Liberia's Poverty Reduction Strategy Falls Short; Minister Konneh Points to Policies
06/08/09 - Nat Nyuan-Bayjay
AMARA KONNEH, MINISTER OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS ANNOUNCING RESULTS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY
Libria-The Liberian government headed by Africa’s first democratically elected female President Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf assumed state power over three years ago with assurances of fighting to reduce poverty in post war Liberia within three years (April 2008 to April 2011).
This vision to bring relief to the Liberian population that suffered years of fratricidal civil war led to the framing and introduction of a Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) otherwise known as ‘Lift Liberia’, a policy document setting the stage for reaching the poverty reduction point envisaged by the government.
With one year gone into the implementation stage of the PRS, the Ministry of Planning and Economics Affairs responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of the PRS process has reported a dismal performance through a preliminary summary of the first year blaming the policy aspect which falls within the preview of the National Legislature as one of the major hindrances to progress.
Liberia’s Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs Amara Konneh disclosed during a Power-Point presentation of the preliminary report of the PRS at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT) in Monrovia Thursday, that only a little over 18% of government’s 347 deliverables are completed, 68% started but have met deadline, and 14% on course and expected to be delivered in time.
The PRS which sets up the government’s agenda is wrapped up in a four-pillar structure including enhancement of security, economic revitalization, good governance and rule of law and rehabilitating infrastructure and delivering basic services that are all critical to putting Liberia back on the path of recovery.
In the first year of work, ranging from April 2008 to April 2009, the PRS has started up to a rather disappointing performance reporting only18% of implementation; Minister Konneh frankly admitted during his presentation to journalists.
But the Planning Minister pointed out that despite the slow start; it is too early to evaluate the full success of the program.
“It is too early to evaluate the full success of the Lift Liberia program, especially the extent to which it is impacting the incidence in our country. But it will become evident by the end of the second year and the final year of implementation through a robust, participatory and inclusive monitoring not just by the government but by the Liberian people also in 2011”, the Planning Minister said.
Policy Aspect Affecting PRS Implementation
The 347 deliverables, according to Minister Konneh, have been grouped into the implementation categories.
The preliminary summary of the PRS shows the implementation categories revealing that 55% account for the policy aspect while 27% and 18% account for the capacity and operational aspects. But this implies that the slow progress of the PRS can be attributed to the policy or legislative lapses, with the National Legislature taking a significant portion of the blame as clearly stated by Minister Konneh.
“Majority of this 55% derives from policy because somebody somewhere is not pushing some legislation. Majority of the PRS is not visible to the public which is the 55%. They are policies or legislations that either the cabinet must approve or the legislature must pass”, Minister Konneh disclosed.
He however stated that there must be some reforms or changes in some of the policies if the government must achieve a successful PRS, noting “All three branches of government institutions have been very weak.”
What Went Wrong?
Thursday’s power-point presentation of the PRS Preliminary Summary Progress Report also highlighted where progress is being made and where much attention is needed due to the very slow progress from whatever aspect of the agenda.
According to the summary, only a little over 18% of the deliverables have been completed with 68% which began but have not met the deadline based on policy-legislative lapses while only 14% are on course and expected to meet with set deadlines.
In recommendations, the Planning Minister stated, “We hope to correct them in the pending Cabinet retreat. We must have joint-retreats. We will go back in the cabinet room and seek other means to get there”, said a determined-looking Minister Konneh.
“If we need to get to referendum we will, if we must get to the Legislature we must but this PRS is a must”, Minister Konneh concluded.
Political pundits have predict that given the pace of the PRS with just a little over 18% accomplishment, it might fail even up to the third year because the committee would have achieved just a little over 54% with some 46% shortage of implementation.
This, they believe, will be the case if the various situations that led to the 18% accomplishment remain in place.
Some opposition politicians have described the PRS as a mere political paper, stating that it was designed by the Unity Party led government to prolong its stay in power, convincing the Liberian people to elect the party for another term in order to successfully implement the policy.
Others believe it is a god document but the problem lies with the implementation aspect.
Whatever the case may be, the PRS has additional two years for implementation and provided the government accelerates the pace of implementation it is likely that the goals will be achieved.
FPA