Correcting Horizontal Inequality as a Development Priority: Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers in Haiti, Liberia and Nepal

Abstract

If horizontal inequalities (HIs) are a source of conflict (Stewart 2008), what should be the policy response? In this chapter I argue that the risks of conflict can be reduced by addressing and reducing HIs through appropriate economic, social and governance policies.1 The chapter reviews the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) as a policy vehicle that could achieve these objectives and examines the cases of Haiti, Liberia and Nepal, countries characterized by high levels of HI that have also experienced protracted conflict in recent decades. The next section outlines relevant development policies for correcting HIs. Section 4.3 presents the three country cases. Section 4.4 contrasts the ways in which HIs have been addressed in post-conflict PRSPs, and identifies some key constraints. The final section draws lessons from these country cases to identify some key policy issues concerning PRSPs as a policy vehicle that involves not only national governments, but also donors and civil society, as stakeholders in a coordinated development strategy.KeywordsNone NoneDisaggregated DataDevelopment PriorityDebt ReliefDevelopment Assistance CommitteeThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.