Burkina Faso: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper: Annual Progress Report

Abstract

1.1. Summary of Burkina Faso’ long term development vision The fight against poverty is considered a long term strategic objective, and, accordingly, requires a prospective approach. The poverty reduction strategy revised in 2003 draws on the results of the prospective national study “Burkina 2025”, which confirms the urgency to tackle this issue from a structural perspective. To achieve this objective, regional integration dynamics must be considered as an action variable that will allow Burkina Faso to better insert itself into the global economy. Moreover, the country will have: (I) to maintain good macro-economic policies in order to achieve more evenly distributed high and sustainable economic growth; (II) to increase and improve the quality of public expenditures in order to accelerate human capital development; and (III) to strengthen government departments decentralization and modernization processes. 1.2. Summary of quantitative objectives and national priorities The major quantitative objectives of the revised PRSP are to increase per capita GDP by at least 4% starting in 2004, to reduce the incidence of poverty to less than 35% by 2015, and to increase life expectancy and bring it to at least 60 years by 2015. These objectives are part of the MDGs and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). To achieve these goals, nine priority areas have been identified: basic education, health, drinking water, rural development (including food safety, and improved access to remote areas), the fight against HIV/AIDS, living environment (desertification, sanitation, rural electrification), public safety, small and medium-sized enterprises and small mining operations promotion, capacity building, and ICT promotion. Synergy in action for all these sectors should help to fight against poverty effectively.