A/HRC/5/3
page 19
in health care, such as the fact that 96 per cent and 90 per cent of 1-year olds were immunized
against tuberculosis (BCG) and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT3) respectively, in 2004/2005.
Moreover, 69 per cent of women received at least once antenatal care (ANC) in 2004/2005.
40. Participation is of prime importance in the PRSP framework, both in the consultations
during the design of the national poverty reduction strategy, as well as in terms of fostering
community participation. In general, in most Asian countries the consultation process and the
exclusion of civil society during the drafting of the PRSP has been the subject of criticism. In
Bangladesh for example, despite some consultations on the draft PRS, observers noted that most
of the document had been drafted by two consultants and little attempt had been made to
integrate PRSP into existing government systems.36 A civil society coalition was formed to
challenge the PRSP process and complain about inadequate participation. The “Independent
Review for Bangladesh’s Development” (2002)37 noted that representatives of the civil society
were not involved in the designing stage of the exercise, and as a result the policy space was
limited. Similarly in Cambodia, the NGO forum was also concerned that the Participatory
Poverty Assessment (PPA) which elicits non-NGO community or grass-roots level participation
had not been considered in the drafting process of the PRSP;38 moreover, indicators of
participation in each section of the PRSP document and measurements of its level and quality
were not included.
41. Experience of participation in PRSPs has shown that there is a need to establish a clear
framework for participation that defines guidelines and benchmarks for determining who is
involved, at what stage and with what “level of participation”, and for the methodology to be
used in the process. Most case studies demonstrate a general failure to directly involve poor
people, and the absence of a clear and appropriate framework for participation. However, some
success has been achieved in fostering community participation. In Nepal for example, social
mobilization and community participation are emerging as the most-conflict resistant models of
development. Evidence now suggests that when development activities are demand-driven and
involve community participation, they are acceptable even to the parties in conflict. For example,
community participation has been exemplary in rural drinking water projects. All the major
projects in the sector, namely the Community-based Water Supply and Sanitation Project,
36
Monitoring and Synthesis Project (2003) Experience of PRSs in Asia. PRSP synthesis note 8,
p. 5.
37
CPD - IRBD (2002): PRSP Review, Poverty Reduction Strategy for Bangladesh: Views of
Civil Society. Available at: www.cpd-bangladesh.org/work/irbd_docs/INT02-04.doc.
38
Cooperation Committee for Cambodia, NGO Forum on Cambodia and Medicam “NGO
statement to the 2002 Consultative Group Meeting on Cambodia”, Phnom Penh,
19-21 June 2002.
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