5 - World Bank Development Policies and Poverty Alleviation in Africa
Corresponding Author(s) : Emmanuel Chike Onwuka
Africa Development,
Vol. 31 No. 4 (2006): Africa Development
Abstract
This paper looks at how World Bank policies affect the outcomes of efforts at alleviating widespread poverty in Africa. It questions the repercussion of these policies on the stability of African economies by analyzing the survey of the literature. From the evidence gathered from Africa and specific countries on the continent, the paper shows that the World Bank-supported adjustment reforms exacerbate rather than reduce poverty as they deal with growth-related prob- lems at the expense of human-centred or development associated measures; thus reinforcing the concerns that the reforms are an ineffective poverty allevia- tion instrument. Nevertheless, structural reforms could help push African econo- mies forward on condition that poverty reduction and not accounting records is their point of reference. That way, human development, which is the key to unlock Africa’s potential, would take its deserved place on the continent’s agenda.
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- Adelakun, A.O., 1999, ‘Agriculture and Rural Development’, in C.F. Okolocha, ed.,
- Discourses on Underdevelopment, Benin, United City Press.
- African Development Bank, 2000, African Development Report 2000: Regional Integration in Africa,
- New York, Oxford University Press.
- African Development Bank, 2001, African Development Report 2001: Fostering Good Governance in
- Africa, New York, Oxford University Press.
- Ajakaiye, D.O., and Olomola, A.S., 1999, ‘Conceptual and Methodological Issues in Poverty
- Alleviation’, in Central Bank of Nigeria Bulletin, 23 (4): 3-10.
- Ajaikaiye, D.O., and Adeyeye, V.A., 2001, ‘Concepts, Measurement and Causes of Poverty’, in Central
- Bank of Nigeria Economic and Financial Review, 39 (4): 8-44.
- Ake, C., 1990, ‘Sustaining Development in the Indigenous’, in The Long-term Perspective Study of
- Sub-Saharan Africa, Vol. 3, International and Socio- Political Issues, Washington, The World Bank.
- Aluko, S., 2004, ‘Background to Globalisation and Africa’s Economic Development’, in Proceedings of
- the 2003 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society, Ibadan, Nigerian Economic Society.
- Baffes, J., and Meerman, J., 1998, ‘From Prices to Incomes: Agricultural Subsidisation without
- Protection’, in The World Bank Research Observer, 13 (2): 191-211.
- Bentsi-Enchill, N.K., 1999, ‘Challenges of African Development’, Africa Recovery, 13 (2-3): 18-25.
- Cashin, P., Mauro P., and Sahay, R., 2001, ‘Macroeconomic Policies and Poverty Reduction: Some
- Cross-Country Evidence’, Finance and Development, 38 (2): 46-49.
- Castro, F., 1983, The World Economic and Social Crisis: Report to the Seventh Summit Conference of
- Non-aligned Countries, Havana, Publishing Office of the Council of State.
- Central Bank of Nigeria, 2002, Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin, Vol.
- , No. 1, Abuja, Central Bank of Nigeria.
- Central Bank of Nigeria, 2003, Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the Year Ended 31st
- December 2003, Abuja, Central Bank of Nigeria.
- Cheru, F., 1993, The Silent Revolution in Africa: Debt, Development and Democracy, London, Zed
- Books.
- Chirwa, E.W., 2000, ‘Structural Adjustment Programmes and Technical Efficiency in the Malawian
- Manufacturing Sector’, African Development Review, 12 (1): 35-48.
- Christiaensen, L., Demery, L., and Paternostro, S., 2003, ‘Macro and Micro Perspectives of Growth
- and Poverty in Africa’, The World Bank Economic Review, 17 (3): 317-347.
- Demery, L., 1993, ‘The Poverty Profile’, in L. Demery et al., ed., Understanding the Social Effects
- of Policy Reforms, Washington, The World Bank.
- Dipholo, K.B., 2002,‘Trends in Participatory Development’,Journal of Social Development in Africa,17 (1): 59-79.
- Daouas, M., 2001, ‘Africa Faces Challenges of Globalisation’, Finance and Development, 38 (4): 4-5.
- Dyck, A., 2001, ‘Privatisation and Corporate Governance: Principles, Evidence and Future
- Challenges’, The World Bank Research Observer, 16 (1): 59-84.
- Elbadawi, I.A., and Mwega, F.M., 2000, ‘Can Africa’s Saving Collapse Be Reversed?’,The World Bank Economic Review, 14 (3): 415-443.
- Federal Office of Statistics, 2000, Digest of Statistics, Lagos, Federal Office of Statistics.
- Fergany, N., 2002, ‘Poverty and Unemployment in Rural Egypt’, in R. Bush, ed.,
- Counter-Revolution in Egypt’s Countryside, Land and Farmers in the Era of
- Economic Reforms, London, Zed Books.
- Fishlow, A., 1995, ‘Inequality, Poverty and Growth: Where Do We Stand?’, in Proceedings of The
- World Bank Annual Conference on Development Economics 1995, Washington, The World Bank.
- Gabas, J., 1993, Aid and Development: Where the Twain Shall Meet, The Courier, ACP-EC, No. 137,
- Brussels, Commission of the European Communities.
- Haque, N.U., and Khan, M.S., 2002, ‘Do IMF Supported Programs Work? A Survey of the Cross-Country
- Empirical Evidence’, in M.S. Khan et al., ed., Macroeconomic Management: Programs and Policies,
- Washington, International Monetary Fund.
- Harrison, D., 1993, The Sociology of Modernisation and Development, London, Routledge Publishers.
- Husain, I., 1995, ‘The Challenge of Africa’, in K.S. Lateef, ed., The Evolving Role of the World
- Bank: Helping Meet the Challenge of Development, Washington, The World Bank.
- IDA/IMF, 2003, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers: Progress in Implementation.
- Available Online at http://www.worldbank.org/poverty/strategies/.
- IMF, 2003, World Economic Outlook 2003, Washington, International Monetary Fund.
- Isbister, J., 2001, Promises Not Kept: The Betrayal of Social Change in the Third World,
- Bloomfield, Kuramian Press.
- Iwayemi, A., 1993, ‘Contemporary Policy Issues in Nigeria’s Economic Development’, in T.A. Oyejide
- and M.I. Obadan, eds., Applied Economics and Economic Policy, Ibadan, Ibadan University Press.
- Jubilee 2000, Unfinished Business: The World’s Leaders and Millennium Debt Challenge, London,
- Jubilee 2000 Coalition.
- Koeberle, S.G., 2003, ‘Should Policy-Based Lending Still Involve Conditionality?’,
- The World Bank Research Observer, 18 (2): 249-273.
- Klugman, J., and J. Braithwaite, 1998, ‘Poverty in Russia During the Transition: An Overview’, The
- World Bank Research Observer, 13 (1): 37-58.
- Kuznets, S., 1966, Modern Economic Growth, New Haven, Yale University Press.
- Links, ‘The African Debt Crisis’, Available Online at http://www.data.org/whyafrica/ issuedebt.php.
- Manuel, T.A., 2003, ‘Africa and the Washington Consensus: Finding the Right Path’, Finance and
- Development, 40 (3): 18-20.
- Meier, G.M., 1989, Leading Issues in Economic Development, Oxford,Oxford University Press.
- Mkandawire, T., and Soludo, C.C. 1999, Our Continent, Our Future: African Perspective on Structural
- Adjustment, New Jersey, Africa World Press.
- Nurkse, R., 1953, Problems of Capital Accumulation in Underdeveloped Countries, New York, Oxford
- University Press.
- Obadan, M.I., 1996, ‘Poverty in Nigeria: Characteristics, Alleviation Strategies
- and Programmes’, NCEMA Policy Analysis Series, 2 (2): 23-40.
- Ohiorhenuan, J.F.E., 2003, ‘The Poverty of Development: Prolegomenan to a Critique of Development
- Policy in Africa’, Annals of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria, 14 & 15:1-34.
- Onimode, B., 2003, ‘Unequal Exchange, External Debt and Capacity for Development-Oriented Policies
- in African Countries’, in A. Garba, ed., Development Thought, Policy Advice and Economic
- Development in Africa in the 20th Century: Lessons for the 21st Century, Ibadan, Ibadan University
- Press.
- Rama, M., 1997, ‘Organised Labour and the Political Economy of Product Market Distortions’, The
- World Bank Economic Review, 11 (2): 327-355.
- Ramakrishna, S., 2001, ‘Globalisation and the Developing Countries’, African Journal of Finance and
- Management, 9 (2): 91-97.
- Rostow, W.W., 1960, The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto, Cambridge, Cambridge
- University Press.
- Stiglitz, J.E., 2001, ‘Development Thinking at the Millennium’, in B. Pleskovic and
- N. Stern, eds., Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics 2000, Washington, The World
- Bank.
- Todaro, M.P., 1992, Economics for a Developing World: An Introduction to Principles, Problems and
- Policies for Development, New York, Longman Publishing.
- UNCTAD, 2002a, UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics, New York, United Nations.
- UNCTAD, 2002b, World Investment Report 2002: Transnational Corporations and Export Competitiveness,
- Geneva, United Nations.
- UNCTAD, 2003, Trade and Development Report 2003: Developing Countries and World Trade, New York,
- United Nations.
- UNDP, 2003, Human Development Report 2003, Oxford, Oxford University Press. United Nations, 1997,
- Report on the World Social Situation 1997, New York, Department for Economic and Social Information
- and Policy Analysis, United Nations.
- United Nations, 1999a, Participatory Approaches to Poverty Alleviation in Rural Community
- Development, New York, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.
- United Nations, 1999b, Africa: Report of the Secretary-General to the UN Security Council, New York, United Nations.
- United Nations, 2000, World Economic and Social Survey 2000: Trends and Policies in the World
- Economy, New York, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.
- United Nations, 2002, World Economic and Social Survey 2002: Trends and Policies in the World
- Economy, New York, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.
- Wallerstein, I., 1987, Africa and the Modern World, New Jersey, Africa World Press.
- Wi liamson, J., 2000, ‘What Should the World Bank Think about the Washington
- Consensus?’, The World Bank Research Observer, 15 (2): 251-264.
- World Almanac, 2003, World Almanac and Books of Facts 2003, New York, World Almanac Books.
- World Bank, 1994, Adjustment in Africa: Reforms, Results, and the Road Ahead, New York, Oxford University Press.
- World Bank, 2002a, ‘Supporting Country Development: World Bank Role and Instruments in Lw and
- Middle-Income Countries’, Available Online at http:// wbln0018.worldbank.org/DCS/DevCom. nsf/.
- World Bank, 2002b, ‘Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers’, Available Online at http://www.worldbank.
- org / poverty / strategies / sourctoc.htm.
- World Bank, 2003a, ‘Global Poverty Monitoring’, Available Online at http:// www.worldbank.org/
- research/povmonitor.
- World Bank, 2003b, African Development Indicators 2003, Washington, The World Bank.
- World Bank, 2004, World Development Report 2004: Making Services Work for Poor People, Washington,The World Bank.
References
Adelakun, A.O., 1999, ‘Agriculture and Rural Development’, in C.F. Okolocha, ed.,
Discourses on Underdevelopment, Benin, United City Press.
African Development Bank, 2000, African Development Report 2000: Regional Integration in Africa,
New York, Oxford University Press.
African Development Bank, 2001, African Development Report 2001: Fostering Good Governance in
Africa, New York, Oxford University Press.
Ajakaiye, D.O., and Olomola, A.S., 1999, ‘Conceptual and Methodological Issues in Poverty
Alleviation’, in Central Bank of Nigeria Bulletin, 23 (4): 3-10.
Ajaikaiye, D.O., and Adeyeye, V.A., 2001, ‘Concepts, Measurement and Causes of Poverty’, in Central
Bank of Nigeria Economic and Financial Review, 39 (4): 8-44.
Ake, C., 1990, ‘Sustaining Development in the Indigenous’, in The Long-term Perspective Study of
Sub-Saharan Africa, Vol. 3, International and Socio- Political Issues, Washington, The World Bank.
Aluko, S., 2004, ‘Background to Globalisation and Africa’s Economic Development’, in Proceedings of
the 2003 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society, Ibadan, Nigerian Economic Society.
Baffes, J., and Meerman, J., 1998, ‘From Prices to Incomes: Agricultural Subsidisation without
Protection’, in The World Bank Research Observer, 13 (2): 191-211.
Bentsi-Enchill, N.K., 1999, ‘Challenges of African Development’, Africa Recovery, 13 (2-3): 18-25.
Cashin, P., Mauro P., and Sahay, R., 2001, ‘Macroeconomic Policies and Poverty Reduction: Some
Cross-Country Evidence’, Finance and Development, 38 (2): 46-49.
Castro, F., 1983, The World Economic and Social Crisis: Report to the Seventh Summit Conference of
Non-aligned Countries, Havana, Publishing Office of the Council of State.
Central Bank of Nigeria, 2002, Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin, Vol.
, No. 1, Abuja, Central Bank of Nigeria.
Central Bank of Nigeria, 2003, Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the Year Ended 31st
December 2003, Abuja, Central Bank of Nigeria.
Cheru, F., 1993, The Silent Revolution in Africa: Debt, Development and Democracy, London, Zed
Books.
Chirwa, E.W., 2000, ‘Structural Adjustment Programmes and Technical Efficiency in the Malawian
Manufacturing Sector’, African Development Review, 12 (1): 35-48.
Christiaensen, L., Demery, L., and Paternostro, S., 2003, ‘Macro and Micro Perspectives of Growth
and Poverty in Africa’, The World Bank Economic Review, 17 (3): 317-347.
Demery, L., 1993, ‘The Poverty Profile’, in L. Demery et al., ed., Understanding the Social Effects
of Policy Reforms, Washington, The World Bank.
Dipholo, K.B., 2002,‘Trends in Participatory Development’,Journal of Social Development in Africa,17 (1): 59-79.
Daouas, M., 2001, ‘Africa Faces Challenges of Globalisation’, Finance and Development, 38 (4): 4-5.
Dyck, A., 2001, ‘Privatisation and Corporate Governance: Principles, Evidence and Future
Challenges’, The World Bank Research Observer, 16 (1): 59-84.
Elbadawi, I.A., and Mwega, F.M., 2000, ‘Can Africa’s Saving Collapse Be Reversed?’,The World Bank Economic Review, 14 (3): 415-443.
Federal Office of Statistics, 2000, Digest of Statistics, Lagos, Federal Office of Statistics.
Fergany, N., 2002, ‘Poverty and Unemployment in Rural Egypt’, in R. Bush, ed.,
Counter-Revolution in Egypt’s Countryside, Land and Farmers in the Era of
Economic Reforms, London, Zed Books.
Fishlow, A., 1995, ‘Inequality, Poverty and Growth: Where Do We Stand?’, in Proceedings of The
World Bank Annual Conference on Development Economics 1995, Washington, The World Bank.
Gabas, J., 1993, Aid and Development: Where the Twain Shall Meet, The Courier, ACP-EC, No. 137,
Brussels, Commission of the European Communities.
Haque, N.U., and Khan, M.S., 2002, ‘Do IMF Supported Programs Work? A Survey of the Cross-Country
Empirical Evidence’, in M.S. Khan et al., ed., Macroeconomic Management: Programs and Policies,
Washington, International Monetary Fund.
Harrison, D., 1993, The Sociology of Modernisation and Development, London, Routledge Publishers.
Husain, I., 1995, ‘The Challenge of Africa’, in K.S. Lateef, ed., The Evolving Role of the World
Bank: Helping Meet the Challenge of Development, Washington, The World Bank.
IDA/IMF, 2003, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers: Progress in Implementation.
Available Online at http://www.worldbank.org/poverty/strategies/.
IMF, 2003, World Economic Outlook 2003, Washington, International Monetary Fund.
Isbister, J., 2001, Promises Not Kept: The Betrayal of Social Change in the Third World,
Bloomfield, Kuramian Press.
Iwayemi, A., 1993, ‘Contemporary Policy Issues in Nigeria’s Economic Development’, in T.A. Oyejide
and M.I. Obadan, eds., Applied Economics and Economic Policy, Ibadan, Ibadan University Press.
Jubilee 2000, Unfinished Business: The World’s Leaders and Millennium Debt Challenge, London,
Jubilee 2000 Coalition.
Koeberle, S.G., 2003, ‘Should Policy-Based Lending Still Involve Conditionality?’,
The World Bank Research Observer, 18 (2): 249-273.
Klugman, J., and J. Braithwaite, 1998, ‘Poverty in Russia During the Transition: An Overview’, The
World Bank Research Observer, 13 (1): 37-58.
Kuznets, S., 1966, Modern Economic Growth, New Haven, Yale University Press.
Links, ‘The African Debt Crisis’, Available Online at http://www.data.org/whyafrica/ issuedebt.php.
Manuel, T.A., 2003, ‘Africa and the Washington Consensus: Finding the Right Path’, Finance and
Development, 40 (3): 18-20.
Meier, G.M., 1989, Leading Issues in Economic Development, Oxford,Oxford University Press.
Mkandawire, T., and Soludo, C.C. 1999, Our Continent, Our Future: African Perspective on Structural
Adjustment, New Jersey, Africa World Press.
Nurkse, R., 1953, Problems of Capital Accumulation in Underdeveloped Countries, New York, Oxford
University Press.
Obadan, M.I., 1996, ‘Poverty in Nigeria: Characteristics, Alleviation Strategies
and Programmes’, NCEMA Policy Analysis Series, 2 (2): 23-40.
Ohiorhenuan, J.F.E., 2003, ‘The Poverty of Development: Prolegomenan to a Critique of Development
Policy in Africa’, Annals of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria, 14 & 15:1-34.
Onimode, B., 2003, ‘Unequal Exchange, External Debt and Capacity for Development-Oriented Policies
in African Countries’, in A. Garba, ed., Development Thought, Policy Advice and Economic
Development in Africa in the 20th Century: Lessons for the 21st Century, Ibadan, Ibadan University
Press.
Rama, M., 1997, ‘Organised Labour and the Political Economy of Product Market Distortions’, The
World Bank Economic Review, 11 (2): 327-355.
Ramakrishna, S., 2001, ‘Globalisation and the Developing Countries’, African Journal of Finance and
Management, 9 (2): 91-97.
Rostow, W.W., 1960, The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto, Cambridge, Cambridge
University Press.
Stiglitz, J.E., 2001, ‘Development Thinking at the Millennium’, in B. Pleskovic and
N. Stern, eds., Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics 2000, Washington, The World
Bank.
Todaro, M.P., 1992, Economics for a Developing World: An Introduction to Principles, Problems and
Policies for Development, New York, Longman Publishing.
UNCTAD, 2002a, UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics, New York, United Nations.
UNCTAD, 2002b, World Investment Report 2002: Transnational Corporations and Export Competitiveness,
Geneva, United Nations.
UNCTAD, 2003, Trade and Development Report 2003: Developing Countries and World Trade, New York,
United Nations.
UNDP, 2003, Human Development Report 2003, Oxford, Oxford University Press. United Nations, 1997,
Report on the World Social Situation 1997, New York, Department for Economic and Social Information
and Policy Analysis, United Nations.
United Nations, 1999a, Participatory Approaches to Poverty Alleviation in Rural Community
Development, New York, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.
United Nations, 1999b, Africa: Report of the Secretary-General to the UN Security Council, New York, United Nations.
United Nations, 2000, World Economic and Social Survey 2000: Trends and Policies in the World
Economy, New York, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.
United Nations, 2002, World Economic and Social Survey 2002: Trends and Policies in the World
Economy, New York, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.
Wallerstein, I., 1987, Africa and the Modern World, New Jersey, Africa World Press.
Wi liamson, J., 2000, ‘What Should the World Bank Think about the Washington
Consensus?’, The World Bank Research Observer, 15 (2): 251-264.
World Almanac, 2003, World Almanac and Books of Facts 2003, New York, World Almanac Books.
World Bank, 1994, Adjustment in Africa: Reforms, Results, and the Road Ahead, New York, Oxford University Press.
World Bank, 2002a, ‘Supporting Country Development: World Bank Role and Instruments in Lw and
Middle-Income Countries’, Available Online at http:// wbln0018.worldbank.org/DCS/DevCom. nsf/.
World Bank, 2002b, ‘Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers’, Available Online at http://www.worldbank.
org / poverty / strategies / sourctoc.htm.
World Bank, 2003a, ‘Global Poverty Monitoring’, Available Online at http:// www.worldbank.org/
research/povmonitor.
World Bank, 2003b, African Development Indicators 2003, Washington, The World Bank.
World Bank, 2004, World Development Report 2004: Making Services Work for Poor People, Washington,The World Bank.