Posted by Vera Wilhelm, World Bank
Firmly linking a poverty reduction strategy (PRS) to the national budget is no small task. Integrating planning and budgeting instruments entails technical, institutional and political challenges. It should be of no surprise, then, that a recent review finds that although many low income countries have made progress in strengthening their PRSs, links to budgeting instruments remain often weak (see Country-Based Scaling Up: Assessment of Progress and Agenda for Action, World Bank, 2007). But while the challenges for linking planning and budgeting are large, the task is crucial: without firm links between the PRS and budget, development strategies may not be translated into actions and outcomes.
A recent publication provides some solace to policymakers and development practitioners. Minding the Gaps: Integrating Poverty Reduction Strategies and Budgets for Domestic Accountability draws on in-depth research from nine low income and four higher income countries. Its basic message: domestic constraints are not reasons to shelve reform efforts entirely; rather, weak capacity and contested ownership underscore the importance of gradual programs to strengthen PRS-budget links, tailor-made to country circumstances.
The full text of the report is available for download free-of-charge through the link above.
