2017年-世界发展银行全球_Burkina_Faso_Priorities_for_Poverty_Reduction_and_Shared_Prosperity___Systematic_Country_Diagnostic_174页_3mb

Summary of the Systematic Country Diagnostic for Burkina Faso

Core Content

This document presents the Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) for Burkina Faso, conducted in March 2017, with the aim of identifying priorities for poverty reduction and shared prosperity. It outlines the country's economic performance, the main constraints affecting growth and development, and the key areas that require attention to achieve more inclusive and sustainable growth.

Main Viewpoints

1. Economic Performance and Context

• Economic Growth: Burkina Faso has achieved an average annual GDP growth of 6% from 2005 to 2013, driven mainly by the public sector, mining, and a few modern sectors like communication and banking.
• Productive Jobs: Despite growth, 80% of the labor force remains in low-paying agricultural jobs, and the country has failed to generate sufficient productive employment.
• Natural Resources: The country has not optimally exploited its natural resources, leading to their significant depletion.
• Population Growth: The population is growing rapidly, with a fertility rate among the highest in the world (about 5 children per woman in 2015), limiting the potential for a demographic dividend.
• Poverty Trends: In 2014, 40% of the population lived in poverty, but this rate has declined over the past decade. However, 7 million people still live in poverty, and the rate is five times lower in Ouagadougou than in rural areas.
• Vulnerability: Two-thirds of households face shocks annually, primarily due to natural hazards, price fluctuations, and insecurity.

2. Constraints on Economic Development

• Agricultural Sector Constraints:

  • Poor risk management (soil degradation, lack of water resources, and underdeveloped water management).
  • Insufficient collective infrastructure (rural roads, irrigation schemes, and storage capacity).
  • Limited access to external finance (modern equipment, inputs like seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers).
  • Weak land management (unsecured land titles and tenure systems).
  • Underdeveloped research and training programs.

• Non-Farm Sector Constraints:

  • Limited access to external financial resources (insufficient investment in capital, low enterprise creation).
  • Insufficient virtual and physical infrastructure (limited economies of scale).
  • Complex tax system and barriers to entry (high operating costs, lack of competition).
  • Underdeveloped training and education facilities, and restrictive labor regulations (low skills).

• Institutional Weaknesses:

  • Declining governance quality since 2008, with increased illegal capital outflows and political interference.
  • Concentration of economic and political power, leading to social inequalities and political instability.
  • The government has struggled to maintain a sufficient public investment program, with public investment averaging only 6-7% of GDP over the past decade and dropping to 3-4% in 2014 and 2015.

• Fiscal Management Issues:

  • Tax revenues are barely sufficient to cover the wage bill and subsidies.
  • Weak procurement procedures, poor controls, and excessive concentration of civil servants in Ouagadougou reduce the value for money of public spending.

Key Priorities for Poverty Reduction and Shared Prosperity

1. First-Tier Priorities

• Natural Resources Management: Improve the sustainable use and exploitation of natural resources to avoid their depletion and enhance economic value.
• Skill Development: Invest in education and vocational training to equip the workforce with the necessary skills for productive employment.
• Gender Equity: Address persistent gender bias in access to education, land, and economic opportunities to promote inclusive growth.

2. Second-Tier Priorities

• Infrastructure Development: Enhance rural and urban infrastructure, including roads, irrigation, and electricity access.
• Fiscal Policy Reform: Strengthen fiscal management to ensure efficient and transparent public spending.
• Social Protection Mechanisms: Develop systems to help households manage shocks and reduce vulnerability.
• Private Sector Development: Promote a more competitive and supportive environment for private enterprises.
• Education and Health System Reform: Improve the quality and accessibility of education and health services, particularly for the poor and rural populations.

Identified Data and Knowledge Gaps

• Data Gaps:
  • Limited data on non-farm employment and informal sector activities.
  • Insufficient information on the impact of climate change on agriculture.
  • Lack of detailed data on skills training outcomes and vocational education access.
  • Inadequate statistics on gender-based discrimination in economic participation and resource allocation.

Conclusion

• Burkina Faso is at a critical turning point following a political crisis and economic slowdown.
• The country must focus on natural resource management, skill development, and gender equity to generate more productive jobs and improve access to services for the poor.
• Institutional and fiscal reforms are essential to ensure efficient public spending and sustainable development.
• Addressing vulnerability through social protection and infrastructure improvements will be crucial for long-term poverty reduction and shared prosperity.

Annexes Overview

• Annex 1: List of background papers used in the SCD.
• Annex 2: Analysis of fiscal policy in Burkina Faso.
• Annex 3: Trends in non-monetary indicators.
• Annex 4: Determinants of poverty using regression analysis.
• Annex 5: Summary matrix of priorities and their rankings.
• Annex 6: SCD priorities aligned with the National Development Plan Axes.