Central African Republic - Emergency Post-Crisis and Economic Recovery Support Programme (PUASCRE)

The proposed operation concerns an ADF grant of UA 2.3 million and an FSF (Pillar I) Grant of UA 12.7 million to finance an Emergency Post-Crisis and Economic Recovery Support Programme (PUASCRE). This is an emergency budget support operation in response to the urgent needs of the Central African population now faced with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis following the military coup perpetrated in March 2013 by an armed rebellion that overthrew the regime in power for ten years. It is in keeping with the joint effort announced by the international community at the Brussels Conference in February 2014 to help the new transitional authorities to restore the normal functioning of public administration, mitigate the socio-economic impact of the crisis on the population and foster economic recovery. The aim of the proposed programme is to support this inclusive dialogue initiated by the authorities by contributing to the return to normal functioning of institutions and the recovery of economic activities. The Programme is in keeping with the priorities of the Government’s Roadmap and the Bank’s Interim Assistance Paper for the 2014-2016 period. PUASCRE will also provide assistance for the redeployment of civil servants and rehabilitation of their working tools. Furthermore, it will help the authorities to lay the foundations for the recovery of economic activities by supporting the resumption of private sector/government dialogue as well as measures aimed at helping enterprises to renew their production tools destroyed by the crisis. The programme comprises two components: (i) restoration of the functioning of the financial administrations and basic social services; and (ii) creation of the conditions necessary to ensure economic recovery. PUASCRE will be implemented over a 15-month period. It is linked to the ongoing Economic and Financial Management Capacity Building Support Project (PARCGEF), which has been restructured accordingly.