2004年-世界发展银行全球_OED_Review_of_the_Poverty_Reduction_Strategy_Process___Mauritania_Case_Study_42页_1mb

Summary of the OED Review of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) Process in Mauritania

Core Content

This document provides a comprehensive evaluation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) process in Mauritania, conducted by the World Bank's Operations Evaluation Department (OED) in 2004. It outlines the country's context, the preparation and implementation of the PRSP, and the World Bank's role in supporting the initiative. The review is part of a broader synthesis report that was discussed by the World Bank's Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE) in July 2004.

Main Points of the Document

A. Introduction

• The report evaluates the World Bank's support for the PRSP initiative in Mauritania, not the country's policies.
• It covers the formulation and implementation of the PRSP and includes two PRSP Progress Reports.
• The evaluation is based on a variety of sources, including World Bank documents, stakeholder materials, interviews, and a survey of 64 stakeholders from government, civil society, and international partners.

B. Country Background

I. Geographical Context

• Mauritania is a sparsely populated country at the western edge of the Sahara.
• Over 90% of the land is desert, with only the southern part supporting rain-fed vegetation.
• The population was 2.7 million in 2000, with a growth rate of 2.6%.
• The society is divided between Moors (70%) and black Africans (30%), with a majority being Sunni Muslims.

II. Political Context

• Mauritania was a one-party state from 1960 until 1978.
• A military dictatorship ruled from 1978 to 1992.
• President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya has been in power since 1984, with a third term election in 2003.
• The ruling party, PRDS, dominates the legislature, and the independent press is sometimes censored.
• Political instability persists due to internal conflicts within the ruling camp.

III. Poverty

• Poverty remains a serious issue in Mauritania, though there has been some progress in reducing it.
• The proportion of people living below the poverty line decreased from 57% in 1990 to 46% in 2000.
• Urban areas saw more significant reductions in poverty compared to rural and riverine regions.
• Inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, has increased, especially in urban centers.
• Vulnerable groups include the elderly, agricultural workers, informal sector laborers, and female-headed households.

IV. Economic Policy and Performance

• Mauritania has transformed from a nomadic, poor country to one with a small modern sector and traditional subsistence sectors.
• GDP growth has been erratic over the past three decades due to political instability and external shocks.
• From 1970-79, GDP grew at 2.7% annually, but with high variability.
• From 1990-99, GDP growth averaged 3.4% annually, with lower variability.
• In 2000, GDP growth reached 5.2%, but fell to 4.0% in 2001 and 3.3% in 2002.
• The economy is dominated by livestock and fishing, with limited industrial development.
• Infrastructure deficiencies, such as water supply, waste management, and electricity, are major constraints.
• The telecommunications sector has seen significant modernization following privatization.

V. National Poverty Reduction Strategies prior to the PRSP

• The first national poverty reduction strategy (1994-98) focused on income generation and community participation.
• It was based on a "learning by doing" approach and included infrastructure development and micro-enterprise programs.
• The 1998-2001 PNLP was an update of the earlier strategy and was coordinated by the newly established CDHLCPI.
• The PNLP aimed to meet the basic needs of the poorest and included poverty analysis and monitoring.

C. The PRS Process

I. Preparation

• The PRSP was prepared in December 1999 and presented to the World Bank and IMF in early 2001.
• The preparation was supported by the World Bank and other donors, including GTZ.
• A donor committee and a consultative committee were established to ensure broad-based participation.
• The PRSP process was accelerated by the involvement of the CDHLCPI, which was led by politically connected officials.

II. Country-led with Broad Based Participation

• The PRSP was developed in a country-led manner, involving various stakeholders.
• The CDHLCPI played a central role in coordinating the strategy, in consultation with ministries, NGOs, and civil society.
• The process emphasized a "bottom-up" approach to poverty reduction.

III. Comprehensive

• The PRSP aimed to be comprehensive, covering all aspects of poverty reduction and development.
• It included a wide range of policy areas and sectoral strategies, with a focus on structural reforms and poverty alleviation.

IV. Costing and Implementation of the PRSP

• The PRSP was projected to cost a significant amount, though actual implementation was limited.
• Table 4 shows the projected and actual costs of the PRSP in 2002.
• Chart 2 illustrates the increase in the projected cost of the PRSP program.
• Chart 3 highlights that spending on growth lagged behind projections.
• Disbursements from 1990 to 2001 are shown in Chart 4, with a breakdown by major donors in 2001 (Chart 5).

V. Partnership

• The PRSP was developed in partnership with the donor community.
• The World Bank and IMF were key partners in the process.
• The PRSP was endorsed by the BWIs, and Mauritania achieved the HIPC Completion Point in 2002.

D. World Bank Support

I. The Bank CAS and Alignment with the PRSP

• The Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) was aligned with the PRSP, ensuring that Bank assistance supported the country's poverty reduction goals.
• The CAS was part of the broader PRSP process, with the Bank working closely with the government to ensure alignment.

II. Delivery of Bank Assistance

• The Bank provided financial and technical support to the PRSP process.
• The assistance included loans, grants, and technical expertise.
• The PRSP was supported by the Bank's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), which aimed to increase growth and reduce poverty.

III. Bank-Country Relationship

• The relationship between the Bank and the Mauritanian government was collaborative.
• The Bank worked with the government to ensure that the PRSP was implemented effectively.
• The government was responsive to the Bank's recommendations and aligned its policies accordingly.

IV. Bank Support for Donor Coordination

• The Bank facilitated coordination among donors to ensure that support for the PRSP was consistent and effective.
• Donor coordination was a key component of the PRSP process, with the Bank playing a central role in this.

V. The Joint Staff Assessment

• A Joint Staff Assessment was conducted to evaluate the PRSP and the Bank's support.
• The assessment provided a comprehensive review of the PRSP process and its implementation.
• It identified key strengths and weaknesses in the PRSP and the Bank's support.

E. Summary of Findings

• The PRSP in Mauritania was a significant step towards poverty reduction and development.
• The country was one of the first to adopt the PRSP, and the process was country-led with broad-based participation.
• The World Bank provided substantial support to the PRSP process, including financial and technical assistance.
• The PRSP was aligned with the HIPC initiative, and Mauritania achieved the HIPC Completion Point in 2002.
• Despite progress, challenges remain, including inequality, infrastructure deficiencies, and limited implementation of the PRSP.
• The PRSP process highlighted the importance of donor coordination and country ownership in poverty reduction efforts.
• The Bank's support for the PRSP was effective in promoting structural reforms and improving governance.