Poverty, aid and governance in the
Central African Republic and
Sub-Saharan Africa
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 1
Nov-07

The third poorest people on earth
Share of population living on less than 1 dollar a day (bottom 7 seven countries)
73
70
67
64
61 61 59
Mali Nigeria CAR Zambia Niger Burkina Faso Gambia
Source: World Bank (2002)
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 2
Nov-07

Income per head: Gap widening
GDP per head in Sub-Saharan Africa rose by 78% since 1985, but not even by 10% in CAR
GDP (PPP) Growth, Base = 100 (1985)
+80%
Sub-Saharan Africa
CAR
+60%
+40%
+20%
100
-20%
1995
1985 1990 2000 2005
Source: IMF (2007), Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita GDP
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 3
Nov-07

Human Development: Falling behind while others progress
Among bottom 6 least developed countries, only CAR has not made progress in 20 years
.40
CAR
.35
Guinea Bissau
Burkina Faso
.30
Mali
Niger
.25
1985 1990 1995 2000 2004
Source: HDR (2006)
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 4
Nov-07

Development assistance: where are we and why?
Aid to Sub-Saharan Africa rose by 54% since 1985, but fell by 60% for CAR
ODA Growth, Base = 100 (1985)
+60%
Sub-Saharan Africa
CAR
+40%
+20%
100
-20%
-40%
-60%
-80%
1995
1985 1990 2000 2005
Source: OECD (2007), Development Assistance Disbursements, All donors
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 5
Nov-07

Development assistance: where are we and why?
With not even $ 24 per head, development aid per head now the lowest in the region
Congo 160
Equat. Guinea 70.7
Sudan 44.7
39.6
Chad
36.7
Gabon
Congo, Dem. Republic of 29.1
Cameroon 24.1
Central African Republic 23.5
Source: OECD (2007), Development Assistance Disbursements, All donors, 2005
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 6
Nov-07

Because of political instability?
CAR scores -1.69 on the World Bank’s political instability index
-2.5 -1.0 0 1.0 2.5
South Africa
Rwanda
Angola
Uganda
Central African Republic
Chad
Nigeria
Cote d’Ivoire
Sudan
Congo, Dem. Republic of
Somalia
Source: World Bank (2007), Worldwide Governance Indicators, Selection
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 7
Nov-07

Is it because of a lack of strategic natural resources?
Sudan
Chad
Darfur
Cameroon
Bangui
Diamonds
Gold
DRC Timber
Congo
Uranium
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 8
Nov-07

Because of corruption?
CAR scores -1.06 on the World Bank’s corruption control index
-2.5 -1.0 0 1.0 2.5
South Africa
Rwanda
Ethiopia
Uganda
Central African Republic
Sudan
Angola
Chad
Nigeria
Congo, Dem. Republic of
Somalia
Source: World Bank (2007), Worldwide Governance Indicators, Selection
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 9
Nov-07

Because of an overly repressive regime?
CAR scores -1.06 on the World Bank’s voice and accountability index
-2.5 -1.0 0 1.0 2.5
South Africa
Uganda
Central African Republic
Ethiopia
Rwanda
Nigeria
Chad
Zimbabwe
Congo, Dem. Republic of
Sudan
Somalia
Source: World Bank (2007), Worldwide Governance Indicators, Selection
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 10
Nov-07

www.hdptcar.net
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR Slide 11
Nov-07