Workshop for Senior Policymakers on Poverty Reduction Strategies in Africa: Opening remarks by K. Y. Amoako executive secretary of the economic commission for Africa

Abstract

Opening remarks by K. Y. Amoako Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa at the Workshop for Senior Policymakers on Poverty Reduction Strategies in Africa. Mr. Amoako on his remarks highlighted that, the workshop takes place against the backdrop of the enhanced framework for poverty reduction put forward by the Bretton Woods Institutions. This framework envisages the preparation by individual countries of PRSPs through participatory processes. The main purpose of this workshop is to listen to you – Ministers and other senior policymakers – about the challenges involved in formulating and implementing poverty reduction strategies. The aim of the discussions here over the next two days is to promote a shared understanding of the content of the PRSPs; the process through which they are to be formulated and the role of external partners, including the Bretton Woods Institutions. What is new is that for a majority of our countries in Sub-Sahara Africa, the PRSP will be the basis for all future Bank and Fund concessional lending as well as for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative.