5.3.2 Opportunities

Focus on Poverty Issues

Although some authors state that the macroeconomic policies in PRS are not a real improvement on the structural adjustment programmes (SAPs), others see a new focus on poverty reduction. With the PRS, poverty reduction has become a central issue in national and international politics. This commitment to poverty reduction can actually have effects at the local level and on poor people’s interests, as research proves: “For countries like Senegal, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Bolivia, Honduras and Nicaragua, PRSPs offered the prospects of a renewed commitment to education and health care at the local level, coupled to the provision of new resources from donors and the release of debt servicing funds for the implementation of long-term strategies.” (Whaites, 2002, p. 14).

Opportunities for Civil Society Participation

Despite all the criticisms, the main ideas of the PRS are increasingly gaining in acceptance and approval, as the PRS process seems to offer real opportunities. Experience shows that in many countries the exchange of views between government and civil society has already started more or less successfully. There is a quantitative rise in cooperation between the civil society and governments, and the transparency of politics in general has increased. Case studies show that “space for public participation in policy formulation has indeed opened up in Kenya, Nepal, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Vietnam.” (Houghton, 2002, p. 8). The process of political participation also provides new opportunities for marginalised groups, which until recently have not been able to wield any political influence. Moreover, the process allows different parts of the civil society to get to know each other for the first time, creating valuable opportunities in the fight to reduce discrimination.

Altogether, their involvement in the PRS process forces all stakeholders to change their behaviour. NGOs and civil society organisations have to organise themselves in order to gain real influence; governments must learn to communicate with civil society representatives and engage with them in a real dialogue. The international finance institutions need to transfer the responsibilities of the whole PRS process to the country concerned, and all donors should align their support with the country’s PRS. 

In general work on the PRSP can definitely be beneficial as it offers new opportunities for both the civil society and governments. Many countries do not have an actual choice as to whether they should prepare a PRSP or not because they are completely dependent on debt relief. However, a positive effect can already be detected in the fact that all stakeholders are now striving to formulate joint policy strategies for the PRS. Nevertheless, the results of those national PRS executed to date are difficult to assess, as the strategies take place over the long term, and the process is still quite new and dynamic. Problems in the first phase must therefore be considered as a challenge. It will be up to future generations to evaluate the real effects and results of the PRS process.

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