Created under the ACPSP, the Poverty-Reduction Network brings together parliamentary committees involved in the PRSP process, either for its design, its implementation or, as in most cases, for oversight of the process. The network will serve as an avenue for greater group dialogue amongst members of parliament as well as offer them opportunities for ensuring effective implementation of poverty reduction programs, particularly through local level monitoring with community-based civil society groups.



To date, close to 20 various parliamentary committees from 15 countries have committed to the network, with the potential of more countries to join. A the network first meeting took place in November 2003 in Ghana, thus coinciding with the launching of the network's main activity, an ambitious MPs and staff internship program implemented by a local policy institute and involving civil society groups to increase capacity and understanding of poverty-related committee members in their role in local monitoring of poverty measures.



African Poverty Reduction Network mission is to encourage Governments, civic society and external donors to devise effective policies, allocate sufficient resources and to implement initiatives that will Sustainably reduce poverty in Africa.



Action Areas:



- Agriculture

- Capacity Building

- Communication

- Community Sustainable Development

- Economics

- Education

- Employment Creation

- Entrepreneurship

- Environment

- Food and Nutrition

- Health

- Information

- Micro-Finance

- National Policy

- Poverty Eradication

- Research

- Small Business Development

- Structural Adjustment

- Training

- Vocational Skills.