Youth and poverty reduction strategy processes in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

In 1999, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announce that developing countries must complete poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs) as a prerequisite for assessing concessional finance. Adopted by more that two-thirds of sub-Saharan African countries, this development policy mechanism represents a potentially significant instrument for meeting the needs of youth. This article reviews the regions' PRSPs to assess youth participation in formulation processes, the representation to the relationship between poverty and youth, and the extent to which youth issues are mainstreamed into policy content.