global crisis in the strategy, suitable conditions for attracting private investment, absorptive capacity for available resources, human capacity-building, project execution methods, and the role of commercial banks.
On security, discussions revealed that the Central African Republic is transitioning from a long period of instability toward the consolidation of peace and national unity, a situation that calls for stepped up support from the international community. Strengthening peace through political dialogue and the restoration of trust is a key element of the government’s vision. The national party expressed the desire for the strategy to facilitate a sustained response – in the context of support from the two Banks for the efforts undertaken by the Government and United Nations – to the process of stabilization that is underway, through the existing LICUS funds, the future multinational program for transitional assistance with demobilization and reintegration, and other funds targeting fragile States.
Impact of the Global Economic Crisis
The Central African Republic is facing an emergency situation created by the economic crisis in addition to its financial obligations, which include domestic debt. The country has experienced specific crises, in particular the energy and food crises, which were compounded by further developments in the global crisis.
Recommendations on inclusive political dialogue call for expenditures that are supplementary to the 2009 budget, added to which is the impact of the global crisis, which is reducing domestic revenue in all areas. These events have led to cash flow problems resulting from the decline in tax revenue and are contributing to macroeconomic imbalances. As a result, authorities are wondering what mechanisms should be implemented to obtain quick-disbursing financing.
The problem is even more complex given that the budgetary assistance projected for 2009 is not paid into the public treasury. In addition, budgetary assistance should not be provided at the expense of development operations. A strong desire was expressed for integration into the strategy of mechanisms to ensure disbursement predictability.
“The consultations will lead to concrete and immediate actions aimed at finding a necessary solution; to consolidating the gains acquired over this long period of structural reform efforts that we have undertaken; and also to taking the kind of action needed to reverse the negative poverty trends in our country,” Maliko said.
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