Establishment of information systems and databases for monitoring the impact of policies and programmes in alleviation poverty

Abstract

The 1980s were a period of significant economic challenges for developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where successive recessions led to economic stagnation and rising poverty levels. In response, many African nations implemented economic recovery policies, such as market liberalization, but the slow feedback from these macroeconomic reforms exacerbated poverty. By the early 1990s, it was estimated that 180 million people (47% of the population) in sub-Saharan Africa lived in poverty, with projections suggesting an increase of 100 million by 2000 if no corrective measures were taken. Despite numerous global, regional, and national initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation, such as the Lagos Plan of Action and the Kampala Declaration, progress remained limited. This study focuses on the development of a conceptual framework for information systems to monitor and evaluate the impacts of poverty alleviation policies and programmes. It emphasizes the importance of data collection, analysis, and processing to support policy formulation, programme design, and monitoring. The study highlights the need for comprehensive baseline data, feedback mechanisms, and the integration of social, production, and income/consumption indicators to measure poverty effectively.