The Regressive Demands of Demand-Driven Development

Baird, Sarah ; McIntosh, Craig ; Ozler, Berk

关键词: ACCESS TO INFORMATION;    ACCESS TO MEDIA;    ANIMAL HUSBANDRY;    ANTI-POVERTY;    ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAM;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-5883
RP-ID  :  WPS5883

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Despite their explicit focus on reachingthe poor, many community driven development (CDD) projectshave been found to be only mildly pro-poor in their fundingallocations. This paper presents evidence of an explanationthat has been overlooked in the CDD literature to date: therequirement that beneficiaries must apply for projects inorder to receive support. The authors first examine data onthe universe of project applications and funding underTanzania's flagship CDD program, Tanzania's SocialAction Fund, and then use a census of 100 program villagesto examine the determinants of both program awareness andprogram participation at the household level. The data painta consistent picture at both levels: wealth, access toinformation, and political capital are important correlatesof the ability to navigate the application processsuccessfully. The centrally dictated features of thisdecentralized program appear to be the most effectivemechanisms in directing funds to the poor. The resultssuggest that unless demand-driven projects can develop waysof soliciting engagement from a broader cross-section of thepopulation, they are unlikely to achieve truly progressive targeting.