Environment & national PRSs directions and dilemmas
EPD Seminar Series
May 2002
Organisation

Overview of the PRS process

‘Mainstreaming’ in a PRS context

Objectives of DFID support

Options for engaging on environmental issues

Group work
2
Origins of the PRSP Idea


Mixed record on poverty reduction in 1990s
(Africa, Transition economies, post-1997 Asia)
Findings on aid effectiveness – projects,
policy conditionality, ownership

International Development Targets/MDGs

Multilateral funding for debt relief (HIPC II)
3
Core PRSP Principles

Country-led/owned based on broad-based participation

Comprehensive – macro, structural, social, environmental

Long term perspective

Results-oriented

Costed & prioritised

Partnership-oriented
4
PRS Schedule & Key Elements
Preparation
Status
Report
I-PRSP
PREPARATION
1st Annual
Progress
Report
PRSP (I)
IMPLEMENTATION
9-24 months
HIPC(II)
Decision
Point
5
2nd Annual
Progress
Report etc..
2-5 years
HIPC(II)
Completion
Point
PRSP (II)
PRS Schedule & Key Elements
Preparation
Status
Report
I-PRSP
PRSP (I)
9-24 months
Comprehensive
diagnosis
6
1st Annual 2nd Annual
Progress
Progress
Report
Report etc….
PRSP elements:
3 years
 Poverty analysis
 Goals/targets
 Prioritised policy actions
 Med-term budget fw
 Financing plan
 External assistance
 Participatory process
Monitoring and evaluation
PRSP (II)
Selective
actions
Links with other instruments
IMF
PRGF
(replaces
ESAF)
I-PRSP
HIPC(II)
Decision
Point
7
PRGF performance criteria/benchmarks (3 years)
World Bank
PRSC/other
donor DBS
Performance indicators/PAFs
Goals & targets (5-10 years)
PRSP (I)
PRSP (II)
HIPC Triggers
HIPC(II)
Completion
Point
Links with other national processes
Sector/cross-cutting strategies &
priorities
I-PRSP
PRSP elements:
(I)
 Prioritised policy actions
 Med-term budget fw
MTEF
Resource constraints
Inter/intra-sectoral priorities
Service delivery
Monitoring & Evaluation
8
PRSP (II)
What’s new?

‘Costed’ poverty reduction strategy linked to macro &
fiscal framework

Outcome focused; making the links between policy &
results

Opening-up the policy process to participation

New incentives, new partnership possibilities & new
forms of aid delivery
9
Emerging Experience



Upgrading’ of poverty policy – MoFs engaged (Malawi)
Achieved at some cost to sentiments of national
ownership but IFIs getting better at stepping back (Mali)
‘Quality’ of PRS process & document heavily influenced
by density of previous strategy & reform effort(s)

Synergy with MTEFs especially important but there is
value-added in having PRSP as well (Rwanda, Benin)

Sometimes catalyst for changing donor behaviour
(Bolivia), sometimes not
10
Emerging Experience

Participatory processes generally limited to consultation,
depth of understanding limited outside core PRSP group

Ambitious targets, weak prioritisation & costing of policy
actions

Anti-poverty content variable, sectoral focus, weak
integration of cross-cutting themes/priorities

Monitoring & evaluation still the poor relative, although this
is changing (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia,
Bolivia)
11
Mainstreaming in a PRS context


12
Working through national systems and processes

Poverty analysis (Nigeria workshop)

Engaging civil society (Kenya)

Influencing PRSP and other policy (Uganda NEMA)

Monitoring and evaluation (Vietnam VDTs)
Building on existing reform processes/efforts

Uganda - Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture

Rwanda – MTEF and ubudehe

Bolivia - decentralisation
Mainstreaming in a PRS context


13
Working with & through other donors

Joint donor financing mechanisms in much of Africa

Bolivia - bilateral ‘JSA’

Poverty Task Force in Vietnam
Engaging with a broad range of stakeholders

Importance of PPAs (Rwanda, Uganda)

Capacity building of organised civil society (Kenya)

Working with the private sector (esp in transition economies)

Sectoral and local government (Bolivia)
Objectives of DFID support



14
Support for ‘strong’ PRSs
Poverty diagnosis, prioritisation…links with other reform
processes
Coordination, reducing TCs, harmonisation
Identifying ‘entry points’

Poverty analysis - input to the analysis to ensure
comprehensive?

PSIA - feed into ex ante analysis of impacts of policies?

Priority areas - help with analysis of sustainability of the
selected priority actions?

Organised civil society - support those working in areas
related to broad environment agenda?

Engaging with line ministries - when key ministries are
drafting their sectoral strategies, can begin dialogue
over sustainability of key policy areas?

Working with other donors - look to fund interventions
jointly?
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