Papers - Conference Papers
DDCI Research Other Research Conference Papers Briefing Papers Articles

THE PRSP IN ZAMBIA IFI’S AND BILATERALS
By Besinati Mpepo
Coordinator, Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR), Zambia

Highlights Of The PRSP Process In Zambia

Over 70% of Zambians are poor (<US$1/DAY)
PRSP launched in June 2002.
PRSP fed into the preparation of a Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) for Zambia
3rd year of implementation and government is currently preparing 1st PRSP progress report.
Concerns around levels of implementation, resource availability …
Zambia missed HIPC Completion point – end 2003. Possibly reach it in June 2004.

IMF/WB and Zambia’s PRSP

PRGF preceded PRSP – the latter tends to reflect elements of the former and not vice versa.
Link between HIPC and PRSP in the formulation stages led to a rushed process.
No benchmarks for minimal participation.
Only observed in civil society meetings – good, and active in government meetings – good or bad? Country ownership?
Conditionalities – rigid targets, privatization …

The IMF/WB should...

Align PRGFs to PRSPs especially for those PRGFs that preceded PRSPs
Aid and Debt relief to be based on PRSP progress reports (OXFAM study)
Set benchmarks for minimum participation in the next round of PRSPs
Take seriously the results of civil society’s PRSP monitoring as well as their inputs to the PRSP country reviews
The HIPC/PRSP link in implementation should be reviewed – when a country is off track with HIPC, the poor suffer most.
Take seriously the CSO recommendations on the role of the IMF in low income countries
Cancel all unsustainable debts – PRSP resources are undermined by debt repayments.
Use the findings of the PSIA (those conducted with broad stakeholder involvement and whose findings and generally undisputed) to inform the next rounds of PRSPs,PRGF, PRSC.

Recommendations to the Bilateral donors

Specially addressing the Irish government:
Ensure aid is aligned to country PRSPs
Harmonize with other bilateral donors in supporting country PRSPs
Support the campaign for a level playing field for international trade – ‘Make Trade Fair Campaign’
As a member of the IMF Board, be pro poor – give an ear to Northern civil society groups collaborating with Southern partners e.g Trocaire.
When our government does not comply to certain conditions don’t abruptly halt support – it’s the poor that suffer the most when this happens. Gradually phase, direct project support….
Cancel Zambia’s Debt – The debt is unsustainable even under HIPC


CONCLUSION

I cannot underscore enough the critical role of bilateral donors and the European Union in Zambia’s quest for sustainable development and poverty eradication. One opportunity is through the PRSP and we believe that with greater levels of commitment on the part of our governments and the international community, we may begin to see an improvement in the lives of the 70% of the population that lives on less that US$1 a day.

Thankyou !


Print Version