Transcript Moldova Poverty Trends 2001/2002

GAPS IN CIVIL SOCIETY
PARTICIPATION IN POVERTY
REDUCTION STRATEGIES IN
MALAWI
MAVUTO BAMUSI
Malawi Economic
Justice Network
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Key Areas of Focus
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Levels of participation in the Malawi PRSP
Participation in the transition policy document
(MEGS)
Involvement of civil society in MGDS
Link between Millennium Development Goals
and the second PRSP
MEJN
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Is a coalition of CSOs promoting participatory
economic governance
Civil society defined as entities that not state, private
sector and the family
MEJN formalized in 2000 carrying a much broader
mandate of the Jubilee campaign
Mobilized CSOs around Malawi PRSP
Project: Economic Literacy, Budget-PRSP Monitoring,
Trade Justice
Participation in MPRSP
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Bumpy start, CS not accepted, information
less provided, and CSOs agents of opposition
But MEJN broadened CS participation,
lobbied extension of timeframes
MEJN won battles over CS participation in
actual drafting, and CS reps were assigned to
lead in drafting crucial pillars like human
capital development, safety nets, governance,
and safety net.
Challenges in PRSP formulation
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Policy engagement was relatively new to CS
Lack of adequate knowledge and skills led to
“participation by mere observation-and then tea
break!”
Some government officials took advantage to
structurally dismantle and disenfranchise CS with
unnecessary use of technical jargon
Macroeconomic Frameworks were the no-go zone
area for CS save for a few daring ones
Challenges in MPRS
implementation
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Low access to MPRS information by some
CSOs, led to design of non-PRS related
projects.
Lack of creativity to find entry points for
policy advocacy
Poor coordination between service delivery
NGOs and government departments (e.g.
more boreholes sunk in one area!)
Gross fiscal indiscipline between 00 & 04
More Challenges of implementation
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Domestic Debt crisis, PRGF suspended, budgetary
support withheld
But, government kept overspending on non-priorities
like state residences and presidential portraits
Little developed capacity of CSOs to monitor use of
PRSP resources
“Business as usual” mentality in govt.
Non-pro poor policies and behaviors from some
members of the donor community (cuts in project
grants, structural reforms)
BREAKING THE BRIDGES FOR
PARTICIPATION
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The Malawi PRSP was “shunned” in mid 2004 and
was officially “given the boot” in July 2005.
In May 2004, Bingu wa Mutharika (ex-Comesa SG, and
ex-World Bank) became president
In Sept. 2004, Dr. Goodall Gondwe (ex-IMF biggie
responsible for whole Africa) became Minister of
Finance
The PRSP was deemed to be “too focused on social
sectors”
Malawi Economic and Growth
Strategy (MEGS)
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Words like “poverty reduction” were taken to be too
negative, but “wealth creation”
The private sector was, and is viewed as the redeemer,
the messiah and technically, “the engine of growth”
. MEGS was developed behind curtains in full
consultation with private sector only (and a few
“interested” donors)
MEGS contained sectors of the economy that would
spur growth (zero on education, health, safety nets,
etc)
The Era of Policy Confusion
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The period July 2005 and June 2007, (2 fiscal years)
has seen government in a policy razzmatazz
National Budgets have been based on the abandoned
PRSP, the never launched MEGS, and the bits from
the second PRSP which has been under construction
CSOs and some devt. Partners (UNDP) raised fears of
the possible “throwing away” of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs).
The Malawi Growth and
Development Strategy (MGDS)
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Lobbying against the MEGS ushered in the process of
development of the MGDS (not to be confused with
MDGs!!)
Efforts were started to merge the PRSP and the
MEGS
11 thematic working groups (TWGs) set up
MEJN and other CS networks placed members in all
the TWGs
CS took leading roles in selected TWGs like
education and governance
Other CS roles in MGDS
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Through MEJN, participated in actual drafting
of the MGDS
MEJN led the participation in the technical
costing processed of the MGDS
Challenges
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Final PRSP review dragged behind formulation of
MGDS
An obvious extra emphasis on economic growth
activities which may have an effect on resources
available for the social sectors
The president has not yet put his signature on the
preface of the document!
Smaller number of TWGs systematically constrained
wider participation
More Challenges on the MGDS
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Threatened with serious ownership problems
compared with the PRSP (IMF PRGF too influential!)
No wider community level consultation took place,
sidelining CBOs and some decentralized government
departments
The Ministry of Economic Planning & Devt and Min of
Finance have more authority and interface on the
policy than other ministries (may affect depth of
implementation)
CS continue to face capacity bottlenecks to engage in
technical policy dialogue
Linkages with the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs)
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CS networks are using public resource
monitoring findings to influence government
commitments to the MDGs
The Malawi 2nd PRSP has a greater and clear
focus on MDGs than PRSP 1
The second PRSP is a modest attempt to
translate the MDGs in a localized context
Selected MGDS-MDGs Nexus:
POVERTY (Goal 1)
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The goal of the MGDS is to decrease poverty by 8.0
percent through economic growth, economic
empowerment and food security
Designed to reduce vulnerability to economic shocks;
Points at measures to protect those who temporarily
fall into poverty through strategies that increase assets
for the poor.
Designed to ensure that those who graduate from
poverty stay above the poverty line and those above it
do not fall into poverty.
HUNGER
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The MGDS seeks to directly decrease the
proportion of the population who suffer from
hunger and to improve their nutritional status.
Cycles of hunger are a factor in people moving
into poverty. Food security is therefore one of
the key priorities to receive government
funding and policy attention.
EDUCATION
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The MGDS seeks to increase enrolment to 95 percent
and reduce the drop out rate to 5 percent by 2012. At
the primary school level it is expected that there will be
substantial reduction in absenteeism, repetition and
dropout rates and high quality and relevant education.
At the secondary and tertiary levels it is expected that
there will be increased access and improved quality
and relevant education for both sexes and people with
special needs.
Access to clean water
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The MGDS seeks to improve access to clean
water and sanitation in line with the MDGs.
Malawi intends to increase access to water
within 500m distance for all people, and
thereby ensuring that basic water requirements
of every Malawian are met, while the country’s
natural ecosystem is enhanced.
CONCLUSION
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While progress is being made to align the MGDS with
the MDGs, the amount of resources allocated through
the budget and the actual implementation will
determine true commitment to the development goals.
CS participation in the PRSPs has been experimental.
Time has come for CS to be systematic and collect
credible evidence. Building knowledge and skills of CS
and communities is essential to bridging the
participation gaps that have made the story of CS
participation in poverty reduction strategies worth rewriting.
PARTING SHOT: “African saying”
“NOBODY
CAN SHAVE YOUR HEAD
IN YOUR ABSENCE”
–poverty reduction policy processes are about the people.
Let the people meaningfully participate.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
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