Attacking Poverty Program, World Bank Institute (APP)

The Attacking Poverty Program (APP) aims to build the capacity of poor countries to design and implement effective poverty reduction strategies. Customized “country learning programs” are used to leverage the resources of the development community to fight against poverty. APP was established in response to two major developments in the field of capacity building for poverty reduction

• first, the release of "World Development Report 2000/01: Attacking Poverty". To make the most of this renewed focus on poverty, the APP has moved to intensify the debate on regional and national levels and to help poor countries apply the main Report recommendations to their own national situations
• second, the emergence of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) as a major tool for countries to define their development agendas has led to a number of new needs for capacity building. The APP has become the primary mechanism through which national PRSP Teams request and receive support from WBI

The following subthemes have been identified as priority areas for APP

• pro poor growth
• poverty analysis and monitoring and evaluation
• governance for the poor

and activities are organised under five main objectives:

• shaping the poverty agenda
• increasing awareness of poverty reduction strategies
• fostering specialized poverty reduction skills
• supporting PRSP Team learning needs
• building networks for poverty reduction

Web site includes: programme and activity details; partner information;