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

Approaches to Improving the Delivery of Social Services in Difficult EnvironmentsPolitical will but weak capacityAnnex II: Types of EnvironmentThis includes environments that may be challenged in their mobilisation ofresources for poverty reduction due to any or several of the following: lack ofbasic fiscal and monetary building blocks; challenges to the state’s territorialcontrol and presence; and unstable or weak (but legitimate) politicalinstitutions with a commitment to poverty reduction. However, despite theseweaknesses, these states are considered responsive to the poor. Malawi andZambia could be seen as examples of high willingness but low capacity.Some countries emerging from conflict may be a subset of this categorywhere the international community seeks to support and strengthen nascentgovernments. Examples include Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, and DRC(although in some cases, the legitimacy of the government remains contestedwhich affects the way in which the international community can engage).Low willingness and high capacityIn this type are states that may be strong in terms of administrative capacityand territorial control, but they are unresponsive to the needs of the poor,either because of the neo patrimonial nature of state politics (as in the case ofZimbabwe and possibly Nigeria) or because a real or perceived externalthreat diverts the use of resources for other aims that do not tackle povertyreduction (as in North Korea). There may be difficulties in negotiating any kindof access at all, and bilateral support from certain governments may not beacceptable.Lack of political will and low capacityThis type of state may suffer from lack of international recognition or acontested territory, limited administrative capacity for policy development andimplementation, and is seen as unresponsive to the needs of certain groups(including the poor). Southern Sudan, Somalia, and (possibly) Nepal can beconsidered as cases in point. All of these examples are in conflict.Infrastructure has been destroyed, there is mass displacement of people,levels of insecurity are high, and the government is contested.States with willingness and stronger capacityThese states have strong state presence and territory control; some degree ofcompetence in fiscal and monetary policy or a strong administrative capacityand public institutions that are fairly committed to development. These statesare good partners for poverty reduction, and are likely to have PRSPs inplace, but may have structural risk factors for state weakness that warrantspecific attention.This working paper is intended to stimulate public discussion. It is not necessarily DFID orUK Government policy36