World Bank - attacking poverty

18 July 2006
21:57

· Poverty varies as much within as between countries
· By ethnic group, gender
· Pop growth makes MDG's harder
· 60's & 70's infrastructure emphasis; 70's edu & health / human capital emphasis; 80's economic management emphasis; 90's growth plus infra, edu, health
· Opportunity, empowerment, tackling vulnerability - these the three
· No heirarchy of importance
· Income not the key - eg health.
· Plan:
        ? Opportunity -
                § Reduce risk for investors
                        ? Corruption
                        ? Stability
                § Open markets to poor
                        ? Microcredit
                § Well designed entry into world markets
                § Not necessarily slower but offset losses
                        ? eg post-NAFTA grants to mexican farmers
                § Refocus public services on poor people
                        ? Rural infrastructure
                        ? Basic services in urban areas
        ? Empowerment
                § transparency
                § Legal aid
                § Decentralisation
                § Gender equity
                § Correct biases in law
                § Get into parliament
        ? Security
                § Modular approach
                § Flexibility
                        ? Microinsurance
                        ? Public works plans
                        ? Prepare for national shocks
                        ? Ringfence social spending
                        ? Case by case decisions of social insurance
                        ? Pre-empt civil conflict
                        ? Inclusion work, strong institutions
                        ? Tackling AIDS
· International action
        ? Selective aid increases
        ? Focussed on ownership and results
        ? End agri subsidies
        ? Transparency for NGOs etc
        ? More support for LEDC medical research
        ? Reduce arms trade
· This all evidence of multidimensional view of poverty