AN INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MARSHALL PLAN IN ALLEVIATING POVERTY IN MAURITIUS

Authors: Tse Kai Wai Dudley, Narsoo Jeetendre, Saraswati Dhunput & Chittoo Hemant B.

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the promise of the poverty-reducing approaches put in place under the Marshall Plan in Mauritius and measures the effectiveness of the government’s poverty alleviation program with regard to the beneficiaries. The study revealed information and identify gaps that could be used in the development of strategies by the policy and decision-makers to improve the implementation of the Plan. This paper also shows the effect of the poverty alleviation program on different households in the government. The analysis of the poverty alleviation programs is very crucial as it contributes hugely by providing solutions to problems concerning management, the organization, and business as well as the exploitation of income-generating opportunities. This study deals with two aspects, the first concerns the beneficiaries of the MarshallPlan, the perception of poverty and what according to them could be the best way to engage them and help them to help themselves in getting exit from the poverty trap they are. The second level of analysis looks at the performance of the Marshall plan from the point of view of the Case Management officers specifically recruited to do case the management of the beneficiaries of the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan is a new development program and is now commonly acknowledged to be an important approach to reducing poverty in Mauritius. The Plan has succeeded, in reaching the poorest of the poor through the use of the SRM and the PMT devised by the experts of UNDP. The study has demonstrated that the Marshall Plan has not been able to meet the promise of reducing poverty in a sustainable manner. The analysis of the data and lessons learned reveal that just providing income support has never led toward the alleviation of poverty rather it has created a dependency situation on the income support that it provides. TheMarshall Plan in Mauritius started in 2016, hence although it is not performing well presently, yet with constant evaluation, monitoring, and by adopting new innovative approaches, it might just become the magic potion in reducing poverty in Mauritius.

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