The World Bank country office in Malawi is on a consultation process with the public, civil society and private sectors to identify areas that are critical to the country's development in the next four years from 2007, local newspaper The Nation reported Wednesday on its website.

World Bank country manager Tim Gilbo said the consultation process will help the bank on how best it can allocate resources over the next four years.

He said in deciding key areas of assistance, the World Bank is guided by the vision already set by the Malawi government through the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS).

MDGS is designed to reduce poverty through economic growth and empowerment of the poor.

In the MDGS, the Malawi government identifies agriculture and food security, infrastructure and water development, transport and communication infrastructure, energy and integrated rural development as priorities which will form the basis of its budgets for the next five years.

The World Bank commenced the Malawi Country Assistance strategy (CAS) 2007-2010 consultations on Monday and a series of sessions will be held in various cities during the following weeks.

World Bank Malawi country economist Khwima Nthara said CAS is the World Bank's medium-term assistance strategy for every country and sets out the framework within which the World Bank will support the government's development agenda.

"It also identifies key areas of focus, where the World Bank activity will be most effective in promoting development and reducing poverty," Nthara was quoted as saying.

Source: Xinhua