NAIROBI: Kenya is among five countries in Africa that have made progress in supporting development and poverty reduction in 2014. According to a World Bank report released last week, Kenya scored above the African average of 3.2 in the latest Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA).
The Government’s effort to enhance economic growth by initiating development projects, and its implementation of sound strategies to reduce poverty levels has helped boost its rating.
World Bank’s Africa Region Acting Chief Economist Punam Chuhan-Pole, who also authored the report, said the CPIA analysis rates the performance and challenges of poor countries.
The survey found that 26 per cent of governments and institutions in made progress in supporting development and poverty reduction last year, with 10 countries seeing an improvement in their overall CPIA score.
“A series of policy reforms boosted Rwanda’s CPIA score to 4.0 moving it to the top of the list, just above Cape Verde’s 3.9 score. Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania followed closely behind, all with scores of 3.8,” notes the report.
Since 1980, CPIA ratings have been used to determine the allocation of zero-interest financing and grants for countries that are eligible for support from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the world’s poorest countries.
CPIA scores are based on a scale of one to six, with six being the highest. They are based on 16 indicators in four areas: economic management, structural policies, policies for social inclusion and equity, and public sector management and institutions.
“While there are several strong performers in Africa, the lagging CPIA scores for fragile countries in the region underscores that policy and institutional reforms are still very much needed in Africa,” said Ms Chuhan-Pole.
“Efficient, transparent government operations, with a focus on policies for poor families, will go a long way towards improving the delivery of basic services, creating job opportunities and boosting the quality of life for millions of men and women in Africa.”
The latest approval comes after another World Bank report, Taking Stock 2015, praised Kenya for its timely implementation of multi-billion-shilling projects funded by the organisation.
