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Contributions from
the Column
Books and Media
The state of the world
Regional integration in Africa: mainly a good idea so far
Poverty reduction – a cross-sectoral task
One thousand years of the world economy
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[ Poverty reduction – a cross-sectoral task ]
The OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) publishes guidelines on important developmental tasks on which both the donor and recipient countries should orient themselves. The guidelines on poverty reduction emphasise above all the importance of policy coherence and socially just economic growth (pro-poor growth). Because poverty manifests the non-fulfilment of a great number of basic needs – from food, healthcare and education to participation in political decision-making – poverty reduction must be understood as a cross-sectoral task which must be considered not only in development policy but also in all state measures.
Economic growth is necessary, but it is not sufficient to reduce poverty. It must be guaranteed that the poor share the fruits of growth and that they themselves can contribute to it. For this purpose they must be given access to human, material and financial capital, such as by land reform or the granting of micro-loans. The DAC guidelines also speak out for participation and the engagement of local implementing organisations in poverty reduction, and call for better cooperation by the donors. (ell)
DAC Leitlinien: Armutsbekämpfung [DAC Guidelines: Poverty reduction]. Paris, OECD 2001, 161 pp., Euro 20.00, ISBN 92-64-59506-6
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