The comprehensive poverty reduction strategies are medium- and long-term action plans developed by national governments within a participatory framework (based on widespread consultations and in collaboration with a broad range of national and international actors). These strategies must be understood as works in progress, subject to periodic reviews. The priorities of each strategy are defined within the context of each country. The strategies should include:

• a detailed analysis of poverty determinants and their relationship with economic, legal, political and social factors;

• the selection of feasibly attainable and quantifiable objectives to reduce poverty;

• the definition of a logical framework encompassing a set of strategies compatible with these objectives and with the available resources;

• a plan of action to implement these strategies in which the role played by multilateral and donor agencies in financing specific programs and projects is also defined; and

• a mechanism to monitor and assess their impact.

The IDB has provided the governments of the region resources from its technical assistance, cooperation and loan programs to support the development and implementation of national poverty reduction strategies. The strategies are linked to policy dialogues and the Bank's programming process with the countries, in order to identify a portfolio of priority projects to be financed by the IDB with the aim of reducing poverty. The following countries have completed or are in the process of completing their poverty reduction strategies:

• Bolivia
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Nicaragua