The Poverty Reduction Strategy paper for Serbia (PRSp) is a medium-term development framework directed at reducing key forms of poverty. The PRSp is a national document that contains an analysis of causes, characteristics and profiles of poverty in Serbia, as well as main strategic guidelines for social development and the reduction of the number of poor citizens in the years to come. Activities envisaged by the PRS are directed at dynamic development and economic growth, prevention of new poverty а s a consequence of economic restructuring and care for the traditionally poor groups.

The Poverty Reduction Strategy paper for Serbia was adopted by the Government of Serbia at the session held on October 16, 2003. On February 17, 2005, the Government of Serbia tasked the Deputy Prime Minister of the R epublic of Serbia to regularly inform the Government on the PRS implementation and coordination process, in cooperation with the PRS Implementation Focal Point. The Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Focal Point was formed in September 2004 withing the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The leading role in the preparation of the PRSp was given to the then Ministry of Social Affairs, whose mandate on the PRS project ended with the finalization of the PRS document. Participants in the preparation process included other line ministries as well, and the consultative process during the drafting of the PRS document included a number of other state institutions, representatives of the NGO sector, local self-governments, trade unions, enterprises, international development partners and the Parliament of Serbia, engaging them through respective Advisory Committees.

The Poverty Reduction Strategy is aligned with the efforts of the Government of Serbia in relation to the European Integration process ( http://www.seio.sr.gov.yu/code/navigate.asp?Id=2 ) and the realization of UN-set Millennium Development Goals ( http://www.undp.org.yu/mdg/default.asp ). The PRSp has been evaluated by the World Bank as one of the most successful documents of this kind, and the latest Country Assistance Strategy—CAS of the World Bank for the year 2005-2007 relies fully on the PRS.