The World Bank has been implementing various projects in Africa, most of which are related, directly or indirectly to poverty alleviation. Even though it has not been possible to empirically prove the effectiveness of such projects in affecting directly the lives of the poor, it has been shown that the best practices reviewed in this study have played positive role in improving their lives. It is noted that in future there is need to improve the effectiveness of projects by designing simple, and easy to manage projects that are client oriented and responsive to the needs of the poor. Along with this it is also important to incorporate in the design of projects to include measures of outcomes that can be used in evaluating results.
102. The projects reviewed in this paper have been carefully selected, because not all projects carried out have successful results, thus as much as possible those that have good results, or those projects or programmes that have innovative approaches are sited.
103. The most tangible results are reported in the area of health related services. Even though there are still many gaps to be filled, many of the best practices shown have helped many of the disadvantaged in several countries. The lessons to be Ieamt from this paper is that to there are many on-going projects in various fields, that countries in several African countries can learn from and even duplicate the same projects in their own counties.
Government policies and actions, it must be noted, it must be noted, are detrimental in ensuring equitable distribution of benefits to the poor and vulnerable in all sectors.
104. It is recommended that readers can leam from the examples sited in this report, and also benefit from the annex provided to choose from or learn about projects in any particular area or sector.
References (Section 2)
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Annex 1
Table A.I: Population living on less than $1 per day , headcount index (percent) in developing and transitional economies, selected years, 1987-1998
Region
Source: Table l.Poverty Trends and Voices of the Poor, December 2, 1999, World Bank, p5.;
Annex2 ListofBestPracticeslnfobriefsofProjectscarriedoutbytheWorldBank TitleofProject -HV/AIDSinCoted'lvoire:Local andDecentralizedInitiativesin ^kbengourou. improvingFamilyHealthinthe Gambia. TheEthiopiaSocialRehabilitation andDevelopmentFundProject.
BriefDescription Whatisspecialcomparedtootherregionalinitiatives inthefightagainstF1IV/A1DSistheorganizational andcommunityapproachaswellasthesystem establishedforfinancingactivities. In1998,the$20.0millionParticipatoryHealth, Population,andNutritionProject(PHPNP).It consistsofiourrelatedcomponents,namely improvementsinreproductivehealthservices,infant andchildhealthservices,nutritionservicesfor womenofreproductiveage,infantsandchildren, andstrengthenedmanagementandimplementation ofGambianfamilyhealthservices,particularlyin ruralandperi-urbanareas.TheBank'sQuality AssuranceGroupcommendedtheprojectteam particularlyforitscompetentsupervisionduringthe designandimplementation{on-going}stages. TheESRDFproject,whichaimstoprovidepoor, mainlyruralcommunities,theassetsandservices neededtoimprovetheireconomicandsocial standards,wasdeclaredeffectiveinAugust1996at atotalprojectcostof$242.40million.Oneofits centralobjectiveswastoincreasecommunity capacitytoidentifydevelopmentpriorities,manage projectimplementationandmaintainproject- financedassets.Atthetimeofthemid-termreview in1999,theESRDFprojecthadtouchedthelivesof about6millionpeopleinEthiopia,almostone-tenth ofthecountry'spopulation.Throughitsefforts,the projecthasbeenabletoestablishaseatforitselfasa criticalpartneratthe"developmenttable"in Ethiopia.
Country/Countries Implemented Coted'lvoire Gambia Ethiopia
Source Findings AfricanRegion.Number53 AfricanRegionNumber52 AfricaRegionNumber51
Date June2000 May2000 April2000 27
TitleofProject Eritrea:RevivingthePrivate Section. PrivatizationinAfrica BestPracticeinPublicExpenditure Reviews.
BriefDescription TheobjectiveofthePrivateSectorReconstruction credit(atanadvancedstateofpreparation)isto supporttheGovernmentofEritrea'sstrategyto revivethecountry'sprivatesectorsothatit ultimatelybecomesanengineofeconomicgrowth forthecountry.Thisnoteoffersagoodexampleof activeandupstreamcollaborationbetweenthe WorldBank,otherdonors,andthegovernmentto improvethequalityofprojectimplementation. MoreandmoreAfricangovernmentsarebeginning torealizethattheoldwaysofstateownershipofan economy's"commandingheights"cannotbe sustained.Simplyput,thatapproachfailedto deliverthegoods.Peoplearenolongerwillingto accepttheoldstatusquo.Wherepossible,theyare workingthroughnewandthrivingdemocraciesto makethemessageloudandclear:giveusthe servicesweneedorwewillvoteyouout.The pressureison.Butthetreasuriesarebare,forcing Africanpolicymakerstocomeupwithinnovative waysofincreasingandimprovingthedeliveryof infrastructureservices.Henceprivatization.The worldBankGroup'sInternationalFinance Corporation(IFC)hasbeenassistinggovernmentsin developingcountriestoprivatizeanumberoftheir activities.Whatfollowsaresomeofthelessons learnedfromtheAfricanexperience. ObjectivesoftheBeninPublicExpenditureReview: ThePublicExpenditureReview(PER)inBeninis consideredanintegralcomponentoftheStructural AdjustmentProgram.Theprocessismulti-yearand multi-sectoral,inordertoallowthegovernmentto thoroughlyanalyzeeverysector'sexpendituresfor consistencywithitscorrespondingsectorstrategy
Country/Countries Implemented Eritrea Africa Benin
Source Findings AfricaRegionNumber50 AfricaRegionNumber49 AfricaRegionNumber22
Date March2000 February 2000 November 1997 28
TitleolProject ActionResearchforBetterhelathin Coted'lvoire. BestPracticeinPublicExpenditure ReviewsTogo:Aparticipatory Approach BestPracticeinAIDSPrevention andMitigation
BriefDescription andthegeneral,macroeconomicframework.Four mainissueswereaddressed:(a)theroleofthestate vis-a-vistheprivatesector;(b)theefficiencyof expendituresasmeasuredbyresultsachievedand theircoherencewiththesectorstrategytargets;(c) theequityofexpendituresmeasuredbytheir contributiontopromotemoreequaldistributionof revenuesandwelfare;and(d)budgetaryprocedures andinstitutionalarrangements. Objective:Tobasehealthsectorreformsonissues identifiedbyIvoirienstakeholdersandpolicy researchcarriedoutbythem. ObjectivesoftheTogoPER:ThePublicExpenditure Review(PER)carriedoutinTogoinNovember 1995-November1996hadtwoprincipalobjectives: toassistthegovernmentinidentifyingprioritiesto increasetheefficiencyandequityofpublic spending;andtointernalizetheexpenditurereview exercise.ThePERprocessincludedseveralfeatures designedtostrengthengovernmentcapacityand ownership:(i)aone-dayin-countryworkshopon expenditureissueswhichwasattendedbyover70 governmentofficialsfromvariousministriesand governmentagencies;(ii)atwo-weekworkshopheld inWashington,DC,attendedbykeyDirectorsfrom centraland'sectoralministriesinvolvedinpublic expendituremanagement;and(iii)follow-upin- countrymeetingwithintheTogoleseadministration therecommendationsthatemergedfromthe Washingtonworkshop. RapidAssessmentofSexuallyTransmittedDisease (STD)Prevalence:Anassessmenttoolusedinnine countrystudies(BurkinaFaso,Chad,Lesotho, Madagascar,Mali,Niger,Senegal,Ugandaand Zimbabwe)andplannedinfourmore(Benin,The
Country/Countries Implemented Coted'lvoire Togo BurkinaFaso,Chad, Lesotho,Madagascar, Mali,Niger,Senegal, UgandaandZimbabwe
Source Findings AfricaRegionNumber21 AfricaRegionNumber20 AfricaRegionNumber19
Date October1997 September 1997 August1997 29
TitleofProject BestPracticeinAIDSPrevention andMitigation BestPracticeinParticipation PlanningandDevelopmentofthe MaliPilotParticipationProject.
BriefDescription Gambia,TogoandNigeria). Objective:Specialpopulationgroups-pregnant women,militarymen,truckdrivers,sexworkers- aretestedforcommonSTDsandqueriedonsexual practicesandattitudesusingarapidassessment methodology.________ Increasingtheavailabilityofpharmaceuticalfor SexuallyTransmittedInfections-andprovingit: Projectplanning,implementationandevaluation processesthatarecollaborativeinnatureandquick inpayoff. Objective:Toquicklyandeffectivelyestimatethe medicationsneededtotreatsexuallytransmitted diseases(STDs)andAIDS-relatedinfectionsovera five-yearperiod,procurethedrugsoninternational tenderandsurveydrugavailabilityamongfacilities beforeandaftertheprocuredmedicationsarrivein countryandaredistributed- Toimproveuponthetraditionallyweakrelationship betweentheNGOsandthegovernment,andto buildabasisforpartnershipinthedeliveryof servicestothepoor.TheMaliPilotProjecthasbeen chosen,duetoitsinnovativenatureandsuccessful planningprocess,asoneof5Participation PresidentialFlagshipOperationsintheAfricaRegion oftheWorldBank.TheProjectmaintainsan iterativedialoguewithcommunities, implementors(NGOsandlocalauthorities),and institutions(localandcentralgovernment)in supportingmulti-sectorinterventionsincapacity- buildingandinpolicydecision-making)
Country/Countries Implemented Zimbabwe Mali
Source FindingsDate AfricaRegionNumber19August1997 AfricaRegionNumber18July1997 Capacity-buildingforBetter Service.Ithasprovidedover30yearsofserviceinwater supplystartingwithaleasecontractwhichlastedfor approximately25years.Thiswasconvertedintoa concessionin1987.TheWorldBankhasbeen
Coted'lvoireAfricaRegionNumber17June1997 30
TitleofProject ["heProcessofHealthReformin sierraLeone. nstitutionalEnvironment Assessment.
BriefDescription workinginpartnershipwiththeagencythrough financingofinvestmentsinwatersupply.The agency'sapproachtomanagementhasbeenkeyto itssuccess. Afteryearsofneglectofitshealthsystem,Sierra Leonehashad,startingin1993,remarkable successesinhealthreform.Astherehavebeenfew casesofhealthreforminAfrica,astudywas undertakentoexaminetheexperience,with particularemphasisontheprocessofreform(Bruce Siegel,DavidPeters,ShekuKamara,"Health ReforminAfrica:LessonsfromSierraLeone", WorldBankDiscussionPaper,forthcoming;also StaffAppraisalReportNo.13947-SL). TheInstitutionalEnvironmentAssessment(IEA) carriedoutinSaoTomeandPrincipeinOctober- November1996,soughttoassistthegovernmentin identifyingtherootcausesofthecountry'spoor economicperformanceandinformulatingstrategies toaddressthem.Itwasaself-diagnosticexercise basedontheactiveparticipationoflocal stakeholderssoastofosterownershipofthefollow- upreforms.Itentailedcomprehensivedata collectionandanalysisthroughfieldreviews(by threeworkinggroupsfocusingontechnical, administrative,andstructuralproblemsrespectively); deskreviewsofrelevantconsultantreportsand EconomicandSectorWork;andasurveyof governanceandindigenousinstitutionsimpactingon economicmanagement.A4-dayAssessment Workshopwasheldtosynthesize,analyzeand prioritizetheinformationgathered,andtomapout futurestrategy.Follow-upworkshopsarebeingheld toformulateanimplementationplanandapportion responsibilitiesbetweenimplementingagencies.
Country/Countries Implemented SierraLeone SaoTomeandPrincipe
Source Findings AfricaRegionNumber16 AfricaRegionNumber15
Ml
Date May1997 April1997 31TitleofProject CommercializationofRoads-A ^ewGenerationofRoadFunds. 3estPracticeinPovertyAnalysis vlalawiHumanResourcesand ^overty:ProfileandPrioritiesfor Action. BestPracticeinWar-to-Peace Transition-TheUgandaVeterans AssistanceProgram. BestPracticeinSectorInvestment Programs.
BriefDescription Theestablishmentofareliableandwell-managed sourceoffinancetoaddresstheissueofbuilding institutionalandfinancialcapacityformaintenance oftheroadnetwork. Toachieveagreaterunderstandingofthe magnitudeanddimensionsofpovertyinMalawi Aspartofitsbroadereffortstorehabilitatethe economicandsocietyfollowingdecadesofwarfare, theGovernmentofUgandadecidedtoshiftthe burdenofitspublicexpenditureawayfromdefense andtowardthesocialandeconomicsectors.It establishedthecivilianUgandaVeteransAssistance Board(UVAB)tofacilitatethedemobilizationand subsequentreintegrationof36,400soldiersofthe NationalResistanceArmyintoproductivecivilian life.TheUgandaVeteransAssistanceProgram (UVAP)alsotookintotheaccounttheneedsof approximately125,000dependentswhowere resettledwiththeveterans.Itwasimplemented between1992and1996withassistancefrom donors,coordinatedbytheWorldBank. TheBroadSectorApproachtoInvestmentLending: SectorInvestmentProgramsbyPeterHarroldand Associates.WorldBankDiscussionPaper#302.A practicalguidetothedevelopmentofsector investmentprograms,withbestpracticesdrawnfrom experiencesinBangladesh,Mozambique,Tanzania, Pakistan,andZambia.
Country/Countries Implemented Benin,CentralAfrican Republic,Chad, Ghana,Mozambique, Rwanda,SierraLeone, SouthAfrica,Tanzania andZambia) Malawi Uganda Bangladesh, Mozambique,Tanzania, Pakistan,andZambia
Source Findings AfricaRegionNumber14 AfricaRegionNumber13 AfricaRegionNumber12 AfricaRegionNumber11
32 Date March1997 February 1997 January1997 December 1996 32
TideofProject BestPracticeinl-abor-Based ContractingintheRoadSector. Environment1Project(EPI)in Madagascar(1991-1995). ImprovingtheCommercial PracticesofanElectricalUtility.
BriefDescription Objectives:Thisprogramtrainedcontractorsin labor-basedmethodsinthelocalroadcontracting industryinGhanainordertoproducegravelroads ofequalqualitytoequipment-basedmethods,and generateruralemploymentinacust-effective manner.Theprogramwasinitiatedasacomponent oftheWorldBank'sFourthHighwayProjectand fundedbyIDA.Latertheprogramcontinuedunder theWorldBank'sNationalFeederRoads RehabilitationandMaintenanceProject(NFRRMP) andwasfundedbytheGovernmentof Ghana,USAIDandDANIDA. Objectives:Toimprovetheenvironmental managementcapacityinMadagascarthroughthe implementationofinstitutionaldevelopmentand ernerqencyactions. Objectives:TheTanzaniaElectricSupplyCompany (TANESCO)hasexperiencedmajorproblemswith billingandcollectingrevenues.To(i)improve customerservices;and(ii)improvethecollectionof revenues,theUtilitycompanyswitchedtoan electricityprepaymentsystemusingElectricity Dispensers(ED).TheEDwhichisanelectricmeter fittedwithacircuitbreaker,acomputerlogicchip andaninputdevice,isinstalledinthecustomer's premises.Theinputdevicesareeithermagnetic cardreaders,similartothoseonATMmachines,or numerickeypadssimilartoatelephonekeypad. Theinputdeviceallowsthecustomertocontrol electricity-relatedconsumptionandexpenditure.
Country/Countries Implemented Ghana Madagascar Tanzania
Source Findings AfricanRegionNumber10 AfricaRegionNumber6 AfricaRegionNumber5
Date November 1996 July1996 June1996 33