One of the most common misallocations of public resources is to give excessive emphasis to higher education at the expense of primary schooling. As a result, in some African countries, the current generation of children is likely to receive less than half the years of schooling as do those in other countries of the region, even though per capita incomes and public spending on education are about the same. It also means more participation by the poor in the design and implementation of social programs. In the early childhood development project in India, the Philippines basic health project, the Zambia social investment fund and a growing number of other programs, Bank-supported operations are emphasizing local participation and ownership. So do many governments.
Broadening participation is essential for social development and for good governance.
The involvement of independent unions and local civic associations, for example, is often key in helping to address critical issues such as eliminating discrimination at work and eradicating exploitative forms of child labor. This is the case in Uganda where, over the past two years, the government has cut the size of its military force in half and increased basic social services. We have learned that making social programs work requires careful design, strong institutional capacity, patience and commitment by governments. The Bank welcomes the Copenhagen Declaration's call for coordination of assistance efforts in line with specific country needs. Sound economic policies are the starting point for sustained social progress.