Congo, Republic of - Joint IDA-IMF staff advisory note on the poverty reduction, growth, and employment strategy paper 2, 2012-2016 (English)

This joint staff advisory note reviews the Republic of Congo's poverty reduction, growth and employment strategy paper (PRSP-2), which was completed on January 31, 2012. PRSP-2 follows Congo's first PRSP (PRSP-1), which covered the years 2008-2011, and... See More + This joint staff advisory note reviews the Republic of Congo's poverty reduction, growth and employment strategy paper (PRSP-2), which was completed on January 31, 2012. PRSP-2 follows Congo's first PRSP (PRSP-1), which covered the years 2008-2011, and was adopted in April 2008. The PRSP-1 was part of the 'new hope' plan to reconstruct the country after years of conflict, to consolidate the peace process, and to put the Republic of Congo on the path of sustainable development. The goals of the PRSP-1 were five-fold: (1) the amelioration of governance and the consolidation of peace and security; (2) the promotion of growth and macroeconomic stability; (3) the improvement of universal access to basic social services; (4) the improvement of the social environment and the integration of vulnerable groups; and (5) the fight against HIV/AIDS. The PRSP-2 is part of the Government's National Development Plan, and its goal is to modernize and industrialize the country. The strategy rests on the same pillars as the PRSP-1 but reinvigorates two aspects that had unsatisfactory results in the PRSP-1: (1) the promotion of diversified, inclusive, employment-creating and value-added growth; and (2) the equal distribution of the benefits and security of growth throughout the country. Also added to this PRSP is the priority of respecting and protecting the environment to slow down climate change and reduce the harmful extraction of natural resources. The process of preparing the PRSP-2 was officially launched in March 2011 during a workshop attended by participants from all parties and regions. The workshop formalized the six thematic groups that worked on the detailed background documents for each sector, which were: (1) governance; (2) the economy; (3) infrastructure; (4) development and social inclusion; (5) education, training, and scientific research; and (6) balanced and sustainable development. Major think tanks around the country also contributed to the preparation process. After the thematic reports were adopted in July 2011, the permanent technical secretariat of the national committee for the fight against poverty produced a draft of the PRSP.  See Less -