| July 2007 - Algeria is the first country in the MENA region to enter into a collaboration with the World Bank Institute (WBI) in the area of governance diagnostics. Mr. Daniel Kaufmann, Director of Global Governance at the WBI and an expert on global governance indicators, attended an initial conference held in February 2007 in collaboration with Algeria’s National Economic and Social Council, with which a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed. The report, Governance Matters, 2007: Worldwide Governance Indicators 1996-2006 launched by the World Bank Institute and the World Bank Development Economics Vice-presidency, shows that a number of countries - including in Africa - are making progress in improving governance and fighting corruption. This is encouraging given that good governance and corruption control are fundamental for long-term growth and reducing poverty.
Over the past seven years, Algeria has experienced clear and steady improvement in all areas measured by governance indicators. In the area of ‘political stability and absence of violence’, there was substantial and statistically significant progress over the 2002-2006 period. Progress in the ‘regulatory quality’ and ‘rule of law’ categories has, however, been less notable than advances in other areas. This shows that Algeria still has some challenges ahead.
Theodore Ahlers, Director of the Maghreb Department, states in an editorial in the special issue on governance (June 2007, No 5) of Nawafid Maghreb #5, the World Bank Group’s quarterly newsletter on the Maghreb, that "a competent and able State creates opportunities for the most disadvantaged, provides better services, and improves the results of development programs. Governance is therefore necessary for any development process, and is crucial for successful programs and sustainable reforms. The impact of these programs and reforms depends, among other things, on the ability of the partners in place to take this important element into account and to take collaborative steps to improve it. ” See other articles in the ‘Governance’ feature (pdf - in French):
 Editorial by Theodore Ahlers
Governance and development in the Maghreb
Tunisia: accurate financial data for a better investment climate
Morocco : a better governance for public management
Algeria : Public Expenditure Review, 2005-2006
|
RSS