Gouvernance, démocratie et lutte contre la pauvreté en Afrique : Expérience et point de vue de la population de huit métropoles. Enquêtes 1-2-3, premiers résultats

New factors such as governance, ownership and citizen’s participation are now a central focus of development programmes, especially in the scope of the new international poverty reduction strategies (PRSP and HIPC initiatives). To gain a better understanding of countries’ trajectories and their current economic situations, it is interesting to examine what used to be thought of as extra-economic dimensions such as subjective forms of poverty, quality of institutions (especially public institutions) and type of political regime or, more generally speaking, the society’s system of values. To meet this major challenge, we have explored the possibilities offered by household surveys as a tool for measuring these new aspects of development and for monitoring them in quantitative terms. Three specific modules (Multiple Dimensions of Poverty, Governance and Democracy) were added to the 1-2-3 surveys carried out in 2001, 2002 or 2003 in major cities in eight countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo). This document presents a comprehensive, comparative analysis of the first results obtained using these theme-based modules.