Poverty alleviation strategy under heated debate [Archives:2002/32/Local News]

BY MOHAMMED BIN SALLAM
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Economic experts have expressed their skepticism about inability of the Strategy of poverty alleviation, prepared by the Yemens Ministry of Planning and Development in cooperation with the World Bank, to realize its declared goals. In a seminar organized by the Yemeni Center for Strategic Studies last Tuesday, the experts also criticized a number of the strategys premises.
During the symposium, participants have criticized this strategy which is according to them unrealistic. The new strategy has discarded several aspects including, failure in the developmental processes, inability to achieve an economic equilibrium and administrative corruption at the governmental bodies, Taha al-Ghaseel, professor at Sanaa University said.
Participant Dr Mohammed al-Haweri, a professor at Sanaa University said that new strategy has heavily relied on the private sectors capabilities to implement the desired goals.
Mansour al-Bashri, a participant, wondered how the strategy has entrusted the task of achieving development of the society with the private sector and setting up a five-year plan for that sector to create 800 thousand job opportunities.
In this respect, Mohammed Yahya Assabri, a well-known writer has criticized the data and information where the new strategy has heavily relied upon. He added further that the new strategy was inaccurate, uncertain, and unreliable.
He called for reconsidering the economic reform program through integrating organizations, parties, and universities to prepare a comprehensive strategy for alleviating poverty.
On the other hand, Mohammed Assabri, a representative at the World Bank has defended the pros and cons of the poverty alleviation strategy considering its positive aspects are clearly seen than its negatives ones. He added further that the idea of preparing the poverty alleviation strategy had been still in its infancy stage. He added further that statistics of the poverty alleviation strategy and the five-year plan are paradoxical. The statistics of the five-year plan are inaccurate and unrealistic and that the strategy has heavily depended on the governmental statistics, he concluded.
The seminar was attended by a number of specialists and experts and was conducted by Chairman of the Center, Mohammed Ahmed al-Afandi.

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