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

Approaches to Improving the Delivery of Social Services in Difficult Environmentsactors and institutional arrangements for service delivery are discussedand analysed. In section V, the approaches are mapped onto a typologyof difficult environments and key issues and questions for funding andimplementing agencies involved in supporting SDDE are highlighted. Theconceptual framework underpinning the paper is presented in annex 1.6. Scope of this paper. This is one of a series of working papers from thePoverty Reduction in Difficult Environments team (DFID Policy Division).Consequently, it does not seek to address the response to difficultenvironments in its entirety. This paper primarily focuses on the delivery ofsocial services (education, health, water and sanitation) rather than onservices designed to increase personal security. However, the importanceof a secure environment for the delivery of social services is highlighted,as is the role that the international community plays in facilitating such anenvironment. It is also recognised that the delivery of services is only onepart of the response – interventions aimed at livelihoods and socialprotection are also key. Finally, the paper does not attempt to unpack indetail any one particular sector, but rather to consider approaches tostrengthening institutional arrangements for the delivery of services ingeneral (with examples drawn from sectoral experiences). The challengesand approaches described and analysed here are not always unique todifficult environments. However, they have been identified as havingparticular relevance to contexts where the state is unwilling or unable toharness resources to reduce poverty.Box 1: DefinitionsFor the purposes of this paper:Difficult environments are defined as those areas where the state isunwilling or unable to harness domestic and international resources forpoverty reduction, including the delivery of basic services. Such areastypically have all or several of the following characteristics: weakgovernance, fragile political and economic institutions, conflict, pooreconomic management, or are suffering from the effects of a chronichumanitarian crisis such as high HIV and AIDS infection or repeatedfamine.Service Delivery is conceptualised as the relationship between policymakers, service providers, and poor people. It encompasses servicesand their supporting systems that are typically regarded as a stateresponsibility. These include social services (primary education andbasic health services), infrastructure (water and sanitation, roads andbridges) and services that promote personal security (justice, police).Pro-poor service delivery refers to interventions that maximise theaccess and participation of the poor by strengthening the relationshipsbetween policy makers, providers, and service users.This working paper is intended to stimulate public discussion. It is not necessarily DFID orUK Government policy8