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> EnvironmentsWork<strong>in</strong>gthrough nonstatecoord<strong>in</strong>ationmechanismsQuickw<strong>in</strong>s/quickimpact projectsMulti donorfund<strong>in</strong>garrangementsGlobal FundsProject supportCan be effective atreach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> poorCan reach down <strong>to</strong>pockets <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poor, buttends not <strong>to</strong> be systematicand difficult <strong>to</strong> scale upF<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g bypasses <strong>the</strong>state and may underm<strong>in</strong>e it<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> longer termMeans <strong>of</strong> demonstrat<strong>in</strong>gpolitical will<strong>in</strong>gness <strong>in</strong>difficult environments?Build<strong>in</strong>gcapacity <strong>of</strong> nonstate ac<strong>to</strong>rsHumanitarian<strong>in</strong>terventionsCommunitybasedapproachesVoice only<strong>in</strong>itiativesContract<strong>in</strong>gConsolidatedAppealsProcess<strong>Social</strong> fundsUmbrellagrantsCivil societyfundsEffective and efficient way<strong>to</strong> provide services <strong>in</strong> lowcapacity environmentsProvides a framework formoni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g outcomesEffective at meet<strong>in</strong>gimmediate needs <strong>of</strong>affected populationsEffective way <strong>to</strong> moveresources down <strong>to</strong>community levelPuts power <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> hands<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> communityRisk <strong>of</strong> backlash from arepressive regimeNo immediate return withrespect <strong>to</strong> access <strong>to</strong>servicesState legitimacy may beunderm<strong>in</strong>edRisk <strong>of</strong> elite capture <strong>of</strong>resourcesBypasses governmentsystems and may not buildcapacity for <strong>the</strong> futureResponse can be becomefragmented <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> absence<strong>of</strong> strong coord<strong>in</strong>ationRisk <strong>of</strong> elite capture <strong>of</strong>resourcesScal<strong>in</strong>g up can be difficultL<strong>in</strong>ks <strong>to</strong> sec<strong>to</strong>rs may beproblematicBuilds social cohesion andputs power <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ands <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> poorPowerful <strong>to</strong>ol for promot<strong>in</strong>gsocial, political andeconomic change57. The current range <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>struments may not be sufficient <strong>to</strong> deal effectivelywith difficult environments. Current aid <strong>in</strong>struments may not be optimallyeffective. For example, <strong>the</strong> World Bank has recently established a TrustFund that enables <strong>the</strong> Bank <strong>to</strong> provide grants f<strong>in</strong>ance <strong>to</strong> LICUS countries<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> arrears). Activities that assist <strong>in</strong> deliver<strong>in</strong>g essential services <strong>to</strong><strong>the</strong> poor, especially regard<strong>in</strong>g HIV/AIDS are among <strong>the</strong> eligible activities.Though <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>tal size <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Trust fund is relatively small ($25 million FY05-FY07), this <strong>in</strong>strument has enhanced <strong>the</strong> Bank’s ability <strong>to</strong> help meet someneeds <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> most difficult environments. 61 . There are likely <strong>to</strong> be o<strong>the</strong>rs,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>struments <strong>to</strong> support <strong>in</strong>terventions that fall somewhere betweenhumanitarian and development responses 62 .58. The <strong>in</strong>ternational community, fund<strong>in</strong>g agencies and implement<strong>in</strong>gagencies alike, have very limited evidence as <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir servicedelivery <strong>in</strong>terventions <strong>in</strong> difficult environments. It has proved extremelydifficult <strong>to</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d empirical support <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> exist<strong>in</strong>g literature for <strong>the</strong> extent <strong>to</strong>which service delivery <strong>in</strong>terventions impact on human developmen<strong>to</strong>utcomes or promote longer-term social and political change. Rigorousevaluation <strong>of</strong> exist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>struments and approaches will assist <strong>in</strong> arriv<strong>in</strong>g at61 World Bank (December 2003).62 Randel, J. (2004)This work<strong>in</strong>g paper is <strong>in</strong>tended <strong>to</strong> stimulate public discussion. It is not necessarily DFID orUK Government policy28