Country Partnership Strategy

The Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) is the World Bank’s work plan that guides its operations in middle, and upper-middle income countries, usually for a period of four years.   This document, which is known in most countries as a Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) typically describes the country’s economic and social performance, its main development challenges, and a summary of its development strategy.   Within this context, it outlines the World Bank’s proposed package of assistance for the period covered by the strategy. This includes all the World Bank’s planned operations in the country – lending, analytical work, and technical assistance.

The current Country Partnership Strategy with Poland entails an evolution in the relationship between the World Bank and Poland to a partnership for development which takes as its starting point the Government’s development strategy and its objectives, and provides a broad and flexible framework for the World Bank to support its implementation in a selective manner in an environment where the need for external borrowing is modest. It aims to align the World Bank’s program with the development challenges that Poland faces as a new member of the EU and with the Government’s decision making process.  The CPS was developed in a participatory way: it was discussed with the Government, and input on the proposed activities was sought from a wide spectrum of stakeholders during a broad consultation process which was conducted via an on-line based discussion and community consultations during the months of November 2004 - January 2005. The document was discussed by the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank in March 2005. Further to the receipt of the consent for public disclosure from the Polish government at the end of July 2005 we have now the pleasure to share the final version of the new Country Partnership Strategy with you.

POLAND COUNTRY PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY 2005 - 2007

The CPS with Poland presents a broad and flexible framework within which specific lending and non-lending activities will be agreed with the Government in annual business plans around the three key priority areas listed below:

(a)        Promote fiscal adjustment and reverse negative debt dynamics through restructuring of expenditures;

(b)        Promote convergence through an improved investment climate and enhanced competitiveness; and

(c)        Reduce poverty, encourage social inclusion and bring employment closer to the Lisbon targets.

The framework outlined in the CPS with Poland is designed to remain in force until such a time as it is no longer relevant with relevance being assessed against the continued demand for the World Bank’s services and the existence of a conducive macroeconomic environment consistent with Poland’s convergence program under the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP).  The strategy entails a single lending case based on a macroeconomic framework consistent with Poland’s convergence program under the SGP and on actual demand from the country.  It is flexible to permit rapid response to emerging demand, simplify project design, shorten preparation time and simplify and align World Bank procedures with Polish and EU practices in line with the World Bank’s initiative on the “Use of Country Systems”.

The World Bank adopted its first Country Assistance Strategy for Poland in 1997. In December 2002, the World Bank adopted a second CAS for Poland for 2003 – 2005. The document, prepared jointly by the Government of Poland and the World Bank, in consultation with the donor community and NGOs, envisioned a base-case lending program of up to USD 1.3 billion during FY03-05, provided that agreed macroeconomic and project-specific triggers were met.

Download:

Poland Country Partnership Strategy 2005 - 2007

Poland draft Country Partnership Strategy 2005 - 2007

Polska projekt Strategii Partnerstwa dla Kraju 2005 - 2007

Poland CAS for 2003 -2005

Poland Country Assistance Strategy 2003 - 2005, November 2002 (4 MB, PDF File)

Strategia Pomocy dla Kraju

1999 Country Assistance Progress Report

1999 CAS Public Information Notice