AN IMPACT ANALYSIS OF PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIA’S POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER (PRSP) PROCESS
AN IMPACT ANALYSIS OF PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIA’S POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER (PRSP) PROCESS
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Date
2014-05
Authors
AGBONIKA, HENRY ANIBE
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Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the impact of participation as a communicative act
in Nigeria’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) process which was introduced by the
World Bank and IMF as a new approach to tackling the challenges of poverty alleviation and
economic development among their low-income clients. Acknowledged as a critical and
integral part of the whole process by the World Bank and the IMF, was participation which
was meant to induce ownership, ensure accountability, transparency and sustainability, and
effectively contribute to the reduction of poverty. Deriving from the premise that
communication is the lifeblood of participatory development…participation is
communication …(Dagron 2007), this study investigated the extent to which participation
induced ownership; ensured accountability, transparency, and sustainability, and contributed
to the effective reduction of poverty in Nigeria. Adopting the case study approach and a
triangulation of sources, the study arrived at the conclusion that participation in the PRSP in
no way induced ownership, neither did it ensure accountability, transparency and
accountability; therefore not able to contribute in any way to poverty reduction. The principal
reason for the failure of the PRSP as evident in this study is the absence of participation.
There was the absence of communication architecture upon which participation would be
based; neither was there a system that participation could derive from. Rather it was the case
of a team of technocrats who had arrogated the powers of participation unto themselves.
Undergirded by Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action, the study advocates for the
democratization of communicative spaces which would give people hitherto excluded the
legal framework to be part of decision making processes affecting their lives and wellbeing; it
also advocates for structural changes that would address issues of power and ultimately
resource distribution and by implication poverty reduction. The democratization of
communicative spaces and structural changes constitute the architecture and system upon
which participation can thrive and have a meaning.
Description
THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA, IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
AWARD OF A MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNICATION.
DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTS
FACULTY OF ARTS
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
MAY, 2014
Keywords
IMPACT,, ANALYSIS,, PARTICIPATION,, NIGERIA’S, POVERTY,, REDUCTION,, STRATEGY,, PAPER,, (PRSP), PROCESS.