The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) launched a joint initiative at the end of 1999, stating that they intended to set the fight against poverty at the heart of their development policies. Under this initiative, low-income countries wishing to apply for financial aid from either of the organisations, or for debt relief, are required to draw up poverty reduction programs. Given the enormous importance that goes with reducing poverty, a first critical assessment of these new international poverty reduction strategies is required. This book provides the expert, critical analysis of the poverty reduction strategies that is needed. Originally published in French and updated here for the first time in English, the book emphasises three main innovations brought about by these strategies: *focus on poverty reduction *participatory process implemented for policy-making *better coordination of official development assistance The contributions also show that there remains a large gap between the principles of the World Bank and IMF's strategies and their application. That this valuable and insightful book will be of great interest to students and lecturers involved in development economics goes almost without saying. What also needs to be understood is that the lessons and policy implications drawn from the book need to be read and acted upon by those involved with the World Bank and the IMF.