Poverty Reduction in Eastern and Southern Africa: An Introduction

This introductory chapter sets the stage for country-specific analyses of poverty reduction strategies by two different categories of countries: Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) and non-HIPCs. It lists the parameters of cross-country comparison, especially those laid down in the Sourcebook prepared by the Bretton Woods institutions to serve as the terms of reference of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) that HIPCs are required to prepare as one of the conditions for being eligible for debt relief under the HIPC initiative.