Public Policy Strategies for Poverty Alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Inclusive Approach

Ekpeyong, Paul (2024): Public Policy Strategies for Poverty Alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Inclusive Approach.

Abstract

In retrospect, the poverty problem has deepened in many Sub-Saharan African countries in the last several decades, underpinning the region’s inability to sustain peace and stability, and in the process threatening years of development post-independence. This worsening situation is reflected in the HDI of the sub-continent which is on the lowest bracket in the global league. Subsequently, most of the countries have formulated and embarked on poverty reduction strategies in order to eradicate the status of “extremely poor” and also to receive debt forgiveness from the multi-lateral as well as bilateral organizations. Nevertheless, the effects of these endeavors have been mixed. This paper aims at identifying the status of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa and qualitatively look at the modern policies that keep the problem alive today. What it enshrines is an elaborate strategy for poverty eradication, which puts emphasis on a consultative process for addressing the plight of extreme poverty in the region.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: poverty, sub-Saharan, Africa, Policies
• Subjects: H - Public Economics > H3 - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents > H30 - General; H - Public Economics > H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies; H - Public Economics > H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies > H54 - Infrastructures ; Other Public Investment and Capital Stock; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O2 - Development Planning and Policy > O21 - Planning Models ; Planning Policy; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O2 - Development Planning and Policy > O23 - Fiscal and Monetary Policy in Development

References

Anetor, F.O., Esho, E. and Verhoef, G., 2020. The impact of foreign direct investment, foreign aid and trade on poverty reduction: Evidence from Sub-Saharan African countries. Cogent Economics & Finance, 8(1), p.1737347.

Baker, J.L., 2000. Evaluating the impact of development projects on poverty: A handbook for practitioners. World Bank Publications.

Chant, S., 2003. The ‘engendering ‘of poverty analysis in developing regions: Progress since the United Nations decade for women, and priorities for the future.

Chinkin, C., 2001. The United Nations decade for the elimination of poverty: what role for international law?. Current Legal Problems, 54(1), p.553.

Chirwa, E.W., Kumwenda, I., Jumbe, C., Chilonda, P. and Minde, I., 2008. Agricultural growth and poverty reduction in Malawi: Past performance and recent trends. ReSAKSS-SA Working Paper, 8.

Davies, V.L., 2006. Banking for growth: tiering the banking sector as a strategy for improving access to credit for small enterprises in developing countries.

Fisher, E., Attah, R., Barca, V., O'Brien, C., Brook, S., Holland, J., Kardan, A., Pavanello, S. and Pozarny, P., 2017. The livelihood impacts of cash transfers in sub-Saharan Africa: beneficiary perspectives from six countries. World Development, 99, pp.299-319.

Gohou, G. and Soumaré, I., 2012. Does foreign direct investment reduce poverty in Africa and are there regional differences?. World development, 40(1), pp.75-95.

Griffore, A., 2010. Beyond Diamonds: Embedding the Post-Colonial State in Botswana (Doctoral dissertation, University of Ottawa (Canada)).

Hajdu, F., Ansell, N., Robson, E., Van Blerk, L. and Chipeta, L., 2011. Income generating activities as components of sustainable rural livelihoods for young southern Africans-AIDS and other constraints. The Geographical Journal, 177(3), pp.251-263.

Hanmer, L.C., Pyatt, G. and White, H., 1999. What do the World Bank's poverty assessments teach us about poverty in sub-Saharan Africa? Development and change, 30(4), pp.795-823.

Hope Sr, K.R., 2008. Public sector management and reform. In Poverty, Livelihoods, and Governance in Africa: Fulfilling the Development Promise (pp. 93-116). New York: Palgrave Macmillan US.

Igbinedion, S.O. and Abusomwan, S.O., 2014. Sub-Saharan Africa and the challenges of poverty eradication: Contemporary issues and policy framework. International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 3(12), pp.2206-2217.

Ogujiuba, K. and Jumare, F., 2012. Challenges of economic growth, poverty and development: Why are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) not fair to Sub-Saharan Africa? Journal of Sustainable Development, 5(12), pp.52-64.

Seppala, P., 1997. Food Marketing Reconsidered An Assessment of the Liberalization of Food Marketing in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ssewamala, F.M., Sperber, E., Zimmerman, J.M. and Karimli, L., 2010. The potential of asset‐based development strategies for poverty alleviation in Sub‐Saharan Africa. International Journal of Social Welfare, 19(4), pp.433-443.

UNAIDS 2002a: AIDS chain reaction threatens sustainable development, UNAIDS says. Press Release, 30 August

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) (1999), "Economic Report on Africa. The Challenge of Poverty Reduction and Sustainability”, Addis Ababa. P. 17.

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) (2005), “Report on Africa Meeting the Challenges of Unemployment and Poverty and Poverty in Africa”, Addis Ababa, pp. 51-91.

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) (2014), Industrialization for Inclusive and Transformative Development in Africa. Being a Report of the Committee of Experts of the 7th and 8th Joint Annual Meetings of the ECA Conference of African Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance, Abuja march 25-28.

Wilson, F., Kanji, N. and Braathen, E., 2001. Poverty reduction: what role for the state in today's globalized economy? (pp. 372-pp).

World Bank (1996), “Taking Action to Reduce Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview”; Washington, D.C.

World Bank (2000), “Can Africa claim the 21st Century?”, Washington, D.C. p. 10. World Bank (2000a),

World Bank (2000a), World Development Report 2000/2001, Attacking Poverty, Washington, D.C. p. 62.

World Development Report 2000/2001, Attacking Poverty, Washington, D.C. p. 62.

Yahie, A.M., 2000. Poverty Reduction in sub-Saharan Africa: Is There a Role for the Private Sector?. African Development Bank.

Yusuf, S., 2008. Development economics through the decades: A critical look at thirty years of the world development report. World Bank Publications.

Zahonogo, P., 2017. Financial development and poverty in developing countries: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 9(1), pp.211-220.