Bretton Woods Project - PRSPs, A Rough Guide

18 July 2006
23:59

· Officially SA no longer exists
· Lending based on acceptance of PRSP prepared by country
· Interim PRSPs can be made b to get into HIPC
· Joint Staff Assessments review PRSPs. Are these impartial etc?
· Loans still have conditions
· Negotiations still secret
· Reviewed every 3-5 years
· Outcomes focussed on MDGs
· Basically little has changed but the country officially has role now
· Evidence that WB and IMF have accepted plans despite concerns over participation in drafting
· NGO's calling for independent poverty and social impact analysis
· Arguments in favour of PRSP's:
        ? Top down likely to get it wrong
        ? Cheaper if they work
        ? More sustainable
        ? Empowering