This document provides practical guidelines and templates for developing Country Sector Strategies (CSS) to improve program quality and coherence by shifting project design from being opportunity-driven to being grounded in strategic external and internal analysis. It explains the purpose of CSS as a two-to-three-year foundation for project design in a specific sector and country, sets criteria and prerequisites for developing a strategy (including technical capacity, staff buy-in, and time commitment), and clarifies roles and responsibilities of country teams, leadership, and technical advisors. It then outlines a standard CSS product (narrative, strategy tree/logframe, and internal work plan) and a step-by-step process, from preparation and information gathering, through an analysis workshop (stakeholder analysis + SWOT), to setting sector and internal objectives, drafting the narrative/logframe/work plan, and completing a structured review, supported by annexes that include sample work plans and logical framework templates.

Table of Contents
1. Background and Introduction
- Purpose
2. Criteria for Developing Country Sector Strategies
3. Roles and Responsibilities
4. Country Sector Strategy Outline
- Part A: Country Sector Strategy Narrative
Executive Summary
Introduction
Contextual Analysis Summary (External/Internal)
Sector Strategy Narrative
Internal Plan
- Part B: Strategy Tree / Logframe
- Part C: Internal Work Plan
5. Country Sector Strategy Development Guidelines
- Overview
- Step 1: Preparation for Development of a Country Sector Strategy
- Step 2: Information Gathering
- Step 3: Analysis Workshop
External Analysis
Internal Analysis
- Step 4: Development of Country Sector Strategy (Sector Objectives)
Strategy Tree / Logframe
Internal Work Plan
- Step 5: Finalizing the Narrative, Logframe and Work Plan
- Step 6: Review of Country Sector Strategy
6. Annexes
- Annex 1: CSS Development Process Work Plan Sample
- Annex 2: Logical Framework Template
- Annex 3: Internal Work Plan Sample