Approaches to Improving the Delivery of Social Services in Difficult ...
Approaches to Improving the Delivery of Social Services in Difficult ...
Approaches to Improving the Delivery of Social Services in Difficult ...
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<strong>Approaches</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Improv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Delivery</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Services</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Difficult</strong> Environments47. Box 7 summarises some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> opportunities and challenges thatcommunity-based approaches present <strong>in</strong> difficult environments. Theproblem <strong>of</strong> elite capture <strong>of</strong> community-based programmes has beendocumented extensively <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> literature. 54 This is possibly an even greaterthreat <strong>in</strong> difficult environments, and suggests that <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternationalcommunity needs <strong>to</strong> redouble its efforts <strong>to</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d ways <strong>to</strong> streng<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>participation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poor <strong>in</strong> community <strong>in</strong>itiatives and <strong>to</strong> moni<strong>to</strong>r <strong>the</strong>distribution <strong>of</strong> funds and punish <strong>in</strong>stances <strong>of</strong> fraud. The Nepal CommunitySupport Project has had some success <strong>in</strong> this regard with publicaudit<strong>in</strong>g 55 .Box 7: Opportunities and challenges <strong>to</strong> community-based approachesOpportunities• Builds local capacity and can streng<strong>the</strong>n voice• Quick disburs<strong>in</strong>g and provides tangible benefits <strong>to</strong> community level• Flexible with respect <strong>to</strong> project focus• Communities drive <strong>the</strong> process and have control• Communities have a stake <strong>in</strong> manag<strong>in</strong>g project funds carefullyChallenges• Requires some <strong>in</strong>stitutional capacity at <strong>the</strong> community level and may placedisproportionate demands on <strong>the</strong>m• Go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> scale requires a large number <strong>of</strong> project staff who speak local languagesand understand local social and political dynamics• Care must be taken <strong>to</strong> make <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>k between sec<strong>to</strong>ral work and community basedwork• Elite capture <strong>of</strong> resources is a possibility so needs moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g mechanisms.48. Facilitate provider access: a major challenge <strong>in</strong> all difficult environmentsis ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g access for service providers <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> poor andvulnerable. In conflict-affected areas, an issue is one <strong>of</strong> security for serviceproviders. The approach <strong>to</strong> this problem <strong>in</strong> Nepal, where <strong>the</strong> Maoists and<strong>the</strong> security forces <strong>of</strong>ten block access, is <strong>to</strong> work through basic operat<strong>in</strong>gguidel<strong>in</strong>es. These guidel<strong>in</strong>es have been agreed by <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternationalcommunity and guide agencies with respect <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir behaviour <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> field.They <strong>in</strong>corporate fundamental humanitarian pr<strong>in</strong>ciples 56 and call on <strong>the</strong>parties <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> conflict <strong>to</strong> comply with <strong>the</strong>ir obligations under InternationalHumanitarian Law. In Myanmar, access was facilitated by agreementbetween <strong>the</strong> government <strong>of</strong> Myanmar and <strong>in</strong>ternational agencies thatHIV/AIDS represents a humanitarian crisis and required concerted and coord<strong>in</strong>atedaction 57 . This broker<strong>in</strong>g role is a key one for <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternationalcommunity <strong>to</strong> play, and <strong>in</strong> situations <strong>of</strong> crisis it may <strong>in</strong>volve <strong>in</strong>vok<strong>in</strong>g54 Richards, Bah and V<strong>in</strong>cent (April 2004); Rao, V., Ibanez, A.M. (February 2003); Platteau, J.P.(2003)55 Kathmandu Post Edi<strong>to</strong>rial, 29 th August, 2004. Available athttp://www.kantipuronl<strong>in</strong>e.com/kolnews.php?&nid=1509556 Assistance is provided without adverse dist<strong>in</strong>ction, based on need, with respect <strong>to</strong> religion andculture, communities are <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> plann<strong>in</strong>g and management <strong>of</strong> programmes and agencies areaccountable <strong>to</strong> those <strong>the</strong>y seek <strong>to</strong> assist. The Basic Operat<strong>in</strong>g Guidel<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> Nepal are adapted from <strong>the</strong>Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples <strong>of</strong> Conduct for The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, <strong>in</strong> particular seearticles 2, 3, 5, 7, 9.57 There is also evidence that <strong>the</strong> military junta responded <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> fear that <strong>the</strong> army would be badlyaffected by <strong>the</strong> epidemicThis work<strong>in</strong>g paper is <strong>in</strong>tended <strong>to</strong> stimulate public discussion. It is not necessarily DFID orUK Government policy23