Investigating the Impact of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers on Poverty Reduction and Economic Empowerment: The Case of Nigeria

Abstract: Since the year 2000, achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has become the central focus of the international community. Using an empowerment framework, this study assessed the impacts of the four projects associated with Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) or its Nigerian blueprint, National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS). It gathered data with semi-structured interviews/focus group and interpretation based on qualitative content analysis. Findings suggest that PRSPs present opportunity for Nigeria to achieve the MDGs, especially one and five, but that opportunity is being overshadowed by the desire to see economic growth rather than human development. Hence, the projects associated with NEEDS tend to reinforce the existing problems, participants were exposed to exploitation and its attendant consequences such as deprivation, destitution and homelessness. However, it is hard to imagine what could have happened to poverty in Nigeria without PRSPs and not within the scope of this study to draw conclusion about the degree of poverty, but the views of the forty-two participants suggest that they have lost hope in the MDGs. Hence, without a drastic modification of the Nigerian government's modus operandi, reduction in absolute poverty in Nigeria by half in 2015 or even 2030 will remain a dream.