The Politics of Poverty Alleviation in the Context of Political and Administrative Reforms. The Case Study of Decentralisation in Malawi

Keywords

Poverty Reduction; Decentralization; Democracy. 

Countries

Malawi

Objectives

The Politics of Poverty Reduction in the Context of Political and Administrative Reforms: The Case Study of Decentralisation in Malawi

The main objective of this study is to examine the politics of poverty reduction in the context of political and administrative reforms with particular focus on the patterns of power structures both intended and unintended obtaining among institutional actors and stakeholders at various levels of government and society. The specific objectives of the study are as follows:

1. To investigate the influence of the democratic political reforms on decentralisation and poverty reduction initiatives;
2. To assess the role of the legal framework and institutional design in decentralisation and poverty reduction efforts;
3. To investigate the dynamics of participatory governance as an integral part of the decentralisation policy reforms and poverty reduction efforts; and
4. To assess institutional relationships of stakeholders in the implementation of decentralisation and poverty interventions.

The study is inspired by the popular argument largely orchestrated by donors that developing countries can only create favourable conditions for economic growth, democratic governance and poverty reduction if they decentralise their government structures. The study uses the notion of political space as an analytical framework to understanding the politics of poverty reduction. Within this framework, the politics of poverty reduction is viewed as resulting from the ongoing series of contests and conflicts over how society should be organised with particular focus on the interaction between the state and the citizenry within the formation and implementation of pro-poor policy. The belief is that the advent of democracy in a polity widens the political space for engagement between the state and the society and consequently curves out favourable patterns of interaction for viable poverty reduction efforts.

A quick preview of the findings of the study suggests that the political and administrative reforms have at least opened up political space for engagement between the state and society especially within the realm of poverty reduction which did not previously exist. A potential framework for addressing the problem of poverty is taking shape but the resultant intense struggle over the emerging political space for poverty reduction has inevitably shifted the focus from concerns with the plight of the poor to strategic efforts among stakeholders to advance and safeguard their interests. The poverty reduction discourse is presently less characterised by benign, and increasingly with opportunistic overtones than when it was christened about a decade ago.

Methodology

Qualitative Research; Comparative Studies

Team Members

Blessings Chinsinga

Partner Institutions / Funding Organizations

Publications

Chinsinga, Blessings, (2004): Poverty and Food Security, in: the Context of Crumbling Traditional Support Systems: Some Policy Reflections. Canadian Journal of Development Studies, XXV (2004) 2, S. 321-340.

Chinsinga, Blessings, (2003): The Participatory Development Approach Under a Microscope: The Case of the Poverty Alleviation Programme in Malawi, in: Journal of Social Development in Africa, 18 (2003) 1, S. 129-144.

Chinsinga, Blessings, (2003): The Problem of Lack of Alternative Leadership in Democratic Malawi: Some Reflections Ahead of the 2004 General Elections, in: Nordic Journal of African Studies, 12 (2003) 1, S. 1-22.

Workshops / Conferences

Duration of the Project

Contact:

Mr. Chinsinga