Deryke Belshaw

Agricultural Tradables and Economic Recovery in Uganda: The Limitations of Structural Adjustment in Practice

Abstract Ugandas economic reform program has been widely regarded as a success story for structural adjustment. Nevertheless, a large trade deficit persists, shored up by inflows of aid and private remittances. The poor performance of the agricultural tradables sector is presented as the key explanation for this trade imbalance. Two main reasons for this poor performance are found to be the failure to liberalize producer prices quickly and the failure to overcome early institutional resistance to reforms of marketing arrangements. Ugandas recovery is therefore much less impressive than it appears and the sustainability of the now heavily aid-dependent economy must remain in serious doubt.

Enhancing the Development Capabilities of Civil Society Organisations, with Particular Reference to Christian Faith-Based Organisations (CFBOS)

Within the recent paradigm shift favouring the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as recipients and implementers of development assistance, the paper focuses on the capacities and performance of the diverse group of agencies which can be termed Christian Faith-based Organisations (CFBOs). This group consists primarily of (1) churches, which can be categorised as either denominational or independent, and (2) faith-based non-governmental organisations, amongst which it is useful to distinguish Christian international NGOs (CINGOs) from Christian national NGOs (CNNGOs). Their relative strengths and weaknesses in pro-poor development activity are reviewed in the second section of the paper. The paper goes on to suggest that there is a pressing need for funders and governments to be able to assess and, if judged worthwhile, assist CFBOs in three major knowledge domains if their present highly variable pattern of development performance is to be significantly improved. The three domains, which are reviewed in section 3 of the paper, are: (1) Ability to select and use Relevant Conceptual and Analytical Frameworks. Included here is comprehension of operational concepts such as sustainable development (in its multiple dimensions), pro-poor “engines’ and drivers of economic growth, sequential problem selection, evidence-based best practice and net impact assessment; and useful analytical constructs such as sustainable livelihoods, urban bias, social ‘safety nets’ and elite capture: (2) Familiarity with Participatory Development Processes: These procedures enable intended beneficiaries to contribute local knowledge to the selection and design of interventions in partnership with the CFBOs, and to participate in dialogue concerning strategy, programme and project priorities, resourcing and design features. ‘Ownership’ and socio-economic ‘empowerment’ objectives are pursued here, of course; (3) Awareness of Potentially Impact-enhancing Interventions and Key Components: “Development content’ knowledge from external sources may be obtained from the experience of both development agencies and communities working in similar contexts located in different areas or countries. Willingness to produce and share reliable information requires prior contacts and investment in communication channels with international coverage. In the final section, the paper links the present need and opportunities to enhance these knowledge bases to (1) general and specialist professional training of CFBO leadership, and (2) the case for ongoing objective assessment of CFBOs’ competence levels and achievements attained from both training programmes and their own evaluated development experience.

Sustainable Poverty Reduction Taking Income Generation Seriously in Transformational Development Strategies

ney: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 8. Garland, C. (2000), Romney Gill, Missionary ‘Genius’ and Craftsman. Leicester: Christians Aware. 9. Translation of tok pisin conversation with Anglican priest, Morobe, 21st August, 2004. 10 Patience, A. (2004), op. cit. 11. ibid. 12. Hughes, Helen (2004), ‘Can Papua New Guinea come back from the brink?’, Issue Analysis 49, 13 July. St Leonards, NSW: Centre for Independent Studies. 13. Windybank, Susan and Manning, M. (2003), ‘Papua New Guinea on the Brink’, Issue Analysis 30, 12 March. St Leonards, NSW: Centre for Independent Studies. 14. Hughes, Helen (2002), ‘PNG in need for much more than money’, op. cit. 15. Conversation 19th August 2004, Airways Hotel, Port Moresby. 16. ABM-A/ACPNG Bomana, August 2004. 17. The writer has seen only the final draft of this document, dated 17th November 2003.

Poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa in the context of the decline of the welfare state: the strategic role of the church

ii) to assess the possibility that a rapid return to such a welfarist strategy can be achieved. This is currently proposed by donors on the basis of the establishment of good governance; better use and targeting of foreign aid; a reinvigorated economy led by an efficient private sector; and the remission of a significant proportion of foreign debt (with the remitted funds earmarked for social sector investment); and