摘要:he International Financial Institutions herald the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)
process as an effective means to enhance “country ownership” of development. However, critics argue that
ownership continues to exist within parameters that have been predetermined by the IFIs. Their criticisms
rest on two basic assumptions: frst, PRSPs restrict, rather than enhance, national autonomy; and second,
greater autonomy positively contributes to poverty reduction. This paper will dispute these assumptions
and argue that there is more policy space at the domestic level than critics suggest. It will then contend
that this autonomy does not inherently produce positive outcomes, and can even assume a “predatory”
character. With reference to Uganda’s poverty reduction strategy, it will conclude that government policies,
in practice, are often distinctly different from those prescribed by the IFIs. This makes it important to study
the implications of this autonomy in relation to poverty reduction.