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> Environmentsac<strong>to</strong>rs and <strong>in</strong>stitutional arrangements for service delivery are discussedand analysed. In section V, <strong>the</strong> approaches are mapped on<strong>to</strong> a typology<strong>of</strong> difficult environments and key issues and questions for fund<strong>in</strong>g andimplement<strong>in</strong>g agencies <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> support<strong>in</strong>g SDDE are highlighted. Theconceptual framework underp<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> paper is presented <strong>in</strong> annex 1.6. Scope <strong>of</strong> this paper. This is one <strong>of</strong> a series <strong>of</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g papers from <strong>the</strong>Poverty Reduction <strong>in</strong> <strong>Difficult</strong> Environments team (DFID Policy Division).Consequently, it does not seek <strong>to</strong> address <strong>the</strong> response <strong>to</strong> difficultenvironments <strong>in</strong> its entirety. This paper primarily focuses on <strong>the</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong>social services (education, health, water and sanitation) ra<strong>the</strong>r than onservices designed <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>crease personal security. However, <strong>the</strong> importance<strong>of</strong> a secure environment for <strong>the</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> social services is highlighted,as is <strong>the</strong> role that <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational community plays <strong>in</strong> facilitat<strong>in</strong>g such anenvironment. It is also recognised that <strong>the</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> services is only onepart <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> response – <strong>in</strong>terventions aimed at livelihoods and socialprotection are also key. F<strong>in</strong>ally, <strong>the</strong> paper does not attempt <strong>to</strong> unpack <strong>in</strong>detail any one particular sec<strong>to</strong>r, but ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> consider approaches <strong>to</strong>streng<strong>the</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>stitutional arrangements for <strong>the</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> services <strong>in</strong>general (with examples drawn from sec<strong>to</strong>ral experiences). The challengesand approaches described and analysed here are not always unique <strong>to</strong>difficult environments. However, <strong>the</strong>y have been identified as hav<strong>in</strong>gparticular relevance <strong>to</strong> contexts where <strong>the</strong> state is unwill<strong>in</strong>g or unable <strong>to</strong>harness resources <strong>to</strong> reduce poverty.Box 1: Def<strong>in</strong>itionsFor <strong>the</strong> purposes <strong>of</strong> this paper:<strong>Difficult</strong> environments are def<strong>in</strong>ed as those areas where <strong>the</strong> state isunwill<strong>in</strong>g or unable <strong>to</strong> harness domestic and <strong>in</strong>ternational resources forpoverty reduction, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> basic services. Such areastypically have all or several <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g characteristics: weakgovernance, fragile political and economic <strong>in</strong>stitutions, conflict, pooreconomic management, or are suffer<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> effects <strong>of</strong> a chronichumanitarian crisis such as high HIV and AIDS <strong>in</strong>fection or repeatedfam<strong>in</strong>e.Service <strong>Delivery</strong> is conceptualised as <strong>the</strong> relationship between policymakers, service providers, and poor people. It encompasses servicesand <strong>the</strong>ir support<strong>in</strong>g systems that are typically regarded as a stateresponsibility. These <strong>in</strong>clude social services (primary education andbasic health services), <strong>in</strong>frastructure (water and sanitation, roads andbridges) and services that promote personal security (justice, police).Pro-poor service delivery refers <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>terventions that maximise <strong>the</strong>access and participation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poor by streng<strong>the</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> relationshipsbetween policy makers, providers, and service users.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 policy8