Minding the gaps : integrating poverty reduction strategies and budgets for domestic accountability / Vera A. Wilhelm and Philipp Krause, editors.

Format:

Book

Government document

Contributor:

Wilhelm, Vera, 1960-

Krause, Philipp, 1978-

World Bank.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Poverty--Government policy--Developing countries.

Poverty.

Budget--Developing countries.

Budget.

Economic assistance--Developing countries--Management.

Economic assistance.

Management.

Poverty--Government policy.

Developing countries.

Physical Description:

xiii, 182 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : World Bank, [2008]

Summary:

By integrating their poverty reduction strategies (PRSs), national budgets, and the corresponding reporting processes, low-income countries can strengthen domestic accountability and the implementation of pro-poor policies. Minding the Gaps, based on nine low-income-country case studies and a review of relevant experience in four higher-income countries, offers practical insights for donors and national governments on how to strengthen the links between PRSs and budgets.

PRS countries' efforts to integrate policy with budgeting processes have often had limited effect. Their policy making, planning, and budgeting are often embedded in fragmented processes and institutions. Going beyond mainly technical fixes that have been commonly used to address this fragmentation, this study frames domestic accountability in terms of ownership and incentive structures.

Experience counsels the use of a simple approach that is not too ambitious. This approach should be centrally led and make use of existing systems while gradually improving them. It should build support from within and foster incentives for integration, for example by better linking PRS and budget reporting to actual decision-making processes. Also, simple budget reforms can significantly improve the budget's responsiveness to policies. Structuring a poverty reduction strategy paper in a more budget-friendly manner can facilitate the interface with the budget by involving sector agencies more closely in elaborating policy priorities and establishing resource implications. It can also expand ownership and boost incentives for integration of a greater number of stakeholders, thereby strengthening domestic accountability.

Contents:

Domestic Accountability in the RRS and Budget Processes 2

Linking PRSs and Budgets 3

Integrating PRS and Budget Reporting 4

The Agenda Ahead 6

Part 1 Findings and Lessons from Country Case Studies

Structure of the Review 15

3 Domestic Accountability in the PRS and Budget Processes: Expectations and Reality 17

Accountability: Ownership and Incentives 17

Ownership of the PRS and the Budget 19

Incentives in the PRS and the Budget 24

Summing Up: Accountability Gaps in the PRS and the Budget 26

4 Linking Poverty Reduction Strategies and Budgets 29

Mechanisms to Link PRSs and Budgets 29

Toward a More Effective Link 34

5 Integrating PRS and Budget Reporting 41

The Nature of Budget and PRS Reporting 41

Three Building Blocks 46

External and Internal Incentives to Report 47

6 The Agenda Ahead 53

Key Findings 53

Practical Lessons and Entry Points for Reform 55

Part 2 Summaries of Country Case Studies

7 Albania: Creating an Integrated Planning and Reporting System 65

Country Context 65

Linking the PRS and the Budget 67

Integrating Reporting on the PRS and the Budget 68

Ownership and Accountability 69

The Integrated Planning System 70

8 Burkina Paso: Aligning Donor Procedures with National Systems 75

Country Context 75

Linking the PRS and the Budget 76

Integrating Reporting on the PRS and the Budget 78

Ownership and Accountability 79

9 Madagascar: Toward More Effective Government Leadership 85

Country Context 85

Linking the PRS and the Budget 87

Integrating Reporting on the PRS and the Budget 88

Ownership and Accountability 90

10 Malawi: Building a Credible Budget for Better Accountability 95

Country Context 95

Linking the PRS and the Budget 96

Integrating Reporting on the PRS and the Budget 99

Ownership and Accountability 100

11 Mali: Linking Policies and Medium-Term Budgeting 105

Country Context 105

Linking the PRS and the Budget 106

Integrating Reporting on the PRS and the Budget 108

Ownership and Accountability 108

12 Mozambique: Promoting a Unified Process 113

Country Context 113

Linking the PRS and the Budget 115

Integrating Reporting on the PRS and the Budget 117

13 Rwanda: Domestic Accountability as a Driver of Integration 123

Country Context 123

Linking the PRS and the Budget 124

Integrating Reporting on the PRS and the Budget 127

Ownership and Accountability 128

14 Tanzania: Developing a Structured Link between the PRS and Budgets 133

Country Context 133

Linking the PRS and the Budget 134

Integrating Reporting on the PRS and the Budget 136

Ownership and Accountability 137

15 Uganda: Building on Existing Systems for Monitoring Results 141

Country Context 141

Linking the PRS and the Budget 142

Linking PRS and Budget Reporting 145

Incentives and Accountability 147

Annex 1 Lessons from Higher-Income Reformers 151

Country Summaries 151

Emerging Themes 156

Implications 158

Annex 2 Priority Sectors and Pro-Poor Spending in Selected Case Studies 161

Annex 3 Nature of the APR in the Case Study Countries 163.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 173-176) and index.

ISBN:

9780821372050

082137205X

9780821372067

0821372068

OCLC:

166368179