The PRSP Approach and the Illusion of Improved Aid Effectiveness: Lessons from Bolivia, Honduras and Nicaragua

Since 1999, poor countries that want to qualify for concessionary IMF loans and debt relief must elaborate and implement Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. Donors claim that the PRSP approach will increase aid effectiveness since PRSPs will enhance broad country ownership and lead to better ‘partner...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Development policy review 2005-07, Vol.23 (4), p.443-464
Main Author: Dijkstra, Geske
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antipoverty Programs
Bolivia
Cost-effectiveness
Developing Countries
Development aid
Development studies
Economic development
Evaluation
Foreign Aid
Honduras
IMF
International Cooperation
Nicaragua
Policy studies
Public debt
Public policy
Public-private partnership
Rational choice
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Summary:Since 1999, poor countries that want to qualify for concessionary IMF loans and debt relief must elaborate and implement Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. Donors claim that the PRSP approach will increase aid effectiveness since PRSPs will enhance broad country ownership and lead to better ‘partnership’ with donors, implying more donor co‐ordination under government leadership. By examining the experiences of Bolivia, Honduras and Nicaragua, this article finds that the results are disappointing. The article also shows that, by emphasising rational planning and ignoring politics, the PRSP approach has unintended and sometimes harmful consequences. This leads to recommendations for changes of the approach.
ISSN:0950-6764
1467-7679
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-7679.2005.00296.x