<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> Environments• Scale up through a non-state mechanism where <strong>the</strong>re is a lack <strong>of</strong>political will. One option is <strong>to</strong> use <strong>the</strong> UN as a lead organisation <strong>to</strong>manage service delivery <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se contexts. Its neutrality may position itwell <strong>in</strong> unwill<strong>in</strong>g environments. Where possible, align with statesystems <strong>to</strong> facilitate eventual hand over.• Explore new ways <strong>of</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g for both humanitarian and developmentagencies; humanitarian agencies will need <strong>to</strong> engage more fully with<strong>the</strong> long-term role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> state <strong>in</strong> service provision, and <strong>to</strong> develop abroader more flexible and less commodity-driven range <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>strumentsfor social protection. Development ac<strong>to</strong>rs could usefully learn fromhumanitarian agencies about assess<strong>in</strong>g poverty <strong>in</strong> extreme situations,us<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>in</strong>ciples <strong>to</strong> ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g access <strong>to</strong> poor populations <strong>in</strong> contestedregions and about <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> protection as opposed <strong>to</strong> justassistance. And donors need <strong>to</strong> develop new ways <strong>of</strong> fund<strong>in</strong>g, enabl<strong>in</strong>gsocial service provision for example <strong>to</strong> be planned on longer budgetcycles from humanitarian budgets.63. On <strong>the</strong> demand side, approaches <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g:• Work through civil society organisations <strong>to</strong> empower <strong>the</strong> poor <strong>to</strong>demand <strong>the</strong>ir rights <strong>to</strong> services. This is effective where <strong>the</strong>re iscapacity <strong>to</strong> deliver and where political judgment <strong>in</strong>dicates that <strong>the</strong>regime will not regard this as a threat.• Move resources down <strong>to</strong> community level through local committeeor similar structures. Communities <strong>the</strong>mselves can <strong>the</strong>n makedecisions about where <strong>to</strong> target resources. This has proved aneffective approach <strong>in</strong> countries merg<strong>in</strong>g from conflict, although <strong>the</strong>reare risks that resources can be captured by powerful groups.• Reduce <strong>the</strong> costs <strong>to</strong> families <strong>of</strong> access<strong>in</strong>g services by <strong>in</strong>troduc<strong>in</strong>gsocial safety nets. One example is cash for work programmes.Road-build<strong>in</strong>g, for example, can both provide <strong>in</strong>come for <strong>the</strong> poorand re-establish access <strong>to</strong> markets for communities suffer<strong>in</strong>g fromisolation brought about by conflict or exclusion.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 policy30
<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> EnvironmentsReferencesArmon, J., Berry, C. Duncan, D. (August 2004) Service delivery <strong>in</strong> difficult environments: Thecase <strong>of</strong> Nepal. DFID, London. Available at: http://www.grc-dfid.org.uk/grc/docs/EB96.pdfBranchflower, A., Smart, M. and Hennell, S. (2004) How important are difficult environments<strong>to</strong> achiev<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> MDGs? PRDE Draft Work<strong>in</strong>g Paper, DFID, London.Black, RE et al (2003) ‘Where and why are 10 million children dy<strong>in</strong>g every year?’ Lancet, 361:2226-34.Bhushan, I., Keller, S., and Schwartz, B. (2002) Achiev<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> tw<strong>in</strong> objectives <strong>of</strong> efficiency andequity: Contract<strong>in</strong>g for health services <strong>in</strong> Cambodia. Asian Development Bank, Policy BriefSeries 6, Manila. Available at: http://www.adb.org/Documents/EDRC/Policy_Briefs/PB006.pdfBreidlid, A. with Carm, E. (September 2003) A study <strong>of</strong> education sec<strong>to</strong>r partnerships <strong>in</strong>Sudan: an assessment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> educational work <strong>of</strong> three Norwegian NGOs. L<strong>in</strong>s, OsloUniversity College, Norway.Buchanan-Smith, M., Maxwell, S. (June 2004) ‘L<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g relief and development: an <strong>in</strong>troductionand overview.’ IDS Bullet<strong>in</strong>, vol 25, no.4 pp 2-16,. Abstract available at:http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/bookshop/bullet<strong>in</strong>/bull254abs.htm#l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>gChalmers, M. (March 2004) Spend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> Save? An Analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cost Effectiveness <strong>of</strong>Conflict Prevention versus Intervention after <strong>the</strong> Onset <strong>of</strong> Violent Conflict: Phase 2 Syn<strong>the</strong>sisReport. Centre for International Cooperation and Security, Department <strong>of</strong> Peace Studies,University <strong>of</strong> Bradford.Chesterman, S., Ignatieff, M. and Thakur, R. (July 2004) Mak<strong>in</strong>g states work: from statefailure <strong>to</strong> state-build<strong>in</strong>g. International Peace Academy/United Nations UniversityCrisp, J. (May 2001) M<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> gap! UNHCR, humanitarian assistance and <strong>the</strong> developmentprocess. UNHCR, Geneva. Available at: http://www.jha.ac/articles/u043.htmDas Gupta, M., Grandvo<strong>in</strong>net, H., Romani, M. (January 2003) Foster<strong>in</strong>g community-drivendevelopment: what role for <strong>the</strong> state? World Bank Research Work<strong>in</strong>g Paper 2969. Availableat: http://econ.worldbank.org/view.php?type=5&id=24036Development Cooperation Direc<strong>to</strong>rate, Development Assistance Committee. (November2001) Poor performers: basic approaches for support<strong>in</strong>g development <strong>in</strong> difficult partnerships.Available at: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/56/21684456.pdfDepartment for International Development. (January 2002) Conduct<strong>in</strong>g conflict assessments:guidance notes. DFID, London. Available at:http://www2.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/conflictassessmentguidance.pdfDepartment for International Development (Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2001) The causes <strong>of</strong> conflict <strong>in</strong> sub-Saharan Africa (Framework document). DFID/FCO/MoD, London.Department for International Development Health Systems Resource Centre (2003) KosovoHealth Pr<strong>of</strong>ile. Available athttp://www.dfidhealthrc.org/shared/publications/Country_health/europe/Kosovo.pdfEmpowerment community <strong>of</strong> Practice Newsletter (August/September, 2004) The dangers,risks and un<strong>in</strong>tended consequences <strong>of</strong> empowerment. World Bank, Wash<strong>in</strong>g<strong>to</strong>n DC.Available at::http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/ESSD/sdvext.nsf/68ByDocName/Community<strong>of</strong>PracticeNewsletter?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=1This work<strong>in</strong>g paper is <strong>in</strong>tended <strong>to</strong> stimulate public discussion. It is not necessarily DFID orUK Government policy31