Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, or PRSPs, are national planning frameworks for low-income countries. All countries wishing to access concessional loans from the World Bank (WB) or IMF, or wishing to benefit from debt relief under the Highly-Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative are required to produce a PRSP. As of June 2003, 32 countries have produced "full" PRSPs and around 35 more have produced interim papers and are in the process of preparing a full document. Actual PRSP documents can be downloaded from the World Bank website: www.worldbank.org/poverty/strategies/index.htm

The World Bank emphasizes that PRSPs should be written and produced by countries themselves, and go beyond macroeconomic stabilization and liberalization to address issues of poverty and equitable growth. According to the World Bank, 26 countries have reached "decision point" under the HIPC initiative, and are now receiving debt relief which will amount to $41 billion over time (this represents 70% of total debt relief projected to be delivered under HIPC). Countries reach "decision point" once they have completed an interim PRSP which has been accepted by WB and IMF. Countries reach the "completion point" once they have implemented a full PRSP for one year.

For comments, suggestions and inquiry, please contact the following email address: prsp@who.int