Approaches to Improving the Delivery of Social Services in Difficult ...

Approaches to Improving the Delivery of Social Services in Difficult EnvironmentsWorkingthrough nonstatecoordinationmechanismsQuickwins/quickimpact projectsMulti donorfundingarrangementsGlobal FundsProject supportCan be effective atreaching the poorCan reach down topockets of the poor, buttends not to be systematicand difficult to scale upFinancing bypasses thestate and may undermine itin the longer termMeans of demonstratingpolitical willingness indifficult environments?Buildingcapacity of nonstate actorsHumanitarianinterventionsCommunitybasedapproachesVoice onlyinitiativesContractingConsolidatedAppealsProcessSocial fundsUmbrellagrantsCivil societyfundsEffective and efficient wayto provide services in lowcapacity environmentsProvides a framework formonitoring outcomesEffective at meetingimmediate needs ofaffected populationsEffective way to moveresources down tocommunity levelPuts power into the handsof the communityRisk of backlash from arepressive regimeNo immediate return withrespect to access toservicesState legitimacy may beunderminedRisk of elite capture ofresourcesBypasses governmentsystems and may not buildcapacity for the futureResponse can be becomefragmented in the absenceof strong coordinationRisk of elite capture ofresourcesScaling up can be difficultLinks to sectors may beproblematicBuilds social cohesion andputs power in the ands ofthe poorPowerful tool for promotingsocial, political andeconomic change57. The current range of instruments may not be sufficient to deal effectivelywith difficult environments. Current aid instruments may not be optimallyeffective. For example, the World Bank has recently established a TrustFund that enables the Bank to provide grants finance to LICUS countriesincluding in arrears). Activities that assist in delivering essential services tothe poor, especially regarding HIV/AIDS are among the eligible activities.Though the total size of the Trust fund is relatively small ($25 million FY05-FY07), this instrument has enhanced the Bank’s ability to help meet someneeds in the most difficult environments. 61 . There are likely to be others,including instruments to support interventions that fall somewhere betweenhumanitarian and development responses 62 .58. The international community, funding agencies and implementingagencies alike, have very limited evidence as to the impact of their servicedelivery interventions in difficult environments. It has proved extremelydifficult to find empirical support in the existing literature for the extent towhich service delivery interventions impact on human developmentoutcomes or promote longer-term social and political change. Rigorousevaluation of existing instruments and approaches will assist in arriving at61 World Bank (December 2003).62 Randel, J. (2004)This working paper is intended to stimulate public discussion. It is not necessarily DFID orUK Government policy28