Aid, Private Sector Development and the Poverty Challenge: Rethinking Theory and Concept – a case based on the Cameroon PRSP
Author
Mesue, Gilbert Ekane
Term
4. term
Publication year
2008
Abstract
This thesis examines how the ideas and strategies behind foreign aid can sometimes hinder private sector development (PSD), making poverty reduction harder. PSD refers to strengthening businesses and markets. The analysis is framed by the PRSP approach (Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers), which are government plans for reducing poverty, often linked to international lenders. The thesis rethinks the theories behind aid to PSD and poverty and follows three lines of inquiry: (1) a critical look at what aid to PSD actually contains, how coherent it is, and what effects especially knowledge-based aid (advice, capacity building, and policy support) has on poverty; (2) a synthesis of academic and aid-agency views on international interventions and local agency in PSD, mainly through a neoliberal lens within international political economy (IPE), and the idea of autonomy-respecting help that supports local decision-making; and (3) connecting these concepts to a case study of Cameroon’s 2003 PRSP. Cameroon is poor but has significant potential. The thesis argues that implementing the 2003 PRSP without substantial changes would make poverty reduction very difficult, and that changes are urgent. It also notes that global political-economic imbalances and an erosion of moral standards worsen the challenge. Strong local entrepreneurship could improve outcomes, but better donor–recipient dialogue is needed. The study is exploratory rather than definitive. It calls for further field research (participant observation, surveys, and interviews) and stresses that poverty is central to development and international relations.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan ideer og strategier i udenlandsk bistand nogle gange kan hæmme udviklingen af den private sektor (PSD) og dermed gøre fattigdomsbekæmpelse sværere. PSD handler om at styrke virksomheder og markeder. Analysen tager udgangspunkt i PRSP-tilgangen (Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers), som er staters planer for fattigdomsreduktion, ofte forbundet med internationale långivere. Afhandlingen gentænker de teorier, der ligger bag bistand til PSD og fattigdom, og behandler tre spor: (1) En kritisk vurdering af, hvad bistand til PSD faktisk indeholder, hvor sammenhængende den er, og hvilken effekt især videnbaseret bistand (rådgivning, kapacitetsopbygning og policy-støtte) har på fattigdom. (2) En samling og afklaring af forskeres og bistandsorganisationers syn på internationale indsatser og lokal handlekraft inden for PSD, primært set gennem en neoliberal linse i international politisk økonomi (IPE) og ideen om hjælp, der respekterer lokal autonomi. (3) En kobling af disse begreber til en case: Camerouns PRSP fra 2003. Cameroun er et fattigt land med stort potentiale. Afhandlingen argumenterer for, at gennemførelse af PRSP 2003 uden væsentlige ændringer vil gøre fattigdomsreduktion meget vanskelig, og at justeringer haster. Den peger også på, at globale skævheder og en erosion af moralske normer forværrer udfordringen. Stærkt lokalt iværksætteri kan forbedre resultaterne, men der er brug for en bedre dialog mellem donorer og modtagere. Studiet er undersøgende, ikke endeligt. Forfatteren opfordrer til mere feltforskning (deltagerobservation, spørgeskemaer og interviews) og understreger, at fattigdom er central i udvikling og internationale relationer.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]