Evaluation and Monitoring of Poverty Reduction Strategies: a SIDA experience

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) recently published a comparative study of the implementation process of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers in Central America.

Under the title “The Evaluation and Monitoring of Poverty Reduction Strategies – 2004 Illusions and Disillusions with Pro-Poor Growth”, this 2004 report compares the recent experiences with the PRSP process in Bolivia, Honduras and Nicaragua. Its central focus is on second generation poverty reduction strategies. The report seeks to answer several crucial questions: What new directions are these revised strategies taking? Is the participatory process still sustainable? Are electoral cycles and other changes in national politics affecting the course of the implementation of the PRSP? Has donor cooperation improved during the process?

The report also sheds light on how pro-poor growth initiatives have been incorporated in these strategies and if there is effectively a link between the policies proposed and poverty reduction. It raises questions as to what extent the PRSP effectively will change the economic growth process to the greater benefit of the poor.

To download the report, please click here

For more information on the activities of SIDA, visit their website at www.sida.se