POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, MPLEMENTATION AND REVIEWTANZANIA EXPERIENCE SUSTAINING PARTICIPATION IN POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGIES WORKSHOP, MAY 2, 2005 ACCRA, GHANA
BACKGROUND • Tanzania has long history in fighting poverty since our independence 1961. • Various Poverty related Policies were developed at different time. • Significant achievements have been made, however we also experienced some challenges which have led to reviews of those policies
Recent initiatives in fighting poverty • Various reform programmes • PRS I (2000-2003) • PRS Review Process • Launching (2003) • Stakeholders Consultations.
PRS IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW OF THE PERFORMANCE • The Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS-I) provided for priority sectors and cross cutting issues, namely agriculture, education, health, water, rural roads, judiciary, and HIV/AIDS. The activities were set within these priority sectors to achieve a number of targets. Recent review of sector performance has shown positive encouraging results, whereby significant progress has been recorded for a number of targets and modest progress recorded on others.
Summary of lessons drawn from the implementation of PRS • PRS focused on few priority sectors which did not fullymeet the aspired development programme objectives; • Implementation of PRS is not sufficient in ensuring sustained long term growth, so there is need for strategic investments that can make the economy grow and reduce poverty; • Successes and benefits recorded in macro-economic performance and reforms laid foundation for addressing poverty reduction • There is a need to strengthen LGAs in monitoring poverty reduction;
Summary of lessons drawn from the implementation of PRS (Cont.) • PRS provided an opportunity for linkages between sectoral strategies and poverty reduction; • PRS enhanced transparency and accountability in the management of public resources released for poverty reduction interventions; • PRS approach has facilitated the implementation of government policy of fiscal decentralisation by channelling more funds to LGAS; • PRS provided a platform for stakeholder consultations; and • PRS has demonstrated the need to have clear link between the national policies and the budgetary resource allocation.
Objectives and issues which were considered during the Review process • The overall objective was to update the original PRSP in a manner that will create more commitment, ownership and rally all the stakeholders behind it • Specific objectives were;- • To make PRS more comprehensive and pro poor • To expand and deepen interventions to reduce poverty • To create commitment and build consensus on the priority outcomes for poverty reduction
Principles which were considered during the Review process • Be nationally owned and driven by national interests and the national agenda • Be developed through a participatory/consultative process • Build on what we have and not start a completely new PRS • Set realistic and achievable operational outcomes • Harmonize NSGRP with other Government Processes
Levels of Consultations • Village and community Level • District Level • Regional Level • National Level
The current NSGRP strategy framework • Three broad clusters • Broad outcomes • Goals • Operational targets • Sub categories • Cluster strategies • Intervention Package • Areas of collaboration • Actors
MEDIUM TERM PLAN OBJECTIVES AND NSGRP FOCUS Medium Term Plan Objectives • Consolidate macroeconomic stability by pursuing and sustaining pro-growth strategies and interventions that will yield sustainable and broad-based economic growth required in fighting poverty; • Create conducive environment for private sector development; • Improve and sustain quality of life and social well-being by paying more attention on equity and quality issues in the delivery of social services;
Medium Term Plan Objectives (Cont.) • Foster and sustain good governance and accountability through combating crimes/corruption/insecurity and integrating future needs of peace enforcing organs into planning and budgeting process; • Mainstream cross-cutting issues including gender equity, HIV/AIDS control, environmental protection and good governance actions into sector strategies and activities; • Implement public sector reforms to entrench public accountability, transparency and efficiency in conducting government business, and enhancing broad-based participation in decision-making process;
Medium Term Plan Objectives (Cont.) • Implement Pay Reform Programme in order to promote efficiency in the delivery of services in the public sector; • Create employment opportunities through increased investment in the productive sectors, strategic economic infrastructure, and social services;. • Increase resource allocation to identified poverty reduction cluster interventions.; and • Allocate resources taking into account the needs of vulnerable groups.
NSGRP focus Major clusters strategies • Growth and reduction of income poverty • Improvement of quality of life and social well being • Good governance and Accountability
NSGRP Departure from PRS • NSGRP Focus on RESULTS/OUTCOME • Inter-sectoral linkages, cross-sectoral collaboration & synergies • Attention to mainstreaming cross-cutting issues • More Attention to Governance & Accountability
NSGRP Depature from PRS (Cont.) • Further aligned with MDGs, NEPAD • NSGRP has five year framework • Prioritization in terms of three clusters, broad outcomes, goals and cluster strategies
NSGRP STATUS AND WAYS FORWARD • NSGRP preparation was launched in October 2003 during the Poverty Policy Week October 2003. • The first round of consultations at different levels was completed in April 2004. • The consolidation of stakeholders inputs and development of first draft was completed in August 2004. • The second round of consultations on the first draft was completed in September 2004. • The second draft of NSGRP was completed and availed in October 2004, and refined more in Nov. 2004 during PPW
Challenges • Implementation • Monitoring • Financing
Implementation Challenges • Link with/align with the Government budget • Coherence of sector strategic plans with NSGRP • Review of sector and District development plans in line with NSGRP
Implementation Challenges (cont.) • Further mainstreaming of the cross cutting issues in sector and district plans • Capacity Development • Skills and knowledge under new outcome based approach. • Coordination of implementing actors • Implementation Mechanism
Monitoring challenges • PMS review to reflect NSGRP • PMS review to reflect the global commitment including MDGs • Monitoring capacities • Monitoring Skills and knowledge • Systems of Monitoring (RDS,R&A, C&S, DSA) • Monitoring systems coordination • Capacity to collect, process, analyse and disseminate data • Community participation in monitoring
Monitoring challenges ..cont. • Deepening and institutionalization of stakeholders’ consultations. • Link sector M&E to the PMS • Monitoring indicators • Determine both quantitative and qualitative indicators • Determine accuracy, relevance, frequency and availability of data
Financing Challenges • Domestic sources • Improved measures of revenue collections • External source (Borrowing, Grants, Aid) • Predictability of external sources • Reliability (honoring pledges) • Resources allocation • Budget for NSGRP versus Non NSGRP
Financing Challenges (cont.) • Resources utilization • Effectiveness and efficiency in resources utilization (absorption capacity) • Accountability and transparency of resources utilization to stakeholders
The Way forward for NSGRP • Training on skills enhancement for key stakeholders in poverty and policy related areas and changing the mind set; • Translate NSGRP in Swahili language and prepare popular versions, posters, leaflets etc., in order to strengthen dissemination, advocacy and sensitization of NSGRP; • Review the PMS and develop PMMP in line with NSGRP;
Way forward for NSGRP (Cont.) • Develop implementation framework for NSGRP to guide preparations of MDAs and LGAs implementation plans; • Prepare Communication Strategy and its implementation plan; • Strengthening capacity to implement the NSGRP, to collect, process, analyse and disseminate data for policy making; and • Prepare Annual NSGRP Progress Reports (annual review), to evaluate annual performance and for annual budgeting process.
Way forward for NSGRP (Cont.) • Series of meetings to enhance intersectoral collaboration • Looking the ways and means to enhance inter sectoral linkages and tapping the synergies and cross sectoral collaboration. • Thematic discussion among the stakeholders in order to enhance the understanding of opportunities and challenges. • Support sectors to align SDPs with NSGRP
END Thank you for listening
