Resource information
This report represents a snapshot of a
dialogue between the State of Piaui and the World Bank and
focuses on the strategies and actions the State Government
may wish to adopt. Piaui's challenge is to build
institutions that address its weaknesses and exploit its
strengths. Addressing weaknesses implies continuing with
efforts to improve education, raising productivity in
small-scale agriculture, increasing public participation in
government decisions, and enhancing the administration of
taxation and spending. Exploiting strengths implies
fortifying the management of land, water, and natural
resources, carefully selecting strategic infrastructure
investments, and recognizing and taking strategic decisions
to "get ahead of the environmental frontier" in
several parts of the state. Based on the relevant
geographical traits of Piaui, three chapters are devoted to
the geographical regions: the cerrados, the semi-arid
southeastern region, and the north of the state. The report
relates cross-cutting institutional themes (a) the revised
role of the State in Piaui, (b) fiscal aspects including
taxation and spending, (c) options in education, and (d) an
outline of action plan for building participatory mechanisms
for consultation between government and civil society. The
conclusion gives a general framework of strategic options
for poverty reduction in Piaui including the Bank's
suggestions of priorities, timescales, and approximate costs
where possible.
