Although Gabon has witnessed asignificant decline in oil production over the last fifteenyears, it still generates significant oil revenue which, dueto its small population enables the country to have a percapita gross national income that is among the highest inAfrica (8643 USD in 2010) and to be classified as anupper-middle income country. Despite this high level ofwealth, the country is ranked 106th out of 187 countries inthe Human Development Index of the United Nations (0.674 in2011). Consequently, the major challenge for Gabon remainsthe effective use of its oil resources to diversify itseconomy, improve its basic social services andinfrastructure, while accumulating financial savings thatwill enable the country to avoid sudden and sharp cuts inpublic spending once the oil resources have been used up.The Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP) thatcovered the period from 2006 to 2008 targeted the reversalof the downward trend of the main development indicators anda significant improvement in the living conditions of thepopulation. It was prepared using a consultative approach,based on the broad participation of civil society, andresults-oriented, with the ultimate goal of achieving theMillennium Development Goals (MDGs). It was structuredaround four strategy areas: (i) promoting strong,sustainable, high quality and pro-poor economic growth, (ii)significantly improving access of the entire population tobasic social services, (iii) improving infrastructure, and(iv) promoting good governance. The analysis of budgetaryexpenditure in the priority sectors during the period2006-08, shows that this expenditure was far below theenvisaged envelopes. The achievement rates for road programsfluctuate between 0 percent and 55 percent. This may partlyexplain the slow progress towards achieving the millenniumdevelopment goals (MDGs).
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