From the dream of poverty reduction to the reality of low results: a World Bank analysis in the State of Pará

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the Pará Rural Program, specifically the Productive Investment component, in the light of theories of governance and state capacity. The alignment of the theoretical framework and the specificities of the studied Program culminated in an analysis framework that points to the technical-administrative capacity, political autonomy and the relationship between multiple actors as the focal points of the study. We sought to promote a reflection on the capacity of States to articulate and implement policies for the rural environment, based on actions co-financed by international agencies, in this case the World Bank. This is a research with a qualitative approach and exploratory objective, based on content analysis with the help of NVIVO software. The research concluded that, in Pará Rural, problems related to high political interference, added to little technical and administrative capacity, generated results below expectations. Furthermore, the governance structure was not able to establish partnerships that actually promoted development and improved institutional, political and technical-administrative capacities. Finally the exchange variations arising from a dollar loan made the debt approximately three times greater than the amount spent on the project.