Beyond the Numbers : Understanding the Institutions for Monitoring Poverty Reduction Strategies

This volume provides lessons on the design and functioning of such monitoring systems, based on the experience of twelve Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) countries. The focus is on the institutional arrangements of PRS monitoring systems - the rules and processes which bring the various actors and monitoring activities together in a coherent diagnostic tool, and a summary of the situation in twelve PRS countries. Contents......Page 7 Foreword......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 13 About the Authors......Page 15 Executive Summary......Page 17 Acronyms......Page 25 Introduction......Page 27 Part One Lessons from the Experiences of 12 Countries......Page 33 1 Expectations and Realities......Page 35 What Are the Objectives of a PRS Monitoring System?......Page 36 The Record......Page 39 Tactical Choices and Tailored Solutions......Page 44 Why Create a Unified PRS Monitoring System?......Page 45 Designing and Implementing a PRS Monitoring System......Page 47 Choices in Institutional Design......Page 50 Leadership......Page 51 Coordination......Page 52 Liaison with line ministries......Page 54 The role of the national statistical system......Page 56 Involving local governments and local agencies......Page 57 3 Making Use of PRS Monitoring......Page 61 Analysis and Evaluation......Page 62 Outputs and Dissemination......Page 65 Linking PRS Monitoring and the Budget......Page 68 The Role of Parliaments......Page 72 4 Organizing Participation......Page 75 5 Conclusions of the Analysis......Page 79 Part Two Diagnostic and Guidance Tools for the Practitioner......Page 83 1 Diagnostic Tool: The Institutional Dimension of PRS Monitoring Systems......Page 85 Institutional Context and Design of the PRS Monitoring System......Page 86 Ability of a PRS Monitoring System to Supply Information......Page 90 Demand for and Use of PRS Monitoring Information......Page 95 Additional Resources on Data and Statistical Systems......Page 98 What Is a PRS Monitoring System?......Page 101 The Supply Side: Designing and Implementing a PRS Monitoring System......Page 103 The Demand Side: How Are PRS Monitoring Data Used?......Page 108 Organizing Civil Society Participation......Page 113 Concluding Observations......Page 115 Part Three Country Studies—Institutional Arrangements for PRS Monitoring Systems......Page 117 1 Albania......Page 119 2 Bolivia......Page 135 3 Guyana......Page 147 4 Honduras......Page 157 5 The Kyrgyz Republic......Page 169 6 Malawi......Page 178 7 Mali......Page 187 8 Mauritania......Page 199 9 Nicaragua......Page 208 10 Niger......Page 217 11 Tanzania......Page 226 12 Uganda......Page 237 Bibliography......Page 249 Contents 7 Foreword 11 Acknowledgments 13 About the Authors 15 Executive Summary 17 Acronyms 25 Introduction 27 Part One Lessons from the Experiences of 12 Countries 33 1 Expectations and Realities 35 What Are the Objectives of a PRS Monitoring System? 36 The Record 39 Tactical Choices and Tailored Solutions 44 2 Organizing the Supply Side of PRS Monitoring 45 Why Create a Unified PRS Monitoring System? 45 Designing and Implementing a PRS Monitoring System 47 Choices in Institutional Design 50 Leadership 51 Coordination 52 Liaison with line ministries 54 The role of the national statistical system 56 Involving local governments and local agencies 57 3 Making Use of PRS Monitoring 61 Analysis and Evaluation 62 Outputs and Dissemination 65 Linking PRS Monitoring and the Budget 68 The Role of Parliaments 72 4 Organizing Participation 75 5 Conclusions of the Analysis 79 Part Two Diagnostic and Guidance Tools for the Practitioner 83 1 Diagnostic Tool: The Institutional Dimension of PRS Monitoring Systems 85 Institutional Context and Design of the PRS Monitoring System 86 Ability of a PRS Monitoring System to Supply Information 90 Demand for and Use of PRS Monitoring Information 95 Additional Resources on Data and Statistical Systems 98 2 Guidance on the Institutional Dimension of PRS Monitoring Systems 101 What Is a PRS Monitoring System? 101 The Supply Side: Designing and Implementing a PRS Monitoring System 103 The Demand Side: How Are PRS Monitoring Data Used? 108 Organizing Civil Society Participation 113 Concluding Observations 115 Part Three Country Studies—Institutional Arrangements for PRS Monitoring Systems 117 1 Albania 119 2 Bolivia 135 3 Guyana 147 4 Honduras 157 5 The Kyrgyz Republic 169 6 Malawi 178 7 Mali 187 8 Mauritania 199 9 Nicaragua 208 10 Niger 217 11 Tanzania 226 12 Uganda 237 Bibliography 249

One of the key components of a successful poverty reduction strategy is a system for monitoring the implementation of the strategy and for tracking progress in poverty reduction. 'Beyond the Numbers' provides lessons on the design and functioning of such monitoring systems, which are based on the experiences of twelve countries. The book's focus is on the institutional arrangements of poverty reduction monitoring systems-the rules and processes that bring the various actors and monitoring activities together in a coherent framework-rather than on any particular activity or actor. This book provides practitioners with lessons and guidance, diagnostic tools, and a summary of the progresss made in the twelve countries that have embraced the poverty reduction strategy.

"Beyond the Numbers: Understanding the Institutions for Monitoring Poverty Reduction Strategies provides lessons on the design and functioning of monitoring systems which are based on the experiences of twelve countries that have implemented poverty reduction strategies. The book's focus is on the institutional arrangements of poverty reduction monitoring systems - the rules and processes that bring the various actors and monitoring activities together in a coherent framework - rather than on any particular activity or actor. This book provides practitioners with lessons and guidance, diagnostic tools, and a summary of the progress made in the twelve countries that have embraced the poverty reduction strategy."--Jacket