his report reflects the first stage of a desk study of good practice in the development of PRSP indicators and monitoring systems. The first set of PRSPs and Interim PRSPs for sub-Saharan Africa was “interrogated”, together with the corresponding Joint Staff Assessments, to establish a baseline and identify issues for further investigation. The report explains the initial concerns that informed the documentary review, and reports the findings. It begins with monitoring systems and goes on to discuss the selection and use of indicators in that context.