The Government of Ceará has asked forthe Bank s support in implementing its multi-year plan(Plano Plurianual or PPA) for 2012-15. The objectives of thePlan are to promote equitable social development,sustainable economic development and to contribute to theemergence of a more efficient and participatory publicsector.The activities to be supported have been chosen onthe basis of the importance to these goals, the state scommitment to and the Bank s capacity, in view of itsexperience in other Brazilian states and elsewhere, tocontribute to improving their design and execution. ThePforR will build on previous Bank support for public sectorreform by strengthening results-based management withinsector agencies and providing incentives for collaborationamong agencies and with the private sector. This willcontribute to strengthening the implementation of Governmentprograms in the following areas: skills development, earlychildhood development and water quality.